DECATUR — Austin Middle School was among three Alabama schools honored Tuesday by the Southern Regional Education Board at its Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville.

Decatur’s Austin Middle School, Birmingham’s Carver High School and the Sylacauga City School District received the 2024 Gene Bottoms Pacesetter School Award. The honor recognizes schools that apply one of organization’s improvement frameworks and that have achieved success related to graduation rates, readiness for college and careers and credential objectives.