BURLINGTON - For the students and staff at Burlington Elementary School, last week's celebration must have seemed liked a case of d\u00E9ja vu.

Last week, the children and staff gathered to celebrate the school's designation by state officials as a School of Promise for its continued academic improvement. It was the second year in a row the school has earned the honor. Only eight schools in the state have received this two years in a row.

Principal Mark Christian said the designation is the result of constant review of academic performance and a willingness to try new approaches to learning.

"We've been trying different things. Everyone gets together and gives their input and helps in planning. We try something and if it works, we keep doing it and if we see that it doesn't work, we try something else," Christian said. "Our curriculum coordinator (Debbie York) helps in aligning curriculum, and makes sure everyone is on the same page and that we don't have a lot of duplication. And we do a lot of intervention with students, lots of remedial work."

Christian said last year that Burlington teachers amassed 427 intervention hours during the normal school day, hours spent helping academically at-risk students improve their grades.

Burlington is one of seven schools in Lawrence County to be designated a School of Promise by the Ohio Department of Education. The honor is given to schools "that are making substantial progress in ensuring high achievement for all students," according to a ODED prepared statement.

Other Lawrence County Schools of Promise were Chesapeake Elementary, Chesapeake Middle, Dawson-Bryant Middle, Dawson-Bryant High, Burlington Elementary and South Point Elementary.

Scioto County schools recognized as Schools of Promise were Green, Glenwood High, Sciotoville Community and Portsmouth West Elementary.