Award finalists

Five school districts have been named 2010 finalists for The Broad Prize, which honors systems that demonstrate the best overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among poor and minority students.

The finalists: Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.); Gwinnett County (Ga.); Montgomery County (Md.); Socorro (Texas); and Ysleta (Texas).

The winner will be announced in October and will receive $1 million in college scholarships for high school seniors who will graduate in 2011. Each of the other four districts will be awarded $250,000 in college scholarships.