Carrsville Elementary has been named a Title I Distinguished School by the Virginia Board of Education. Located in Isle of Wight County, the school was one of 55 in Virginia to receive the honor on Thursday.

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act gives money to school divisions and schools for programs that “raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk of academic failure,” as stated in the VBE press release.

Further, Carrsville Elementary and the other schools were recognized for “meeting all state and federal accountability requirements for two consecutive years – 2012-2013 and 2011-2012 school years — and achieving reading and mathematics SOL pass rates at 60th percentile or higher.”

“Being named a Title 1 Distinguished School is a true honor,” said Principal Laura Mathews. “I am so proud of the hard work of the Carrsville Elementary family, and this recognition speaks to the dedication and commitment of our teachers, staff, students, parents and volunteers. What a great way to start 2014!”

Kenita Bowers, spokeswoman for the Isle of Wight County School Division called it “wonderful news.”

Carrsville Elementary and IWCS will get a certificate marking the school’s accomplishment.

“I commend the teachers, principals and other educators in all of these schools for helping students meet the commonwealth’s expectations for grade-level learning in reading and mathematics,” Board of Education President David M. Foster said. “Virginia’s new SOL tests — which emphasize the application of content knowledge and critical thinking — set a higher bar and the students in these schools are better prepared for having met it.”

“Teachers in these Title I schools challenge their students every day to meet the same expectations we have for students in more affluent communities,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said. “They believe in their students and reject the idea that family incomes predetermine educational outcomes.”