Newton High School is being honored as one of five "high-flying" schools, at a March conference at Georgia Southern University.

A high-flying school is one that has at least 50 percent of students living at or below poverty level, along with having a diverse student body. NHS, along with the other four schools, was picked for achieving academic success, community collaboration, citizenship development and democratic education.

"Newton High School faculty and students have worked very hard to increase student achievement and improve the school culture," said Principal Craig Lockhart. "I am fortunate to work with an awesome staff and great children. It is an honor for the Newton High community to receive this recognition. Go Rams!"

Newton County School Superintendent Gary Mathews congratulated the school as well, saying, "This most recent recognition of NHS is the result of the improvement efforts now underway entailing an involved faculty and outstanding building leadership. I am not surprised," he said via email.

The four-day conference has evolved since 1989 into one of the country’s premiere conferences in helping professionals deal with troubled children, according to a press release from the annual National Youth At-Risk conference, which will be hosting the conference.

More than a thousand educators, social workers and community leaders from across the U.S. will participate in the conference, which will address issues such as bullying in schools, overcoming poverty and substance abuse.