Six Clear Creek ISD elementary schools—Bauerschlag, Goforth, McWhirter, Ross, Stewart and Weber—were named 2019 National Schools of Character on May 10, according to a district press release.

The CCISD schools join the ranks of 13 Houston elementary schools and 88 schools nationwide that have earned the distinction. The schools will be honored Oct. 24-27 at the 2019 National Forum in Washington, D.C., according to the release.

“The teachers and students have dedicated each day to becoming leaders of character, so we are extremely honored to be recognized as a National School of Character,” Stewart Elementary Principal Britani Moses said. “Together as a community of parents, volunteers and teachers, we have committed to modeling and teaching our students how to live out each of the CCISD core values of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.”

The distinction was given by Character.org, a program that uses 11 principles to evaluate how the character development of campuses influences academics and behavior. In January, the program recognized Bauerschlag, McWhirter, Ross, Stewart, Weber and Whitcomb elementary schools as Texas Schools of Character.

“The strong foundation of CCISD core values made a commendation like this possible,” Ross Elementary Principal Kelly Mooney said. “This distinction is validation for the hard work Ross has focused on for the past four years, even when faced with hardships. Creating caring citizens is the cornerstone of what we do at Ross each day.”