ISLE OF WIGHT—Two elementary schools in southern Isle of Wight are among four in the county recognized with Virginia Index of Performance incentive program awards from the state Board of Education Tuesday.

“We are very proud of our students and staff,” said school division spokeswoman Katherine Goff.

The Virginia Index of Performance incentive program was created in 2007 to recognize high-performing public schools and school divisions.

For the third consecutive year, Carrsville Elementary received the Board of Education Excellence Award. The school is one of 288 across the state to earn the award, which is the second-tier honor in the Virginia Index of Performance program.

In order to qualify for the Excellence Award, schools were required to meet all state and federal accountability benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and make significant progress toward goals for increased student achievement and expanded educational opportunities set by Gov. Tim Kaine and the Board of Education. Carrollton Elementary also received the Excellence Award.

Windsor Elementary is among the 281 schools to receive the Board of Education Competence to Excellence Award. In order to qualify for this award, schools had to meet all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and make progress toward the goals of the governor and the Board of Education. Hardy Elementary in Smithfield also received the Competence to Excellence Award.

Windsor Elementary received the Excellence Award in 2008 and 2009, according to Goff.

“We are definitely pleased that our schools continue to show a commitment to meeting and exceeding state benchmarks,” Goff said.

Goff added that ongoing budget cuts could affect the school division’s ability to offer certain programs in the future.

However, she said the division is “continuing to work toward meeting and exceeding state benchmarks,” despite looming budget cuts.