Twenty-five schools in Greater Cincinnati are among 213 in Ohio that will receive School Improvement Incentive Awards for showing the greatest improvement on state proficiency tests.

        Gov. Bob Taft and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Tave Zelman announced Tuesday that the winners will receive more than $6.5 million.

        “The students and schools challenged themselves to do better on proficiency tests — and they did it with great success,” Mr. Taft said.

        Schools include:

        • 166 elementary schools, each receiving awards of $25,000 for improvement on the fourth- and sixth-grade proficiency tests.

        • 16 middle schools will getting $50,000 for improvement on sixth-grade proficiency tests.

        • 31 junior and senior high schools, $50,000 each for improvement on the ninth-grade proficiency tests.

        Their awards are to be spent on staff development, classroom equipment, materials and/or books.

        Schools were compared based on their improvement from the 2000 Report Card to the 2001 Report Card. Each district's state report card lists of one of four designations that measure the district's success: effective, continuous improvement, academic watch and academic emergency.

        The following local elementary schools improved on the fourth-grade proficiency test and will receive $25,000 each:

        • Grant (Hamilton City Schools); St. Bernard (St. Bernard-Elmwood Place); Allison Street and Williams Avenue (Norwood); Glendale (Princeton); Central Academy Nongraded Elementary (Middletown-Monroe); Charles W. Springmyer (Oak Hills); Felicity-Franklin (Felicity-Franklin); and Hyde Park (Cincinnati).

        The following local elementary schools improved on the sixth-grade proficiency test and will receive $25,000 each:

        • New Burlington and Hoop (Mount Healthy); Parham, Whittier and Carthage Paideia (Cincinnati); Wilson and Amanda (Middletown); William C. Schenck (Franklin City); Hays, Heinold and Carson Montessori, (Cincinnati); Miamitown (Southwest Local); Sharonville (Princeton); and Waycross (Winton Woods).

        Madison Middle School (Madison Local) improved in the sixth-grade proficiency test and will receive $50,000. Felicity-Franklin High School (Felicity-Franklin) improved in the ninth-grade proficiency test and will receive $50,000.

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