All five high schools in the Kosciusko County area have been designated by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as "Indiana's Best Buys."

According to the Chamber, a "Best Buy" high school is one that produces above average student achievement with below average financial resources. In other words, according to Chamber president Christopher P. LaMothe, "Best Buy schools are those that are providing exceptional educational value for the tax dollars they receive."

The Chamber developed its list by using ISTEP scores, graduation rates, attendance rates, SAT composite scores and the percentage of seniors who took the SAT.

The number of at-risk students also was considered. At-risk students were defined as those who come from families with incomes below the federal poverty level, single-parent households and students in the school corporation's population who are older than age 19 and did not graduate from high school.

The evaluation also includes an average expenditure per student figure, which comes from the Indiana Department of Education and is based on each school district's general fund accounts that include only state and local tax monies.

Of 347 high schools in Indiana, 115 were named Best Buy High Schools.

In alphabetical order, local schools were described as follows:

• Tippecanoe Valley High School - Attendance rate was 95.6 percent, graduation rate was 91 percent and 47 percent passed ISTEP. The SAT composite rate was 940 and 47 percent of seniors took the SAT. At-risk rate was approximately 18 percent. Expenditure per student was $4,290.53.

• Triton Junior-Senior High School - Attendance rate was 95.8 percent and the graduation rate was 83 percent. Fifty-two percent passed ISTEP. SAT composite was 983 and 55 percent of seniors took the SAT. At-risk rate was 17.6 percent, and expenditure per student was $4,240.65.

• Warsaw Community High School - Attendance rate was 94.8 percent, with a graduation rate of 83 percent and 63 percent who passed ISTEP. SAT composite score was 1012 and 62 percent of seniors took the SAT. There were 16 percent at-risk students, and expenditure per student was $4,725.34.

• Wawasee High School - Wawasee's attendance rate was 94.8 percent, with 85 percent of students graduating. Sixty-three percent passed ISTEP, the composite SAT score was 1003 and 53 percent of seniors took the SAT. At-risk rate was 17 percent, and the expenditure per student was $4,508.38.

• Whitko High School - Attendance rate at Whitko was 95.1 percent, with a graduation rate of 87 percent. Percentage passing ISTEP was 57, SAT composite score was 970 and 45 percent of seniors took the SAT. Whitko has an at-risk rate of 19 percent, and expenditure per student was $4,356.72.

The statewide median, based on all 347 high schools, for expenditures per student was $4,772.74, and the median for at-risk students was approximately 20 percent.

For more information or a complete report on all schools, contact the Indiana Chamber at 115 W. Washington St., Suite 850S, P.O. Box 44926, Indianapolis, IN 46244-0926, www.indianachamber.com [[In-content Ad]]