Staff Writer
STACYVILLE — Katahdin High School was named “one of the top high schools in the country” by recent rankings in U.S. News and World Report.
For its first annual ranking, the magazine considered the more than 18,000 high schools in America, rating close to 1,600 schools. The top 100 received gold medal designation, roughly 500 a silver medal and the remaining schools were handed a bronze medal designation for their work.
At least two Aroostook County schools were included. Maine School of Science & Math in Limestone received a gold award and was named 35th in the nation; Katahdin Middle & High School was among the seven other Maine schools in the bronze category.
The ranking focuses on college readiness and measures how well the schools serve all students using Advanced Placement data as a benchmark for success. The rankings also looked for schools where economically-disadvantaged students performed better than expected and where minorities and low-income students performed better than average for their group in the state.
“The Katahdin staff and I are very proud to be recognized as a bronze school,” said Principal Rae Bates. “We have always been pleased by the work our guidance department does in encouraging students to attend 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities. Parents are also very supportive as they see the job opportunities are generally better for their children with a post-secondary education.”
Those efforts to prepare students for education after high school paid off, especially with the Class of 2007.
“The Class of 2007, with 43 students, was the first class we had with everyone completing a college application except those being placed with Vocational Rehab. Sixty-five percent of that class is still enrolled in college,” she explained. “Also, I think that increasing our requirements in math to four credits has leveled the playing field when students have to take placement tests in order to enter college. All of our students are enrolled in college English each of their four years of high school and have the opportunity to take what we call an ‘honors challenge’ which requires additional work in the course if they so choose.”
In Bates’ eyes, the designation is more than just an award. Given the state push toward consolidation, awards like this show how important small schools are, she said.
“Many of the high schools recognized were small high schools, something that regionalization and consolidation will end,” she said. “Yet, these small schools are able to personalize all aspects of school for their students. Such personalization is critical, I think, especially when students are being asked to attend college when perhaps no one else in their family has done so.”
Susan Gendron, Maine’s commissioner of education, said these stats show the importance of making Advanced Placement (AP) courses available to Maine’s high school students.
“We are more interested in students taking the [AP] courses as opposed to the test score, but this is clear evidence that providing students that opportunity is working,” she said.
