COLUMBUS ? A national program is recognizing a southeast Kansas high school with a high number of low-income students for its academic achievements.

Columbus Unified High School in Cherokee County has been chosen as one of five National Association of Secondary School Principals Breakthrough schools. The program was co-sponsored by the MetLife Foundation.

School principal Steve Jameson told The Pittsburg Morning Sun that he wasn’t surprised by the award, because he knew the school had worked hard to meet the program’s requirements.

About 45.3 percent of the school’s students live at or below the poverty line, and 54 percent of the entire district is considered low-income.