RALEIGH — The Department of Public Instruction acknowledged scores of schools from around 13 districts in the state as part of the Purple Star Award Designation initiative which began in 2019.
The Purple Star award is given to applying schools which demonstrate both military-friendly practices and a commitment to military students and families. North Carolina is home to the third-largest military population in the country with over 790,000 military veterans currently living in state.
According to the Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), 288 schools, including five charter schools and seven Department of Defense Education Agency schools, will receive the Purple Star award for the 2020-2021 school year.
The year prior, four charter schools and 126 traditional schools in ten districts were recognized as Purple Star schools.
156 out of the 288 schools were new applicants. Seven of the eight districts this year receiving the Purple Star District Award are also first-time award recipients.
A virtual ceremony will be held on April 14 to honor the those receiving the award.
