Durham elementary school wins national award

A Durham elementary school is being recognized for the work it is doing in the urban community, Durham Public Schools said Friday.

R.N. Harris Integrated Arts/Core Knowledge Magnet Elementary School is one of seven elementary schools throughout the nation, and the only one in North Carolina, to win the 2012 National Excellence in Urban Education Award.

The National Center for Urban School Transformation awards the honor each year to a small number of public schools and public charter schools to recognize and reward exceptional urban school educators and students.

Sixty-two schools have received the award over the past seven years.

R.N. Harris Elementary will receive a check for $2,500, which can be used at the school's discretion.

The Durham school system had three of the 27 national finalists. Other finalists included City of Medicine Academy and the J.D. Clement Early College High School.