City Charter High School and Propel McKeesport are among the top 21 charter schools honored by New Leaders for New Schools, a nonprofit that focuses on school leadership.

Both schools received Effective Practice Incentive Community Awards that will enable them to share their effective practices with other educators. The schools were selected from 144 charter schools nationwide because of their ability to increase student achievement.

"We are proud to be recognized on a national level for our work in public education," said Richard Wertheimer, founder and CEO of City Charter High School.

Tina Chekan, principal of Propel McKeesport, said, "We do not accept the premise that poverty or family structure determines education performance or life outcome. Receiving this EPIC award is a testament to that premise."