EDINA HIGH SCHOOL NAMED A SILVER MEDALIST......

News magazine U.S. News & World Report






Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Edina High School named a Silver Medalist School by
national news magazine
Edina’s college readiness index higher than any recognized Minnesota school

Edina, Minn., Dec 17, 2009 – News magazine U.S. News & World Report named Edina High School (EHS) a Silver Medalist School due to its high performance on state assessment tests and its college readiness scores. A total of 11 Minnesota high schools received a silver medal ranking. EHS had a college readiness index of 58.2, the highest of any recognized Minnesota school. High schools that receive this ranking are in the top 2 percent nationwide.

Edina Public Schools Superintendent Ric Dressen was impressed by the method U.S. News & World Report used to determine the top high schools. “This is a very thorough analysis of school performance and participation,” said Dressen. “It’s a great accomplishment and speaks to the success of our entire K-12 system.”

U.S. News & World Report considered 21,786 high schools in 48 states plus the District of Columbia. To determine top-performing schools, the magazine first reviewed state assessment data in reading and math. In order to survive this cut, schools had to prove that their entire student body performed well, not just a select few. Only 1,750 schools had scores that qualified them for the next level.

The remaining schools were divided into bronze, silver or gold categories based on their college readiness scores. Schools with the top 100 scores were ranked in the gold category. A total of 461 schools had a score of 20 or greater and were ranked in the silver category. The remaining 1,189 schools were ranked in the bronze category because their college readiness scores were less than 20. Minnesota did not have any schools representing the gold category.

“Edina High School is honored to be once again named a Silver Medalist School,” said Bruce Locklear, principal of EHS. “This honor recognizes our staff for their work reaching and teaching all learners; we are humbled by this tremendous honor.”

Locklear attributes the high school’s success, in part, to programs designed to personally reach all students. These programs ensure that the needs of at-risk students are addressed, seeking to prepare all interested students for the high school’s Advanced Placement program. The District is pleased that it continues to flourish.

-More-
EHS is also consistently ranked as one of the top 100 schools in the nation by Newsweek. In 2008, it received a ranking of 91 and was the only Minnesota school to make the top 100. Newsweek makes its selection by totaling the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests completed and dividing it by the number of graduating seniors.


The U.S. News & World Report article can be accessed here: http://www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools/index.html


About Edina Public Schools:
Edina Public Schools is comprised of six elementary schools (K-5), two middle schools (6-9) and one senior high (10-12). Total enrollment is approximately 7,800 students. The District serves Edina, a first-tier Minneapolis suburb comprised of approximately 47,450 people.

###