Twenty-three individual schools in New Jersey also made the national list.
Two New Jersey school districts were among a small number recognized nationally as "Districts of Character" for their work teaching kids what it means to have good character.
Cherry Hill Public Schools in Camden County and New Providence School District in Union County made Character.org's list of Districts of Character for 2017, while 23 schools in the state were named Schools of Character.
The districts and schools will now be in the running for national designations from Character.org, formerly known as the Character Education Partnership, based on the organization's 11 principles of character education.
According to a press release from New Providence schools, the educational movement encourages schools to work on students' ethical, social and emotional development, in addition to traditional classrooms skills.
Important parts of character development include teaching morality, honesty, fairness, responsibility, creativity and respect, and teachers and parents are encouraged to give students opportunities for "moral action," the release said.
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Cherry Hill Superintendent Joseph Meloche said in a statement that the district has been committed to character education in all of its 19 schools.
"On behalf of our entire school community and Board of Education, I am delighted that our district as a whole has been recognized for the work of our students, staff and administrators to foster a culture that develops not only academic achievement, but excellent student behavior and a positive school climate in all of our schools," he said. "We will continue this work moving forward, always seeking to strengthen and expand our character education initiatives."
Two Cherry Hill elementary schools, A. Russell Knight and Bret Harte, were also named to the list of 2017 Schools of Character.
New Providence Superintendent David Miceli congratulated students and staff for their work designing and implementing the character development programs in the district. "Your efforts and passion in our mission have made this achievement possible," he said in the release.
All of the schools and districts that made the lists will be considered for the title of national school or district of character by Character.org.
Twenty-three of the 80 Schools of Character for 2017 are in New Jersey and will be recognized during the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development conference at Rider University May 19. They are listed below.
- A. Russell Knight Elementary School, Cherry Hill
- Alexander Denbo Elementary School, Pemberton
- Bret Harte Elementary School, Cherry Hill
- Broad Street School, Bridgeton
- Burlington County Alternative School, Mount Laurel
- Campbell Elementary School, Metuchen
- Cinnaminson Middle School, Cinnaminson
- Essex County North 13th Street Tech High School, Newark
- Frank J. Smith School, East Hanover
- Harrison Elementary School, Roselle
- Helen A. Fort/Marcus Newcomb Middle School, Pemberton
- Howard L. Emmons Elementary School, Pemberton
- Jonas Salk Middle School, Old Bridge
- Mahala F. Atchison School, Tinton Falls
- Merriam Avenue School, Newton
- Morgan Elementary School, Hamilton
- New Brunswick Middle School, New Brunswick
- Paradise Knoll School, Oak Ridge
- Somerset Intermediate School, North Plainfield
- Tinton Falls Middle School, Tinton Falls
- Toms River High School East, Toms River
- Whitehouse Elementary School, Whitehouse Station
- Yardville School, Hamilton
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