State education officials saluted 60 Midlands schools Wednesday for high levels of academic achievement and improvement in closing achievement gaps.

The recognition is part of the annual Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver awards.

Ratings are based on report cards of more than 1,000 schools across South Carolina.

Area schools receiving awards in one or more categories are:

Kershaw County: Blaney Elementary, Lugoff Elementary, Camden High, Lugoff-Elgin High and North Central High.

Lexington 1: Lexington High, Gilbert Elementary, Lexington Intermediate, Oak Grove Elementary, Lexington Middle, White Knoll Elementary, Midway Elementary, Lake Murray Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Pleasant Hill Middle, Carolina Springs Middle, New Providence Elementary, Pelion High, White Knoll High and Lexington Technology Center

Lexington 2: Springdale Elementary, Taylor Elementary and Brookland-Cayce High

Lexington 4: Swansea High and Sandhills Elementary

Lexington-Richland 5: Chapin High, Chapin Elementary, Dutch Fork Elementary, Irmo Elementary, CrossRoads Middle, Nursery Road Elementary, Chapin Middle, Dutch Fork High, Lake Murray Elementary, River Springs Elementary, Dutch Fork Middle, Ballentine Elementary and Oak Pointe Elementary Richland 1: Brennen Elementary, Gadsden Elementary, Rosewood Elementary, Satchel Ford Elementary, Webber Elementary, Brockman Elementary, Logan Elementary, Burton-Pack Elementary, South Kilbourne Elementary, Dreher High and A.C. Flora High Richland 2: Bethel-Hanberry Elementary, Nelson Elementary, Center for Knowledge, North Springs Elementary, Blythewood Middle, Bookman Road Elementary, Lake Carolina Elementary, Round Top Elementary, Sandlapper Elementary, Polo Road Elementary and Bridge Creek Elementary

– Tim Flach