CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sixty-five public schools in West Virginia, including several in Kanawha,  Putnam and Jackson counties, were honored as exemplary schools by the state Board of Education at a dinner Monday night at Embassy Suites.

To be eligible, the schools needed to perform strongly on the WESTEST 2, a standardized test of reading, math, science and social studies and writing. Also, the student attendance rate needed to be 94 percent or better, while high school graduation rates needed to be 85 percent or better. Also, high schools needed to show that their students have completed advanced-level classes and a majority of their graduates planned to continue their education.

Both Liberty Elementary School in Hancock County and Wirt High School in Wirt County received the National Blue Ribbon Schools award, for having exceptional education achievement.

Other schools recognized are:

Kanawha County: Chamberlain Elementary, Holz Elementary, Kenna Elementary, Montrose Elementary, Overbrook Elementary, Ruthlawn Elementary, Weberwood Elementary, John Adams Middle, George Washington High School, Ben Franklin Career and Technical Center and Garnet Career Center;

Putnam County: Confidence Elementary, Eastbrook Elementary, Hometown Elementary, Poca Elementary, Scott Teays Elementary, West Teays Elementary, Poca Middle, Hurricane High and Winfield High School.

Other exemplary schools are:

Kasson Elementary/Middle School in Barbour County; Hedgesville Elementary and Marlowe Elementary School in Berkeley County; Davis Elementary in Braxton County; Beech Bottom Primary, Franklin Primary and Lauretta B. Millsop Primary School in Brooke County; Geneva Kent Elementary School in Cabell County; Johnson Elementary, Simpson Elementary, Bridgeport Middle and Bridgeport High School in Harrison County; Evans Elementary and Ravenswood Middle School in Jackson County; C. W. Shipley Elementary, Shepherdstown Elementary and Shepherdstown Middle in Jefferson County; Justice Elementary and Verdunville Elementary School in Logan County; East Dale Elementary, Fairview Elementary and Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County; the Mineral County Career and Technical Center; Cheat Lake Elementary, Easton Elementary, North Elementary, Suncrest Primary and Suncrest Middle School in Monongalia County; Bethlehem Elementary, Steenrod Elementary, West Liberty Elementary, Woodsdale Elementary, Triadelphia Middle and Warwood Middle School in Ohio County; the career and technical center at Pocahontas County High School; Hollywood Elementary and Maxwell Hill Elementary School in Raleigh County; Pickens School in Randolph County, Union Elementary School in Upshur County; career and technical centers at Spring Valley High, Tolsia High and Wayne High School in Wayne County; Greenmont Elementary and Jackson Middle School in Wood County; Mullens Middle School in Wyoming County.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sixty-five public schools in West Virginia, including several in Kanawha,  Putnam and Jackson counties, were honored as exemplary schools by the state Board of Education at a dinner Monday night at Embassy Suites.

To be eligible, the schools needed to perform strongly on the WESTEST 2, a standardized test of reading, math, science and social studies and writing. Also, the student attendance rate needed to be 94 percent or better, while high school graduation rates needed to be 85 percent or better. Also, high schools needed to show that their students have completed advanced-level classes and a majority of their graduates planned to continue their education.

Both Liberty Elementary School in Hancock County and Wirt High School in Wirt County received the National Blue Ribbon Schools award, for having exceptional education achievement.

Other schools recognized are:

Kanawha County: Chamberlain Elementary, Holz Elementary, Kenna Elementary, Montrose Elementary, Overbrook Elementary, Ruthlawn Elementary, Weberwood Elementary, John Adams Middle, George Washington High School, Ben Franklin Career and Technical Center and Garnet Career Center;

Putnam County: Confidence Elementary, Eastbrook Elementary, Hometown Elementary, Poca Elementary, Scott Teays Elementary, West Teays Elementary, Poca Middle, Hurricane High and Winfield High School.

Other exemplary schools are:

Kasson Elementary/Middle School in Barbour County; Hedgesville Elementary and Marlowe Elementary School in Berkeley County; Davis Elementary in Braxton County; Beech Bottom Primary, Franklin Primary and Lauretta B. Millsop Primary School in Brooke County; Geneva Kent Elementary School in Cabell County; Johnson Elementary, Simpson Elementary, Bridgeport Middle and Bridgeport High School in Harrison County; Evans Elementary and Ravenswood Middle School in Jackson County; C. W. Shipley Elementary, Shepherdstown Elementary and Shepherdstown Middle in Jefferson County; Justice Elementary and Verdunville Elementary School in Logan County; East Dale Elementary, Fairview Elementary and Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County; the Mineral County Career and Technical Center; Cheat Lake Elementary, Easton Elementary, North Elementary, Suncrest Primary and Suncrest Middle School in Monongalia County; Bethlehem Elementary, Steenrod Elementary, West Liberty Elementary, Woodsdale Elementary, Triadelphia Middle and Warwood Middle School in Ohio County; the career and technical center at Pocahontas County High School; Hollywood Elementary and Maxwell Hill Elementary School in Raleigh County; Pickens School in Randolph County, Union Elementary School in Upshur County; career and technical centers at Spring Valley High, Tolsia High and Wayne High School in Wayne County; Greenmont Elementary and Jackson Middle School in Wood County; Mullens Middle School in Wyoming County.