Five schools in Chautauqua County have been identified as high achieving and high progress by New York state.

MaryEllen Elia, commissioner of the state Education Department, announced Tuesday all Recognition Schools for the 2018-2019 year.

Under New York’s Every Student Succeeds Act Plan, 2018-19 Recognition Schools have high academic achievement, student growth and graduation rate, and have made progress during the 2017-18 school year. Each Recognition School — 562 in total across the state — will receive a certificate of recognition from the commissioner.

Local school recognized Tuesday include Bemus Point Elementary School, Fredonia High School, Panama K-6, Southwestern High School and Sherman Elementary School.

“The teachers and administrators at these Recognition Schools have taken to heart the critical mission of educating the whole child,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. “Our priority is fostering equity for our children across New York. These schools serve as models of the levels of performance we seek for all schools to be able to achieve in the future.”

Recognition Schools are identified as such because they are among the top performing under ESSA for performance, student growth and/or graduation rate; met or exceeded either the school or state measures of interim progress for English language arts and mathematics, rate of Chronic Absenteeism, and College, Career, and Civic Readiness; and met the federally required 95 percent participation rate in the English language arts and mathematics assessments.

“We are taking a more holistic approach to school and student achievement under ESSA and I am excited to recognize these schools for their accomplishments and progress,” Elia said. “I commend the teachers, administrators, staff, parents and students for the hard work and dedication they bring each day-it is truly paying off.”

Of the identified schools, 241 are located in New York City, 280 are located in the rest of the state and 41 are public charter schools. In addition, 131 of these schools were identified as Reward Schools last year.