FORT MILL -- Orchard Park Elementary School is ready to roll out the red carpet.

The S.C. Department of Education announced the Fort Mill school is one of 66 schools that earned Red Carpet awards for being family-friendly and providing excellent customer service.

Schools applied for the award last fall and submitted write-ups about their family-friendly philosophies and environments and the methods they use to self-evaluate their efforts. Judges then called and visited the schools anonymously and rated how well they were treated in each case.

Schools were judged on the outside of the building, the front entrance or lobby, the office and how callers are treated.

Orchard Park will get an actual red carpet with the state seal on it to display in its lobby. It was the only York County school to win the award this year.

The Red Carpet Award is good for three years.

--Jessica Schonberg