The Agricultural Academy at Goshen High School was recently recognized  with a 2024 CLAS Banner School Distinction award. 

In March, the ag academy was recognized with the CLAS School of Distinction Award which recognizes school programs that serve as outstanding educational models for other schools in Alabama. The program was created in 2001 to recognize schools in Alabama that showcase outstanding programs and services to students. This year, 234 schools were nominated for this recognition.

The School of Distinction Award is a district level award which qualified the ag academy for a state level award recognizing the most innovative program in each state school district. The ag academy won the 2024 Class Banner School Distinction award and was recognized as the most innovative program in its district. 

“There are eight board districts in Alabama, so that means we’re one of the top eight programs in the state,” GHS Ag Academy instructor Christian Stanley said. “There were more than 200 schools that applied for the award. The judges were looking at innovation in the programs and what those programs accomplished.

“We have a dual enrollment component in our ag academy. We’re the only school in the state that offers an agriculture-based dual enrollment program. That was a really big part of our program.”

In addition, Stanley said the ag academy also had a state and district Future Farmers of America officer, which helped highlight the strengths of the ag academy. 

Stanley said the Ag Academy is open to Pike County Schools students in grades 10-12. Stanley said the academy has about 35 students with another 160-170 students in grades seven through nine taking agricultural classes during the year. 

Stanley said the academy programs include Agricultural Equipment Repair and Maintenance, Animal and Dairy Science, Vegetable and Orchard Crop Production and Soil Amendments and Fertilizers. The academy is on the campus at GHS and includes a freight farm, three greenhouses, a barn for aquaponics and a repair shop as well as 21 acres of grazing land for goats and cattle. 

“With more than 200 schools making applications, this was a very competitive award,” Stanley said. “We’ve very blessed to have won and are very proud of our program and our students.” 

Goshen received the 2024 Class Banner School Distinction at an awards ceremony held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill in Prattville.