Two Effingham County schools earned recognition from the Georgia Department of Education as Title I reward schools this year.

Rincon Elementary School was designated as one of the state’s highest-performing schools. A highest-performing school is among the five percent of the state’s Title I schools with the highest performance, over three years, for all students on statewide assessments.

Springfield Elementary made the list of highest-progress schools. Those are the 10 percent of Georgia’s Title I schools making the most improvement in student performance over three years on statewide assessments.

The designations earned Rincon Elementary $7,000 from the state and Springfield Elementary $4,500. The funds can be put toward academic needs the schools have, according to Effingham County Schools Superintendent Randy Shearouse.

Schools receive federal Title I funding based on their number of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Shearouse presented state Title I reward school certificates to RES Principal Paige Dickey and SES Principal Terri Johnson at the Effingham County Board of Education’s December meeting.

“We certainly want to commend both of you for a job well done,” said school board Chairman Lamar Allen.