Today, January 31, 2020, in Washington, D.C., Character.org, announced that Hilldale Elementary School and Valley View Elementary School, both schools in the Montville Township Public Schools district, have been named NEW JERSEY STATE SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER for 2020. Character.org is a national advocate and leader for character in schools, families, sports teams, and the workplace. The Montville Township, New Jersey, schools are two of only 81 throughout the nation that received the STATE SCHOOL OF CHARACTER designation.  

Charactrer.org named 81 schools and 7 districts as State Schools of Character for 2020. In addition, one international school received certification.

Hilldale and Valley View will now be considered for NATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHARACTER designation.

Since 2016, four of the district’s other schools have been named both State and National Schools of Character. Those schools are: Cedar Hill Elementary School, William Mason Elementary School, Woodmont Elementary School and Robert R. Lazar Middle School. In addition, the Montville Township Public Schools district received the NATIONAL DISTRICT OF CHARACTER designation in 2018.

Criteria for selection are based on Character.org’s 11 Principles of Character  which include providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership, and engaging families and communities as partners in the character-building effort. 

“I am extremely proud of Hilldale and Valley View for receiving this outstanding recognition,” Superintendent Dr. René Rovtar said.” It represents integrated dedication to character education and a commitment –- from faculty, staff, students, administrators and families -- to the entire community.”

“Character education is a priority in all seven Montville Township Public Schools, Rovtar added, noting: “Character education initiatives have a positive impact on individual students and the community at large. I thank Character.org for this significant acknowledgement. I also thank all members of the district’s faculty and staff for their on-going dedication to character education.”

The 2020 National Schools of Character will be announced in May 2020. Character.org will honor these schools and districts at the 2020 National Forum  to be held Oct 1-3, 2020 in Washington, DC. 

Since its inception, Character.org’s Schools of Character program has positively impacted nearly 3 million students, staff, parents, and other community members. Each year, Character.org certifies schools and districts at the state level that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development which has a positive effect on academic achievement, student behavior, and school climate. Schools and districts announced today will be considered for Character.org’s highest distinction – National School of Character. (See the complete list of 2020 State Schools of Character below.)

“We are pleased to announce today the 2020 State Schools and Districts of Character,” said Dr. Arthur Schwartz, Character.org‘s Board Chair and Interim CEO. “These schools’ representatives, including educators, parents, and students, are working together to create stronger communities that exemplify the character strengths of honesty, caring, and responsibility. We are honored to be validating their efforts and sharing their inspiring work with schools and school districts throughout the United States.”

“We could not be more proud of this accomplishment and district recognition! To be named a State District of Character is the culmination of a multi-year goal that has involved every stakeholder in our community. It has been our privilege to create a culture and climate that values the development of a deliberate effort to build better citizens and a community of character,” said Daniel Novak, Director of Education, West Milford Township Public Schools.

To learn more about the schools chosen today and those in the midst of their 5-year certification as State Schools of Character, please visit Character.org. 

About Character.org:  Founded in 1993, Character.org is a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. We work with schools, families, workplaces, and communities to educate, inspire, and empower people of all ages to be ethical and compassionate citizens. Our 11 Principles of Effective Character is a comprehensive framework that helps schools improve academic achievement, student behavior, and overall positive school climate. Visit www.character.org to learn more about the National Forum and the Schools of Character program.     

List of State Schools and Districts 

International

COLOMBIA SCHOOL OF CHARACTER

Colegio Nueva Granada, Colombia 

STATE SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER

**Denotes State District of Character

ALABAMA

Hartselle Intermediate School

Huntington Place Elementary

Vestavia Hills Elementary at Cahaba Heights

Walker Elementary School 

ARIZONA

Imagine Bell Canyon

Imagine Coolidge Elementary

FLORIDA

Imagine Kissimmee Charter Academy

Imagine Schools at South Lake

GEORGIA

Rocky Branch Elementary School

ILLINOIS

**Harmony 175

KANSAS

Complete High School Maize

KENTUCKY

St. Matthews Elementary

MICHIGAN

Wattles Elementary

MINNESOTA

Cologne Academy

Waseca Jr. and Sr. High School

MISSOURI

Bayless Junior High School

Brown Elementary School

Cold Water Elementary

Concord Elementary School

Crestview Middle School

Highcroft Ridge Elementary

James E. Freer Elementary

Oak Brook Elementary School

Oakville High School

Orchard Farm Elementary School

Selvidge Middle School

Spoede Elementary School

Windsor High School

Wren Hollow Elementary School

NEW JERSEY

Aaron Decker School

Camden County Technical School

Camden County Technical Schools’ Pennsauken Campus

Catherine A. Dwyer School

Central Jersey College Prep

Cherry Hill High School West

Crescent Elementary School

Dennis B. O’Brien Elementary

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School #52

**Eastern Christian School Association

Grice Middle School

Hilldale Elementary School

Horace Mann Elementary School

Jefferson School

John E. Dwyer Technology Academy

Joseph H. Brensinger PS #17

Juan Pablo Duarte- Jose Julian Marti

Kindergarten Success Academy

**Lawrence Township Public Schools

M. Scott Carpenter Elementary School

Macopin Middle School

Marcus W. Newcomb Middle School

Memorial Elementary School

Old Bridge High School

**Old Bridge Township Public Schools

Oxford Central School

Pemberton Township High School

Saint Leo the Great School

Saint Peter School

Southwood Elementary School 

Thomas Paine Elementary School

Valley View School

Victor Mravlag School No. 21

Waldwick Middle School

Walter M. Schirra Elementary School

**West Milford Township Public Schools

William A. Miller Elementary School

William F. Halloran School No. 22

NEW YORK

Bridgeport Elementary

Harvey Austin Elementary School

Jonas E. Salk Middle School

Mildred E. Strang Middle School

PENNSYLVANIA

Afton Elementary School

Bucks County Technical High School

Edgewood Elementary School

Fallsington Elementary School

M.M. Seylar Elementary School

Oxford Valley Elementary School

**Pennsbury School District 

Pennwood Middle School

Quarry Hill Elementary School

William Penn Middle School

TEXAS

Clearbrook High School

Fort Settlement Middle School

Harmony School of Innovation – Houston

Mambrino STEAM Academy

School of Science and Technology – Alamo

Woodridge Elementary Alamo Heights

Zwink Elementary 

VIRGINIA

**Imagine Schools