The best way to encourage educational excellence is to identify it, reward it, and disseminate the practices that lead to it.

The Intel Schools of Distinction mission is to identify schools that exemplify the best of the best and serve as role models to other schools across the United States focusing on two subject areas which are key to the nation's future—math and science.

Six winners will be selected—one from each grade range, K-5, 6-8, and 9-12, in each of the two categories of math and science.

Each winning school will receive a $10,000 cash grant from the Intel Foundation, as well as more than $100,000 in products and services from the program awards sponsors. One of the final six winners will be identified as the Star Innovator. This school will receive an additional $15,000 cash grant from the Intel Foundation, as well as supplemental services and products from the award sponsors.