A total of 100 U.S. communities have been honored by national nonprofit organizations for their efforts to keep high school kids on track to graduate.
The 100 Best Communities For Young People competition has been held since 2005 by the America's Promise Alliance. The program is open to all school districts across the nation that have shown a dedication to ensuring that their students receive the education they need to pursue success in college and the workforce.
This year, more than 350 communities were nominated for the competition. The winners are located in 37 states, and almost one-third are first-time recipients of the honor.
The initiative is "an inspiring national movement that seeks to ensure that every young person graduates," said Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO of the Alliance. "These winning communities are helping to build a generation of assertive, successful and dynamic young people that are the future of our country."
She and chairperson Alma J. Powell, together with ING Foundation president Rhonda Mims, will highlight the winners at a ceremony in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall. The event will feature a expansive ceremonial map, on which the winning communities will be marked.
