The Southern Regional Education Board has selected Blackman High School in Rutherford County as a national model for its successful implementation of the High Schools That Work (HSTW) school improvement program.

SREB is a prominent education improvement research organization focused on the performance of 16 southern states compared to the nation.

The four Greene County high schools are among those with whom the organization currently is working.

Of more than 1,200 schools using the HSTW program, 25 were chosen for the honor of being named a HSTW Pacesetter School.

"High Schools That Work guides schools in meeting ambitious goals for student achievement," Acting Education Commissioner Tim Webb said. "To be named a model for the nation by this respected organization is a tremendous honor."

The designation means Blackman High School will be a model site for the next two years. To earn this award, each school had to have 85 percent of students meet at least one HSTW readiness goal; complete one or more parts of the HSTW curriculum; complete a concentration; and achieve 'high implementation' status.

"The Southern Regional Education Board has been helping states translate school improvement data and research into successful practices for a long time," Assistant Education Commissioner Ralph Barnett said.

"We know we are on the right track at Blackman and elsewhere across the state."

Blackman High School serves more than 1,680 students and has a graduation rate of 91.8 percent.

HSTW trains middle and high school leaders and teachers on research-based ways to raise student achievement and is in use in 31 states.

Blackman High School will be recognized at 3 p.m. meeting on Wednesday, July 9, during the 2008 HSTW Summer Staff Development Conference at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.