PICKENS COUNTY — School district officials announced Tuesday that three Pickens County high schools are among 79 across the state to receive the ACT/SAT Performance Improvement Award.

Daniel, Easley and Pickens High schools received the award from the S.C. Department of Education, according to Julie Thompson, spokesperson for the School District of Pickens County.

The award showcases schools that showed high performance on the ACT or SAT, and those that have had rapid or continuous improvement on their scores, Thompson said.

Recipients from 42 of the state’s 85 school districts will get banners and certificates of achievement, she said.

Superintendent Henry Hunt said students, staff and parents have set high goals and worked hard to achieve success.

“To have three of our four high schools achieve this award is outstanding,” he said. “I commend everyone involved in this accomplishment.”

The ASPI program has three types of awards for high performance and three types for high improvement, according to Valerie Harrison with the S.C. Department of Education.

Awards for high performance go to schools whose average composite score exceeds the national average, whose improvement in composite score exceeds state average, or whose score is in the top-tenth percentile in the state

The improvement award is given to schools whose scores exceed the state average and level of significant improvement, and who show improvement over a three-year period.

Daniel High School was awarded both the ACT Performance Improvement Award and SAT Performance Improvement Award, Summa Cum Laude, for distinguished performance.

Picken High School was awarded the SAT Performance Improvement Award, Suma Cum Laude for excellent improvement.

And Easley High School was awarded the SAT Performance Improvement Award, Magna Cum Laude, for Excellent Performance and Rapid Improvement.