McIntosh High

School has received an elite honor, having been named a School of Excellence

for 2001 by the Georgia Department of Education.

Only five high

schools were among those named Friday, along with nine elementary and

six middle schools. McIntosh officials were notified last Tuesday, prinicipal

Greg Stillions said.

McIntosh last

received this status in 1987.

"I'm ecstatic,"

said Stillions. "The faculty and staff deserve all the credit. They're

the ones who make it happen teachers, secretarial staff, lunchroom and

custodial everyone in the building."

The Schools

of Excellence program began in 1984. According to state officials, the

nomination process focuses on several areas: student focus and support;

school organization and culture; challenging standards and curriculum;

active teaching and learning; professional community; leadership and educational

vitality; school, family and community partnerships; and indicators of

success.

Only one elementary,

middle and high school can be nominated from each local district each

year. Up to 33 total Schools of Excellence can be named three from each

of Georgia's 11 congressional districts.

"Georgia

Schools of Excellence bring together the community and school to provide

the best possible education for its students. Being selected as a Georgia

School of Excellence is one of the highest honors our public school can

receive," said state school Superintendent Linda Schrenko.

"These

schools have chosen to make a difference. Students, teachers and administrators,

along with those in the community, have pulled together to achieve the

goals of the Schools of Excellence program," she continued. "Again,

this year's standards were very rigorous. I am pleased to commend these

schools for their hard work and dedication."

A detailed

application process began the quest for School of Excellence status, Stillions

said. The application involved every department at the school.

Each school's

application was read and evaluated by four different people who signed

assurances indicating that they had no connection with the school in question,

according to state officials.

Finalists received

site visits, in which an entire day was spent evaluating progress in each

department.

Each winning

school gets a flag bearing the notification "School of Excellence

2001." A pair of road signs also will be provided to place in the

community.

All 20 of this

year's winners will receive plaques at a banquet hosted by Schrenko in

April. Stillions said that any member of the faculty and staff who wishes

to attend will be able to do so. "They deserve it," he said.

A special presentation

was made to Stillions at Monday night's Fayette County Board of Education

meeting, according to Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, the school system's public

information specialist.