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598 NC schools awarded Purple Star designations for being ‘military-friendly’

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State Superintendent Maurice Mo Green at the Purple Star Awards ceremony in April 2026. Chantal Brown/ EdNC

Educators and military-connected individuals gathered on Friday for the annual Purple Star Award ceremony at the North Carolina National Guard Base in Raleigh. Nearly 600 schools across the state were designated by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) during the ceremony as “military-friendly.” 

“North Carolina is home to a large population of active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran armed services members, and the state’s public schools reflect that,” DPI’s website says. “In 2019, The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction launched the Purple Star Award Designation initiative to recognize the state’s strong military presence and its support for military families.”

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Examples of practices that make schools eligible for the Purple Star award include having a military resource page on their website and a transition program for inbound and outbound families. Awarding-winning schools must have a staff member liaison for military families, and districts must also have a central office employee who serves as a point person for those liaisons. Finally, there must also be annual professional development addressing special considerations for military students and families. 

Schools also had to select one of five military recognition events to host and subsequently list on their awards application: Month of the Military Child, Month of the Military Family, Purple-Up! For Military Kids!, Veteran’s Day, or Memorial Day.

One practice that Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans, said she appreciated was when schools posted a virtual tour of their building on the website for families to view. She went on to say that Purple Star schools are “sending a clear message of support to military-connected students.”

“You all are building communities where military children feel seen, supported, and understood. You all are easing transitions, and providing stability, and ensuring students have access to the academic and emotional support that they need,” Mitnaul Mallette said. 

For schools that receive the award, the Purple Star School designation is posted on school report cards, according to Howard Lattimore, state military liaison consultant for DPI.

He said the designation stands out to military families when they are researching the best school for their students to attend. 

Secretary Mitnaul Mallette with her daughter at the 2026 Purple Star Ceremony.
woman standing at a podium with a purple flag
Secretary Mitnaul Mallette speaks about the importance of Purple Star schools at the April 2026 ceremony.
Chantal Brown/EdNC

State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green said that North Carolina public schools make an impact when they support families through the unpredictability of military life. 

“School may be indeed the only source of consistency throughout the week, each of our schools and districts have gone above and beyond to support military-supporting students and their families while they are part of North Carolina public schools,” Green said. “Regardless of how many times you’ve received the Purple Star Award, it demonstrates your commitment to serving military-connected students and their families.”

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Among the 598 schools that received awards, 15 were charter schools. On top of receiving the Purple Star Designation, seven public school units (PSUs) were also awarded legacy plaques, which go to those who have been Purple Star schools or districts for six consecutive years. Those PSUs are listed below:

Among legacy recipients, three PSUs have earned Purple Star Award designations every year since the program’s inception; Alpha Academy, Anderson Creek Academy, and Harnett County Schools. 

Some districts have been awarded the Purple Star designation for all of their schools. At the ceremony, 13 districts received the State Superintendent’s Purple Star District Award for the first time. They are listed below:

First-time recipients of the awards included Columbus County Schools, Duplin County Schools, Hertford County Public Schools, and Public Schools of Robeson County. 

Toward the end of the ceremony’ speeches, Col. Timothy Drieslein said that education will always remain a central to military services. 

“We expect that our service members are disciplined. We expect that they’re adaptable and flexible and that they are capable of critical thought. That foundation does not begin at boot camp, I assure you, it begins in the classrooms like yours,” Drieslein said. 

people taking group picture
Col. Drieslen at the 2026 Purple Star Awards ceremony. Chantal Brown/EdNC

You can read a full list of this year’s recipients here, and learn more about the award on DPI’s website.

Editor’s note: The total number of awarded schools was updated.