April 26, 2013
JACKSON, Miss. – U.S. News & World Report recognized 77 Mississippi schools in its 2013 Best High Schools report, four of them received national silver medals for academic performance. The four Mississippi schools earning silver status include:
- Pass Christian High School in the Pass Christian Public School District
- Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, which is part of the Lamar County School District
- Petal High School in the Petal School District
- Pelahatchie Attendance Center in the Rankin County School District.
“The Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Board of Education congratulate these schools on this prominent recognition. We know a lot of hard work takes place in classrooms across our state, and this national honor validates the commitment of the communities, teachers, students and administrators who are responsible for their success,” said Dr. Lynn House, interim state superintendent of education.
According to a U.S. News release on the results, the online magazine worked with the American Institutes for Research, a D.C.-based organization, to evaluate schools on overall student performance on state-mandated assessments, as well as how effectively schools educated their black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students. Performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams was then used to determine the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work.
U.S. News collected data on more than 21,000 public high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia. Nebraska did not report enough data to be included. The comprehensive rankings methodology is based on the key principles that a great high school must serve all of its students well, not just those who are college-bound, and that it must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show the school is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.
Schools were ranked within each state, as well as on a national stage, so families can see how their public high school stacked up against rivals within the community and across the country. In the national rankings, 500 schools earned gold medals, 1,790 were awarded silver and 2,515 took home bronze.
To see a list of the best high schools in Mississippi, according to the report, visit U.S. News 2013 Best High Schoolsrankings.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519