NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   Contact: John Kabashinski

January 27, 2023                                                         Director, Communications

john@character.org

CHARACTER.ORG RECOGNIZES 73 STATE-LEVEL SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER AND 2 DISTRICTS OF CHARACTER

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 27, 2023) -- Character.org, a national advocate and leader for character, today designated 73 state-level Schools of Character and 2 Districts of Character for 2023. (See below for the complete list of 2023 State Schools of Character.)

Character.org certifies schools and districts each year at the state level that have developed and implemented an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach that embeds character into all aspects of the school life. Schools and districts announced today will be considered for Character.org’s highest distinction

- National School of Character. Since its inception, Character.org’s Schools of Character program has positively impacted nearly three million students, staff, parents, and other community members.

"We are excited to announce today the 2023 State Schools and Districts of Character," said Dr. Arthur Schwartz, Character.org’s President. "Each of these schools and districts have put into place an initiative that equips and empowers their staff to reinforce and model a range of positive core values that will shape and form the hearts, minds, and choices of their students.” To learn more about the schools chosen today, please visit Character.org.

Criteria for selection are based on Character.org’s 11 Principles Framework for

Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character. The Framework includes key indicators on creating a caring school community where everyone feels they belong, providing students with opportunities to practice and reflect on their character strengths, and engaging families and communities as partners in the school’s character initiative.

The 2023 National Schools of Character will be announced in May 2023 and honored at our 30th Anniversary International Forum next fall in Washington D.C. Learn more about the International Forum on our website.

ABOUT CHARACTER.ORG: Character.org is a worldwide network of educators, researchers, and civic leaders that empowers people of all ages to practice and model the character strengths and core values that shape the hearts, minds and choices of every person. Founded in 1993 and formerly known as the Character Education Partnership, Character.org is widely known for our 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character. The organization’s vision is to be the global leader and voice for developing character in families, schools, and organizations.

For more information, visit Character.org, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

List of 2023 State Schools and Districts of Character

**denotes District of Character

Alabama:

Northside Middle School Oakdale Elementary School Skyland Elementary School University Charter School

Arizona:

Imagine East Mesa

Georgia:

Liberty Elementary School

Webb Bridge Middle School

Florida:

Carrollwood Day School

River City Science Academy Innovation

Kansas:

Beloit Jr./Sr. High School

Michigan:

Beverly Elementary School Birmingham Covington School Greenfield Elementary School Leonard Elementary School

Missouri:

**Bayless School District Chesterfield Elementary Hancock Place Middle School Hawk Point Elementary School

Independence Elementary School Kentucky Trail Elementary LaSalle Springs Middle School Marquette High School

Mehlville High School

Parkway Central Middle School Parkway Early Childhood Center Parkway South Middle School Wild Horse Elementary School Windsor Elementary School

New Jersey:

Applegarth Elementary School Child Family Center

E. Raymond Appleby Elementary School Fort Dix Elementary School

Franklin Elementary School

**Hanover Park Regional High School District Hilltop Elementary School

Howard L. Emmons Elementary School Jefferson Elementary School

Joseph S. Stackhouse Elementary School

Kennedy Elementary School Lakeside Middle School Lalor Elementary School Lincoln Roosevelt School

Madison Park Elementary School Millville High School

Moss School

Nixon Elementary School

Pemberton Early Childhood Education Center RM Bacon Elementary School

Samuel T. Busansky Elementary School Terence C. Reilly School No. 7

Unity Charter School Valleyview Middle School

New York:

Palmyra Macedon Middle School PS 94Q- David D Porter School

William H. Barton Intermediate School

Ohio:

Imagine Bella Academy of Excellence Imagine Great Western Academy

Oklahoma:

DOVE School of Discovery

Dove Science Academy Middle School Oklahoma City

Pennsylvania:

East Pennsboro Area High School

Texas:

Epps Island Elementary

Harmony School of Achievement-Houston Harmony School of Excellence-Laredo Harmony School of Exploration-Houston

Harmony School of Fine Arts & Technology-Houston Harmony School of Innovation-Dallas

Harmony School of Science-El Paso Harmony Science Academy-Dallas High