SHS named among state's best

SANDPOINT — Last year, Sandpoint High School was named the seventh "Best High School" in Idaho by U.S. News and World Report. This year, SHS jumped up five spots to take the second spot.

Each year, the U.S. News and World Report awards high schools with a gold, silver or bronze medal based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. Sandpoint High School received a silver medal this year and was named the second "Best High School," in Idaho, while Timberline High School in Boise took the top spot. No Idaho schools received a gold metal.  

"It's exciting for the students and the staff that work hard and also the support that the community gives the schools," said SHS principal Tom Albertson.

The U.S. News and World Report ranks more than 22,000 public high schools in the country, and nationally, SHS came in at number 2,189.

"Most of our rankings that we have are statewide rankings, but it’s nice to see a poll that puts you up against other high schools and districts in the United States as well," said Shawn Woodward, Lake Pend Oreille School District superintendent. "Not only did we fare well at the state level, we are also showing improvement at the national level, which is great."

Schools are ranked based on their performance on state-required tests and how well they prepare students for college. According to the U.S. News Best High School methodology, a Best High School is one that succeeds at the following steps:

- The school attains performance levels that exceed statistical expectations given the school's relative level of student poverty, measured by state accountability test scores for all students in the subjects of reading and math.

- The school achieves proficiency rates on state tests for its least-advantaged student groups — such as black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students — that are equal to or exceed state averages.

- The school graduates its students at a rate that surpasses a basic national standard.

- The school prepares its students for college, as measured by student participation in and performance on AP exam

"The parameters of having a great graduation rate and then the advanced placement opportunities and scores that we provide for the students weighed in heavily," Albertson said.

The report listed SHS at a 92-percent graduation rate, but Albertson said over the last four or five years it has consistently been between 92-95 percent. Based on the State Department of Education, the SHS graduation rate was almost 94 percent last year, Albertson said.

Woodward said the distinction is not only a tribute to the "excellent staff and leadership" at SHS, but to the staff at the middle school, elementary schools and the community as well.

"I am one of those people who believes that adage that it truly takes a village, and we have such a strong supportive community that values education so much," Woodward said. "So anytime that we receive an accolade like that, I really believe it’s a team effort and a lot of people play a part in that. We are just really happy to get the recognition ... it’s just a real honor."

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.