PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) -Students in one Eastern Carolina county were recognized for their improvements in reading and writing Thursday afternoon.

Pitt County Schools and Reading Horizons, a leading provider of foundational literacy programs, celebrated student success at the Murphy Center on East Carolina University’s campus.

Since 2019, Pitt County elementary schools have used Reading Horizons Discovery, a tech-enabled foundational literacy program that teaches explicit phonics for grades K–3.

This school year, second-grade students in Pitt County Schools saw major improvements.

“These students were born in 2016 and 2017, they were toddlers when the pandemic hit,” said PCS ELA Curriculum Specialist, Ashton Venters. “We saw more struggles than we’ve seen before, but these students have raised to the occasion. They’re meeting growth and exceeding growth; we’re excited for what they do in their future.”

The success of nearly 250 students was celebrated during the reception and awards ceremony.