COLUMBIA, MD — The National Educational Policy Center has named Hammond High School a National School of Opportunity. The center, which is a nonprofit based out of the University of Colorado in Boulder, aims to recognize schools that have made strides to close the achievement gap. To be considered, institutions submit an application demonstrating how they have worked to make progress on this front.

Approximately 34 percent of the students at Hammond High School in Columbia are considered disadvantaged. The student body includes nearly 1,300 students. Of those, fewer than 5 percent were considered limited English proficient and more than 10 percent receive special education services, according to the Howard County Public School System. Hammond was recognized by the Schools of Opportunity judges for its engaging approach that has helped all students challenge themselves. To encourage everyone to take higher level courses, the school eliminated lower-track classes as prerequisites and offered summer "Step It Up" workshops to help prepare students for increasing difficulty.

This measure helped increase the number of African-American students enrolling in Advanced Placement courses, according to the Howard County Public School System. Hammond has also reported increases in graduation rates among three groups from 2010 to 2016:

Among African-American students, the graduation rate increased from 80 percent to 92 percent.

For Hispanic students, the graduation rate increased from 81 to 95 percent.

Students with special needs went from a 56 percent graduation rate to an 80 percent graduation rate. Initiatives that Schools of Opportunity judges said contributed to closing achievement gaps at Hammond High School include support groups for African-American boys and extended-day programs with transportation that allow for participation in Hispanic Heritage Club, algebra boot camp, mentoring, homework assistance and college awareness programs. "Hammond's recognition as a School of Opportunity helps us communicate how our efforts to challenge students, support teachers and connect with families create engaging learning opportunities and solid preparation for higher education," Hammond High School Principal John DiPaula said in a statement.

Here are the schools that made the cut this year. The National Education Policy Center announced the Schools of Opportunity winners on Tuesday:



Six high schools were designated gold Schools of Opportunity for excellence in at least five critical areas, with at least three of them exemplary, while Hammond and Hinkley were honored as silver schools, meaning they excelled in four criteria, with at least two categorized as exemplary, The Washington Post reported. These are the 10 areas that schools must be able to show they have excelled in to be designated a School of Opportunity: