By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – A national magazine has named the Alabaster City School System to its “Districts of Distinction” list for the first half of 2016, the magazine announced on July 6.

In its July edition, District Administration magazine named ACS among 23 other school districts from across the nation in its most recent Districts of Distinction list, which was created “to honor school districts that are leading the way with new ideas that work,” according to the magazine. The magazine honors Districts of Distinction school systems twice a year.

“Honorees were selected based on the quantifiable results and replicability of their initiatives,” according to the magazine. “The 24 school systems honored in this round of Districts of Distinction, from 16 states, have launched programs that range from partnering with outside organizations for career training to providing healthy breakfasts in classrooms to facilitate learning.”

In its listing, ACS earned praise for launching programs to increase its graduation rate from about 89 percent in 2013 to 98 percent this year.

“An analysis of transcripts showed that students were most vulnerable at the middle school level, so the district launched initiatives targeting this population,” the magazine read. “A summer program provides an opportunity for students who have been held back to work on standards they did not master during the school year—so that they can rejoin their grade.

“Another program allows students to recover credits at their own pace to graduate on time,” read the ACS listing. “Graduation coaches also monitor at-risk students and Warrior, a therapy dog, provides support.”

ACS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers praised the school system’s teachers, administrators, support staff and central office staff for the honor.

“We are very excited. It says a lot about our school system, which is a pre-K through 12^th-grade effort,” Vickers said. “This is a sign that we are all working together and we are striving to make a difference.”

To view the entire list, visit Districtadministration.com/dod.