Two Long County schools are among 19 schools recently named as 2025–2026 Military Flagship School Award winners.
The Military Flagship School Award recognizes schools that go above and beyond to provide a supportive, welcoming environment for military-connected students and their families. These schools intentionally reach out to military families and work to understand, identify, and accommodate their unique needs.
Both Long County High School and Smiley Elementary School were named to the list.
From the press release from the Georgia Department of Education:
Long County High School supports military-connected students through comprehensive academic and wellbeing supports, including a Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC), a full counseling team, and transition-focused enrollment services. The school provides strong academic and career pathways through Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), dual enrollment, and personalized academic planning to ensure continuity during transitions. Long County High fosters connection and belonging through student ambassador programs, community partnerships, and recognition events that honor military service and support military families.
Smiley Elementary School supports military-connected students through strong academic and wellbeing supports, including a Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) and school-based counseling services. The school ensures smooth transitions through flexible enrollment practices, proactive academic planning, and connections to community resources that support student success. Smiley Elementary fosters connection and belonging through family engagement events, partnerships with organizations such as the YMCA, and schoolwide recognition activities that honor military service and support military families.
Schools selected for the Military Flagship School Award demonstrate best practices, including targeted services, personnel training on military needs, and opportunities for military families to connect, ensuring comprehensive support for military students.
The Military Flagship School Award applications were open to all of Georgia’s K-12 public schools, and a panel of judges with experience in educating military-connected students evaluated them.
Since the inception of Georgia’s Military Flagship School Award in the 2018-2019 school year, 88 schools and four districts have been recognized, reflecting a statewide commitment to supporting military-connected students and families through this prestigious honor.
