CENTERVILLE, La. — Seven St. Mary Parish schools have been designated as Top Gains schools, each earning $8,500 for their work.

The schools — Berwick Junior High, Berwick High School, W.P. Foster Elementary, Morgan City High School, M.D. Shannon Elementary School, Wyandotte Elementary and B.E. Boudreaux Middle — are among 440 in the state to receive the designation.

To be designated a Top Gains school, a school must have improved its School Performance Score by or beyond a pre-determined growth target.

School performance scores are based largely on student test scores. They do also include measurable statistics such as dropout and school attendance rates.

The monetary rewards are for educational purposes within the school, according to a Department of Education press release.

Superintendent Donald Aguillard said the district has not yet received any guidance regarding the program, but “the money is likely to be used to support student achievement.”

Each principal and school leadership team should be working collaboratively to determine how best to spend the money, he added.

It is unclear when the checks will be received.

This program replaces distribution of flags to recognized and exemplary schools.