It seemed fitting that Macedonia Elementary School would its own "100" score on the 100th day of the 2009-10 school year.

That "100" was really Macedonia making AYP or Adequate Yearly Progress on its 2009 district report card, according to the federal education standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).

Within NCLB, AYP is a pass-fail scenario. A school must meet all of its AYP objectives to make the mark. Schools may have different objectives from other schools.

Macedonia met all 19 of its AYP objectives, one of only three public schools in Barnwell County to do so. The other AYP achievers were Kelly Edwards Elementary and Williston-Elko Middle Schools in the Williston school district.

To note its success, Macedonia held an "academic celebration" Jan. 27.

Using a portion of the Scripture verse from Matt. 19:26, Christa Franklin said in the opening invocation, "We can celebrate this great accomplishment because ‘through you, all things are possible.' You gave the teachers the strength and the wisdom to teach."

Blackville-Hilda School Superintendent Teresa Pope in turn quoted from Luke 12:48 on a passage about readiness.

"'To him whom much has been given, much is expected.' This is one of my favorite Scriptures," she said.

Tonya James, the 2009-10 district teacher of the year got the children pumped up with a motivational speech.

"Today is the 100th day of school. Meeting AYP is wonderful," she said. "The world's greatest elementary school made AYP."

James told the children that AYP means more than Adequately Yearly Progress.

Instead, she had the students shout back what AYP means to her.

"Are You Proud? Are You Prepared? Are You Positive?," James said as challenges to the students.

James encouraged the children to stay positive and focused to continue the success.

"AYP was not an easy accomplishment," said Sybrenda Holiday, the school technology coach.

Holiday and Lydia Grayson, the computer lab facilitator, then sang an inspirational song.

"There have been mountains that we have had to climb," the duet crooned. "We just can't give up now."