W.A. Perry Middle named Nationally Certified Demonstration magnet school
August 27, 2026
W.A. Perry Middle School has been named a 2026 Nationally Certified Demonstration School by Magnet Schools of America, the organization’s top recognition for magnet schools nationwide.
W.A. Perry was one of just 37 schools nationwide to earn the designation, which recognizes schools that serve as models for other magnet programs to study and replicate.
“This achievement reflects W.A. Perry’s excellence and its role as a model for innovative, high-quality magnet education. The dedication of our entire school community — students, staff, families, and partners — have made W.A. Perry a national model for magnet education,” said Dr. Teresa Turner, Richland One’s director of magnet and choice programming.
The school is home to Richland One’s middle school BLAST (Building Lasting Aerospace and STEM Trajectories) magnet program, which provides students with hands-on aerospace and STEM experiences.
W.A. Perry was also recently named a 2026 Magnet School of Distinction and the 2025-2026 National Aerospace Connections in Education School of the Year by the Civil Air Patrol.
