Educators and school districts don’t do their jobs for awards — but it sure is nice when they receive them.

Recently, Dawson-Bryant High School and Chesapeake High School both received bronze awards on the 2010 list of America’s Best High School from U.S. News and World Report.

Schools are measured on their state accountability test scores for all the school’s students in reading and math. Proficiency rates by their least advantaged students groups must exceed state averages.

The list is based on an analysis of more than 21,000 public high schools in 48 states across the country.

We congratulate both districts for a job well done and commend everyone involved for making this national honor possible.

This includes the administration, the staff, the teachers, the parents, and, of course, the students.

Without all these groups working together achievements like these wouldn’t be possible.

We feel that all of Lawrence County’s schools continue to be one of the region’s strongest assets and will play a role in the growth and development of southern Ohio.

All this is in despite the fact that Ohio’s school funding system remains flawed and districts in many rural regions of the state are still at a significant disadvantage compared to many school districts in more affluent parts of the state.

We hope the Chesapeake and Dawson-Bryant districts take a few moments to enjoy this success and then start working toward maintaining it.

For the other schools in the county, we hope this lights the competitive fires and they work to continue the progress each has made in recent years.

The best possible education for all Lawrence County students is the best reward there is.