Several area schools were feted Monday for their performance on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test. The Golden Apple Award was presented to 14 schools in the categories of "highest achieving" and "most improved." Accompanying the trophy is $50,000 to be used for school improvement.

"It's an honor and a pleasure to be able to acknowledge outstanding academic achievement," said Michigan Merit Award Executive Director Mark B. Leyda who presented the awards.

To qualify for a Golden Apple Award, K-5 elementary schools with 50 or more enrolled must have at least 80% of their students take the MEAP test and meet the following criteria:

• The composite score for the students who took the MEAP test increased at least 60 points over

the past three academic years; and/or

• The test scores are among the highest elementary school scores in the state for that school year.

School districts that meet these requirements receive a Golden Apple Award of $10,000, plus an additional $1,000 per full-time employee of the school, for a minimum award of $50,000 received for school improvements.

Ten schools also received the Governor's Cup–a trophy recognizing the school with the highest number of Michigan Merit Award recipients within their athletic conference.

In an earlier presentation to Governor's Cup winners by Governor John Engler, he remarked, "It’s important to ask schools to be accountable, but it is also important to recognize these schools when they achieve results. The Governor’s Cup is my way of acknowledging and thanking those students, teachers and administrators who have worked hard to improve the quality of Michigan schools."

Golden Apple Award Recipients

• Barrows School, Three Rivers

• Centreville Elementary School, Centreville

• Chikaming Elementary School, River Valley

• Climax-Scotts Intermediate School, Climax-Scotts

• Cooper Elementary School, Plainwell

• Lawrence Elementary School, Lawrence

• Level Park School, Battle Creek

• Pansophia Academy, Pansophia

• Robert D. Brandon Elementary School, Martin

• South Walnut Elementary School, Bangor

• Springfield Middle School, Battle Creek

• Sterne Brunson School, Benton Harbor

• Three Oaks Elementary School, River Valley

• Washington School, Coldwater

Governor's Cup Recipients

• Bridgman High School, Red Arrow Conference

• Buchanan High School, Lakeland Athletic Conference

• Coldwater High School, Twin Valley Athletic Association

• Decatur Jr./Sr. High School, Southwestern Athletic Conference

• Gull Lake High School, Wolverine "B" Conference

• Mattawan High School, Kalamazoo Valley Association

• Michigan Lutheran Christian High School, Cornerstone Athletic Conference

• Portage Central High School, Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference

• Quincy High School, Big 8 Conference

• Schoolcraft High School, Saint Joseph Valley League

A statewide list of Golden Apple Award and Governor's Cup winners is available on the Department of Treasury Web site at: http://www.michigan.gov/treasury.