Eleven Cherokee County schools have been recognized by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement for outstanding performance on state curriculum tests.

The awards for student performance were announced this week in two categories, Greatest Gains and Highest Performance, and on four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The recognition is based on the results of the most recent two years of Criterion Referenced Competency Test (grades 1 to 8 in reading, English/language arts, math, social studies and science) and/or the Georgia High School Graduation Test (11th-grade first-time test-takers in English/language arts, math, science and social studies).

Statewide, 108 schools were recognized for Greatest Gains, and 217 schools for Highest Performance.

Cherokee County School District schools receiving recognition in the Greatest Gains category include: Free Home Elementary, Platinum; Holly Springs Elementary, Platinum; Dean Rusk Middle, Platinum; and Woodstock Middle, Platinum.

Cherokee schools receiving recognition in the Highest Performance category include: Creekview High, Platinum; Etowah High, Platinum; Woodstock High, Platinum; Bascomb Elementary, Gold; Cherokee High, Silver; Sequoyah High, Silver; and Freedom Middle, Bronze.

Cherokee Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo upon receiving the list, issued congratulations to "our hard working students, teachers and administrators for this recognition."