State honors 74 public schools — including Southwest Junior High — for students’ high standardized test scores

? Kansas is honoring 74 public schools for their students’ high scores on standardized reading and math tests.

Southwest Junior High School was the only Lawrence school recognized for its performance.

The state Department of Education says 42 elementary schools have received the Governor’s Achievement Awards. Twelve middle schools or junior high schools and 20 high schools also received the honor.

The award honors the top-performing schools on standardized tests. To qualify, a school must have been among the top 5 percent in scores on reading and math tests given earlier this year, and at least 15 percent of its students must have had exemplary scores in both.

Also, the high schools must have strong graduation rates, and the elementary, middle and junior high schools must have low student absenteeism.