EHS honored in U.S.News and World Report
Monday, Dec. 8, 2008
U.S.News and World Report has named Eudora High School a top American high school in a report, released on newsstands today. EHS received a bronze award in the report, the first time the school has ever been recognized in the magazine's annual Best High Schools report.
"This is a very exciting accomplishment for our students and teachers," said Dale Sample, EHS principal. "It shows us that our students and teachers are working hard every day, and that they care about the place where they learn and teach."
The ranking is done in collaboration with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education and data research and analysis business. The report authors analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 21,000 public high schools to find the very best across the country. These top schools were placed into gold, silver, bronze, or honorable mention categories.
Schools were scrutinized first to determine if its students were performing better than statistically expected for the average student in the state. After reading and math results were analyzed for all students on each state's high school test, the researchers factored in the percentage of economically disadvantaged students enrolled at the school to find which schools were performing better than their statistical expectations.
The next step in the selection process determined whether the school's least-advantaged students (black, Hispanic, and low income) were performing better than average for similar students in the state. Each school's math and reading proficiency rates for disadvantaged students were compared with the statewide results for the disadvantaged student groups. Schools where these groups were performing better than this state average then were eligible for recognition.
The bronze award takes into account those schools that do not offer the College Board's Advanced Placement program or International Baccalaureate, but successfully meet the other two key performance indicator criteria.
"Our school and district leaders made an intentional decision a few years ago to offer other opportunities for academic rigor, besides Advanced Placement courses," Sample said. "This recognition shows that the rigor we offer students is paying off, and our students and staff continue to find outstanding success."
EHS students have opportunity to take a variety of challenging courses, including advanced electives in core subject areas. Students also may choose to take college courses through Johnson County Community College, taught by JCCC faculty on the high school campus during the regular school day. In addition, a variety of arts, music and career and technical education programs give students the chance to challenge themselves in their personal areas of interest.
To read the selection criteria and see other schools receiving the honor, visit U.S. News Best High Schools site.
