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COLUMBIA – Forty-two schools were honored today with Red Carpet awards to recognize their success at creating family-friendly school environments and providing excellent customer service.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex announced the winners of this year’s awards, which have become highly prized by South Carolina schools.  The schools will receive actual red carpets to display in their lobbies.

“Schools that are parent-friendly, schools that have strong customer service, are more likely to be supported by their communities,” Rex said.  “Community involvement can play a big part in a school’s academic success.”

Schools that passed the written application phase were then screened by independent judges who rated how telephone callers and visitors were treated.  Judges did not identify themselves during telephone calls or site visits, and site visits were not announced in advance.

Winning schools receive red carpets with the state seal to display in their lobbies, and they maintain their recognition status for a three-year period. 

This year’s recipients include one primary school, 30 elementary schools, six middle schools, two high schools, one technical school, one charter school and one learning center for special needs students.  

Schools are judged on a variety of factors, including the exterior and interior appearance of the campus, the way people were treated in person and over the telephone, and the information and programs available for families and visitors.  Specific items that judges evaluated on their site visits included: 

Outside

●          Clearly marked visitor parking spaces near the front door.

●          Well-kept grounds that are free of debris and trash.

●          Plainly marked entrances, particularly the main entrance door.

Front entrance/lobby

●          Clean and appealing lobby/front entrance.

●          “Welcome to our school” signs that clearly direct visitors

to the main office.

●          Attractive, colorful displays of student achievement and school

events.

Office

●          Clean and tidy front office.

●          Reading material about the school available for visitors.

●          Welcoming and professionally dressed staff who greet visitors

promptly and quickly ask to offer assistance.

●          Visitor badges available.

Telephone

●          Telephones that are answered promptly (within three rings) and

professionally.

●          Person answering the phone has basic, up-to-date information

readily accessible.

●          Callers are put through to appropriate parties promptly.

2009 Red Carpet winners

District  School

Aiken                                        East Aiken Elementary School

Aiken                                        Mossy Creek Elementary School

Aiken                                        Warrenville Elementary School

Anderson 2                                Belton Elementary School

Berkeley                                   Bonner Elementary School

Charleston                                 James Island Elementary School

Darlington                                  Carolina Elementary School

Dorchester 2                              Alston Middle School

Dorchester 2                              Fort Dorchester Elementary School

Dorchester 2                              Spann Elementary School

Georgetown                               McDonald Elementary School

Greenville                                  Beck Academy

Greenville                                  Buena Vista Elementary School

Greenville                                  Lakeview Middle School

Greenwood 50                           Merrywood Elementary School

Hampton 1                                Ben Hazel Primary School

Hampton 1                                Brunson Elementary School

Kershaw                                    Applied Technology Campus

Kershaw                                    North Central Middle School

Kershaw                                    Pine Tree Hill Elementary School

Kershaw                                    Wateree Elementary School

Lexington 1                               Pleasant Hill Elementary School

Lexington 2                               Brookland-Cayce Grammar School No. 1

Lexington 2                               Springdale Elementary School

Marlboro                                    Marlboro County High School

Newberry                                   Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School

Oconee                         Fair Oak Elementary School

Oconee                         Oakway Intermediate School

Orangeburg 5                             Dover Elementary School

Pickens                                    A.R. Lewis Elementary School

Pickens                                    Gettys Middle School

Richland 1                                 Logan Elementary School

Richland 1                                 Richland One Middle College

Richland 2                                 Conder Elementary School

Richland 2                                 Round Top Elementary School

Richland 2                                 Sandlapper Elementary School

Spartanburg 1                            Chapman High School

Spartanburg 3                            Cannons Elementary School

Spartanburg 5                            Florence Chapel Middle School

Spartanburg 6                            Woodland Heights Elementary School

Spartanburg 7                            Jesse Boyd Elementary School

Spartanburg 7                            McCarthy-Teszler School