Contact: Alexandra Wladich, Scholastic, 212-965-7353, awladich@scholastic.com

NEW YORK – September 26, 2018 – According to research from the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™: 6th Edition, 80% of kids and 96% of parents agree that “reading books during the summer will help me/my child during the school year.” This past summer, 509,867 students from all 50 states, two U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C., read 135,865,170 million minutes in the 2018 Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge™, a free, online summer reading program which aims to help students return to school reading-ready. Today, Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, is recognizing the top school in each state, U.S. territory, and Washington, D.C. with the most minutes read, awarding them the title of “Best in State,” as well as honoring the top public libraries and top community-based partner organizations that logged the most minutes in the Challenge. These top performers will each receive a commemorative plaque and celebration kit in recognition of their summer reading achievements, and will also be featured in the 2019 Scholastic Book of World Records to be released on October 30, 2018.

To learn more about the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge and to see the full list of winners, visit www.scholastic.com/summer.

Michael Haggen, Chief Academic Officer, Scholastic Education: “We recognize that the encouragement, support, and motivation provided by educators, librarians, community partners, and parents and family members is a driving force in ensuring that students read during the summer months and head back to school ready to tackle grade-level work. Today, we not only honor them, but we also celebrate the accomplishments of every child who contributed to the impressive 135,865,170 million minutes entered in the 2018 Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow their literacy skills and passion for reading throughout the school year.”

With nearly 3,000 schools, libraries, and community partners participating in this year’s Challenge, Scholastic is pleased to announce the 2018 “Best in State” Schools and the Top Libraries and Top Community Partner Organizations and their minutes read:

Best in State Schools:

• Alabama: Mt. Carmel Elementary, Huntsville (109,645)
• Alaska: Sand Lake Elementary School, Anchorage (35,627)
• Arizona: American Leadership Academy - Ironwood Elementary, Queen Creek (744,356)
• Arkansas: The New School, Fayetteville (102,674)
• California: Warm Springs Elementary School, Fremont (2,793,070)
• Colorado: Prospect Ridge Academy, Broomfield (606,590)
• Connecticut: Scotland Elementary School, Scotland (183,836)
• Delaware: Wilson Elementary School, Newark (472,324)
• Florida: Liberty Park Elementary, Greenacres (1,722,744)
• Georgia: Savannah Country Day School, Savannah (420,830)
• Hawaii: Laie Elementary School, Laie (386,847)
• Idaho: Peregrine Elementary School, Meridian (1,463,620)
• Illinois: Walnut Trails Elementary School, Shorewood (866,232)
• Indiana: Allisonville Elementary School, Indianapolis (452,732)
• Iowa: Resurrection School, Dubuque (331,121)
• Kansas: St. Thomas Aquinas School, Wichita (218,041)
• Kentucky: Lowe Elementary School, Louisville (927,084)
• Louisiana: Lisa Park Elementary School, Houma (3,265,541)
• Maine: Brewer Community School, Brewer (647,009)
• Maryland: Bradley Hills Elementary School, Bethesda (626,394)
• Massachusetts: James M. Quinn Elementary School, North Dartmouth (1,369,474)
• Michigan: Daisy Brook Elementary, Fremont (1,823,895)
• Minnesota: Maranatha Christian Academy, Brooklyn Park (516,812)
• Mississippi: Annunciation Catholic School, Columbus (782,335)
• Missouri: Spoede Elementary School, St. Louis (212,681)
• Montana: Belgrade Middle School, Belgrade (56,892)
• Nebraska: Stuart Public School, Stuart (1,251,502)
• Nevada: Jan Jones Blackhurst Elementary School, Las Vegas (66,148)
• New Hampshire: Rochester Middle School, Rochester (289,125)
• New Jersey: Newell Elementary School, Allentown (1,544,625)
• New Mexico: University Hills Elementary School, Las Cruces (2,018,258)
• New York: Denton Avenue Elementary School, New Hyde Park (776,496)
• North Carolina: Ballantyne Elementary School, Charlotte (1,284,341)
• North Dakota: Erik Ramstad Middle School, Minot (436,791)
• Ohio: Mulberry Elementary School, Milford (271,687)
• Oklahoma: Hawthorne Elementary School, Oklahoma City (28,349)
• Oregon: Manzanita Elementary School, Grants Pass (296,864)
• Pennsylvania: South Elementary School, Trappe (1,603,769)
• Rhode Island: Dr. Harry L. Halliwell Memorial School, North Smithfield (343,778)
• South Carolina: Oakridge Elementary School, Clover (342,851)
• South Dakota: Aberdeen Christian School, Aberdeen (153,861)
• Tennessee: Crosswind Elementary School, Collierville (1,169,623)
• Texas: H.D. Hilley Elementary School, El Paso (4,193,903)
• Utah: Freedom Academy, Provo (375,242)
• Vermont: Orwell Village School, Orwell (37,142)
• Virginia: Ashburn Elementary School, Ashburn (157,932)
• Washington: Sunrise Elementary School, Spokane Valley (1,337,501)
• Washington, D.C.: Holy Trinity School, Washington, D.C. (13,300)
• West Virginia: St. Francis Central Catholic School, Morgantown (851,165)
• Wisconsin: Riverdale Elementary School, Muscoda (468,049)
• Wyoming: Little Snake River Valley School, Baggs (63,734)

U.S. Territories:

• Puerto Rico: Robinson School, San Juan (21,149)
• U.S. Virgin Islands: Joseph A. Gomez Elementary School, St. Thomas (33,901)

Top Libraries:

• Pickford Community Library, Pickford, MI (338,057)
• Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library, Edinburg, TX (73,443)
• Okeechobee County Library, Okeechobee, FL (56,989)
• Gadsden County Public Library System, Quincy, FL (2,478)
• Shawnee Public Library, Shawnee, OK (1,631)

Top Community Partner Organizations:

• America Reads - Mississippi, Jackson, MS (86,248)
• Hollywood Community Housing, Los Angeles, CA (6,300)
• Greater Lowell YMCA, Lowell, MA (6,120)

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