Four Rockwood R-VI schools have earned the 2026 National School of Character designation from Character.org, extending a streak that has now placed eight Rockwood schools on the national list in two years.

Crestview Middle School, Eureka High School, Lafayette High School, and Ridge Meadows Elementary are among just 72 schools worldwide and 15 in Missouri to receive the honor this year, the district announced Thursday. Last year, a different group of four Rockwood schools earned the same national recognition.

Eureka High earned both State and National School of Character status simultaneously, a first for the school.

"This honor belongs to all of you," Eureka High Principal Dr. Corey Sink told the school community. "This recognition is not the result of a single program but of a sustained commitment across classrooms, activities and everyday interactions."

Sink pointed to what the school calls the "Wildcat Way," a set of core values built around integrity, respect, empathy, critical thinking, and work ethic. He said the recognition reflects how students treat one another daily, not just academic performance.

The other three schools each advanced to National status after earning State recognition in prior years. Crestview Middle and Ridge Meadows Elementary received State honors in 2025; Lafayette High earned its State designation in 2024. Ridge Meadows is receiving National recognition for the first time, and Principal Dr. Amy Digman called it a community-wide achievement.

Character.org evaluates schools against its 11 Principles of Effective Character Education. The designation is valid for five years.

Across all years of the program, 23 Rockwood schools and programs have now been named National Schools of Character and 25 have earned State recognition. The district operates 29 schools.

Last year's Rockwood honorees included Babler Elementary in Wildwood, Chesterfield Elementary, Eureka Elementary, and Selvidge Middle School in Ballwin. Character.org announced this year's designations on April 14.