Orcas high school wins US News and World Report bronze medal
Published 3:36 pm Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Orcas Island High School has been honored as one of the nation’s top schools by US News and World Report for the third year in a row. The school earned a silver medal in 2008, a bronze in 2009, and this year another bronze. The rankings are available online at: http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/sections/education/high-schools/
To determine the medals, School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education and data research and analysis business, analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 21,000 public high schools across the country. In Washington state four schools were selected for gold medals (three in Bellevue, one in Kirkland), 17 schools for silver (nine in King County), and 30 schools for bronze. The company evaluated how well the schools were exceeding expectations for their populations. They looked at math and reading results on state tests, factoring in statistical expectations for disadvantaged students, and also analyzed Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test data to determine how well students were being prepared for college-level work.
The nation’s top 100 high schools (across 48 states and the District of Columbia) were awarded gold medals. The next 461 top-performing high schools earned silver medals. Bronze medals were awarded to 1,189 high schools. New York state led the nation with 23 gold medal schools; California had 20; Texas had 1; Florida, 10; New Jersey, 5. Most other states had zero, one or two.
