NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2025 
CHARACTER.ORG RECOGNIZES 98 STATE-LEVEL SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER AND 5 DISTRICTS OF CHARACTER
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 4, 2025) — Character.org, a national advocate and leader for character, today designated 98 state-level Schools of Character, 5 Districts of Character, and 8 International Schools of Character (See below for the complete list of 2025 State Schools of Character.)
Character.org certifies schools and districts each year at the state level that have developed and implemented an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach that embeds character into all aspects of the school life. Schools and districts announced today will be considered for our National School of Character distinction, the highest honor a school or district can receive from Character.org.
Since its inception, Character.org’s Schools of Character program has positively impacted over three million students, staff, parents, and other community members.
“We are excited to announce today the 2025 State Schools and Districts of Character,” said Dr. Arthur Schwartz, Character.org’s President. “Each of these schools and districts have put into place an initiative that equips and empowers their staff to reinforce and model a range of positive core values that will shape and form the hearts, minds, and choices of their students.” To learn more about the schools chosen today, please visit Character.org.
Criteria for selection are based on Character.org’s 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character. The Framework includes key indicators on creating a caring school community where everyone feels they belong, providing students with opportunities to practice and reflect on their character strengths, and engaging families and communities as partners in the school’s character initiative.
ABOUT CHARACTER.ORG: Character.org is a worldwide network of educators, researchers, and civic leaders that empowers people of all ages to practice and model the character strengths and core values that shape the hearts, minds and choices of every person. Founded in 1993 and formerly known as the Character Education Partnership, Character.org is widely known for our 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character. The organization’s vision is to be the global leader and voice for developing character in families, schools, and organizations.
For more information, visit Character.org, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Contact: Dr. Arthur Schwartz
President, Character.org
arthur@character.org
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List of 2025 State Schools and Districts of Character
**denotes District of Character
Alabama:
Brock’s Gap Intermediate School
Central Elementary School-AL
Central Freshman Academy
Hartselle Intermediate School
Huntington Place Elementary
Louis Pizitz Middle School
Meadowlane Elementary School
N.E. Miles Jewish Day School
Northridge Middle School
Rock Quarry Elementary
Vestavia Hills Elementary at Cahaba Heights
Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge
Arkansas:
LISA Academy North High
Florida:
Orlando Science Middle School
Bevis Elementary School
Imagine South Lake Charter School
Imagine Kissimmee Charter Academy
Orlando Science High School
**River City Science Academy
River City Science Academy Intracoastal K-8
Georgia:
Rocky Branch Elementary School
Illinois:
Forest Park Individual Education School
Michigan:
Birmingham Seaholm High School
Hamilton Elementary School
Smith Middle School
Tobey Elementary School
Troy High School
Wass Elementary School
West Maple Elementary
Minnesota:
Woodbury Middle School
Missouri:
Babler Elementary
Bayless Junior High
Crestview Middle School
EPiC Elementary
Hanna Woods Elementary School
Long Elementary School
Nike Elementary School
Nipher Middle School
Oak Brook Elementary School
Oakville High School
Reed Elementary School
Ridge Meadows Elementary
Riverbend Middle School
Robertsville Elementary
Ross Elementary School
Selvidge Middle School
New Jersey:
Apshawa Elementary School
Camden County Technical Schools – Gloucester Township Campus
Camden County Technical Schools-Pennsauken Campus
Central Elementary School-NJ
**Eastern Christian School Association
Frank J. Smith School
J. Harvey Rodgers School
Juan Pablo Duarte – Jose Julian Marti, School # 28
Macopin Middle School
Marcus W. Newcomb Middle School
Mary E. Volz School
Memorial Elementary School
Old Bridge High School
**Old Bridge Township Public Schools
Pemberton Township High School
**Roxbury Public Schools
Sayen Elementary School
Southwood Elementary School
Victor Mravlag School No. 21
Walter M. Schirra Elementary School
William A. Miller Elementary School
William F. Halloran School 22
New Mexico:
Albuquerque School of Excellence
New York:
Bridgeport Elementary School
Brilla College Prep Elementary
Brilla College Prep Middle
Eastplain Elementary School
Jonas E.Salk Middle School
Plainedge High School
North Carolina:
North Shelby School
Patriots STEM Elementary School
Oklahoma:
Dove Science Academy Tulsa
Tennessee:
Memphis School of Excellence Cordova Secondary
Texas:
Clear Brook High School
Fort Settlement Middle School
**Harmony Public Schools-North Texas Secondary District
Harmony School of Innovation-Austin
Harmony School of Innovation-El Paso Middle/High
Harmony School of Innovation-Grand Prairie
Harmony School of Innovation-Houston
Harmony School of Innovation-Laredo
Harmony Science Academy-Austin
Harmony Science Academy-Beaumont Middle High
Harmony Science Academy-Bryan
Harmony Science Academy-Euless
Harmony Science Academy-Katy Elementary
Harmony Science Academy-Katy Middle (4-7)
Harmony Science Academy-Laredo
Harmony Science Academy-San Antonio
Harmony Science Academy-Sugar Land
Horizon Leadership Academy
Klein Forest High School
School of Science and Technology Alamo
School of Science and Technology Champions
School of Science and Technology The Woodlands
Southside Elementary School
Woodridge Elementary School
International:
Colegio Nueva Granada, Bogota
International School of Bucharest
Seitek Primary School, Bishkek
Stonyhurst Southville International School-Malarayat Campus, Lipa City
Școala Gimnazială Internațională Spectrum Ploiești
Scoala Primara Spectrum, Bucuresti/Spectrum Primary School, Bucharest
The International Computer High School Constanta
United World International School Central Campus, Bishkek
