Chamber, U.S. News Laud WCHSTwo accolades have been bestowed upon Warsaw Community High School in as many weeks.
Tuesday, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce presented an award to WCHS for its selection as a 2009 "Head of the Class" school in "Indiana's Best Buy" report.
Last week, U.S. News & World Report gave WCHS a "Bronze Medal" in its annual "America's Best High Schools" report."We're grateful for the recognition we have received for Warsaw Community High School," said Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz. "As a system, we're very proud of our students, staff and parents that take their education seriously. I wish to salute (WCHS Principal) Troy Akers for his leadership he provides Warsaw Community High School."
Akers said he was very excited about WCHS receiving the Chamber award. He thanked the WCHS student body and said he believes WCHS has advantages for all students. He congratulated the teachers for their effort, and thanked all of the administration for their support.
"What a great place to live," Akers said of the Warsaw community.
Indiana Chamber of Commerce Vice President Tom Schuman presented a plaque to Akers Tuesday afternoon for the Chamber honor. Schuman reported how the Chamber chose its honorees.
Warsaw is only one of 10 schools from the state's 357 public and charter schools included in the Indiana Chamber of Commerce study to receive the distinction as the "best of the best." This is the first time WCHS has received this top honor in the report's 11-year history, according to a press release from the Chamber. The only other area school to receive the "Head of the Class" award this year is Triton Junior-Senior High School.
The goal of the Indiana Chamber's Best Buys report is to identify and honor schools that are excelling by offering the highest levels of academic achievement for the lowest amount of tax dollars, Schuman said.
The study examined 357 Indiana public high schools with the appropriate available data. Using ISTEP+ pass rates, ISTEP+ Pass+ rates, graduation rates, SAT participation rates and average composite scores and Advanced Placement passing scores, the Indiana Chamber developed a total school performance index for each school.
This index, called the school's quality index, was then compared to each school's total revenues per pupil to determine "best buy" schools. From that list, "honor roll" schools were selected based on each school's at-risk student and poverty rate, as measured by participation in the federal free and/or reduced lunch program.
For 2009, 135 public high schools were designated as a "best buy" for giving taxpayers the most value for their money. Two methods determined this honor. A school was named a best buy if it had a quality index above the state median and revenues below the statewide median of $10,179 per student. The second method was by having a quality index ranking that was 20 percent higher than the school's revenue ranking.
In addition, from the best buy group, 26 high schools were given the honor roll distinction for excelling academically despite having at-risk student demographics above the statewide median. For their efforts, the top five schools from the best buy and honor roll lists were then selected as "head of the class" members. Warsaw and Triton were two of those members.
"America's Best High Schools" project is an annual report that identifies the country's top-performing high schools. The goal, according to the U.S. News & World Report Web site, is to provide a clear, unbiased picture of how well public schools serve all of their students in preparing them to demonstrate proficiency in basic skills as well as readiness for college-level work.
To produce the best high schools report, information was used from the U.S. Department of Education, College Board, International Baccalaureate and statewide accountability test results from official sources in each state.
There were four levels of medal-award winners. The first two include top-performing high schools and they received gold and silver distinctions.
The third includes schools that met state test performance criteria, but have not yet demonstrated high levels of measurable college readiness. The third group received the Bronze Award and included WCHS.
The fourth level recognizes schools that merit honorable mention.
To view the Indiana Chamber report, visit online at www.indianachamber.com/bestbuys
To view U.S. News & World Report's report on America's Best High Schools 2010, visit online at www.usnews.com
