All five Highland schools earn Purple Star designation

Middle school earns PLTW Distinguished Gateway School recognition

by Melissa Martin

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Development recently announced that all five schools in the Highland Local School District (Granger Elementary, Hinckley Elementary, Sharon Elementary, Highland Middle School and Highland High School) have earned a Purple Star for their dedication to supporting military-connected students.

Ohio’s Purple Star Advisory Board sets strict criteria to be eligible for the designation that all buildings in the Highland district met.

“Ohio’s military-connected youth need support that considers their unique wellness and academic needs, especially during transitions, activations and deployments,” said ODEW Director Stephen Dackin. “The Purple Star award signifies your school’s proven commitment to serving these students and families.”

The Purple Star designation is valid for three years and expires in April 2029. Dackin said the schools will have the opportunity to review their designation in the fall of 2028.

Superintendent Catherine Aukerman said the Highland Local Schools recognizes and respects all those who serve the U.S. military, especially families.

“We are dedicated to aiding our military families by providing an individualized support team and additional resources to our miliary connected students,” she said. “We also consider ourselves ambassadors to the military by providing special programming and events that raise awareness and promote military opportunities and patriotism.”

Highland Middle School has been recognized by Project Lead the Way as a 2025-2026 Distinguished Gateway School, which recognizes schools across the U.S. for their efforts to provide broad access to transformative learning experiences.

Select schools across the nation are presented with the Distinguished Gateway School recognition for their commitment to increasing student access, engagement and achievement in career-connected STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning. The programs are designed to challenge students to think critically and solve complex problems in real-world settings.

To earn the Distinguished Gateway School award, the middle school had to meet rigorous criteria, including offering PLTW gateway units at each grade level, with at least 50% of students participating in the program and at least 25% of students completing two or more PLTW units during middle school.

“We are proud to honor Highland Schools for giving students hands-on, career-connected learning that builds the confidence, knowledge and skills to navigate their futures,” said David Dimmett, PLTW president and CEO.