A school by any other name ...

Administrators have stopped buying Shakespeare's argument on roses by other names. A school's name is its identity, and here's how some have recently arrived at theirs;

* Emmett J. Conrad High School (opening in 2006) in Dallas independent School District is named for the first African-American elected to the DISD school board.

* Hillsborough County (Fla.) Schools waves a patriotic theme, Heritage Elementary (2003), Liberty Middle School (2002) and Freedom High School (2002).

* Westwood Elementary (2003), part of Elk River (Minn.) Area School District 728, was named to coincide with its location near a wildlife refuge. A migration theme is in place since children migrate to the school after completing grades K-2 elsewhere.

* When officials in Morganville, N.J., named their middle school in 2003 students and adults tossed in slew of votes for political figures like George W. Bush and Rudy Giuliani. Thirty of the 220 ballots wanted to go with directional names, e.g. Marlboro North. In the end, the construction committee went with Marlboro Memorial Middle School to honor the area's 9-11 connections.

* Orion Junior High School (2003) in Harrisville, Utah, earned its name from the astronomy theme in various parts of the building.

If there's a common theme to be found, says Barbara Worth, spokeswoman for the Council of Educational Facility Planners, it's that the name reflects what the school means to the community.