ANDERSON — Sometimes late is better than never.

Due to a calculation error, Southwood Middle School was omitted from state Department of Education Palmetto awards in January.

But the department has recognized the error and awarded Southwood Middle School a Palmetto Silver award, which recognizes the state's schools with the highest levels of student academic achievement and the fastest rates of improvement.

In January, state officials said Concord Elementary and Midway Elementary had earned Palmetto Gold awards.

The corrected calculation shows that Southwood ranks in the top 10 percentile of all middle schools in the state in terms of improvement on PACT scores, Anderson School District 5 officials said in a statement. Southwood has now won five Palmetto Silver awards in the last six years.

Southwood will receive an award of $7,771 from the state.

“This calculation error was discovered by Southwood Assistant Principal Walter Mayfield,” said District 5 Superintendent Betty Bagley in a statement. “Through the hard work of Walter and Tripp Dukes, our assistant superintendent for planning and analysis, the error was confirmed with SDE and Southwood was awarded the silver flag.”

She added, “The honor is belated, but it is no less important. I’m glad that the students and faculty at Southwood are being recognized for their success.”

Each winning school receives an award flag, a certificate and a portion of $3 million in state funds earmarked for the awards program. The financial award is determined by several factors, including the type of award received, student enrollment, student attendance, teacher attendance and dropout rates. The minimum amount for a Gold award is $1,500, and the minimum for a Silver award is $1,000.