Polson in top 10 percent in nation

POLSON — U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Polson High School in the top 10 percent of the nation’s best-performing high schools.

Polson was ranked fifth in Montana and 1,530th nationally.

The magazine, along with American Institutes for Research, reviewed more than 21,000 public high schools across the nation, including 167 in Montana, to compile the 2013 Best High Schools list. Top schools nationally received gold, silver or bronze medal designations.

Seven percent of the schools reviewed — including Polson — received silver designations, denoting them as high-performing schools with a substantial number of college-ready students.

Schools were rated in a three-step process. The first step involved math and reading proficiency based on students’ standardized tests. Montana students were assessed using the Criterion-Referenced Test given to sophomores. Test scores determined if a school’s students were “performing better than statistically expected for the average student in the state,” according to www.usnews.com. Economically disadvantaged and minority student performance then was factored in.

If a school passed these steps, it was considered for national judging based on college readiness.

College readiness was calculated using data from either Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs. Test participation and percentage of 12th-grade students passing at least one test factored into this assessment.

Polson had 36 percent taking Advanced Placement tests with 20 percent passing, which was above the national average, according to U.S. News & World Report.

School administrators attributed success to the efforts of students and faculty.

Polson Principal Rex Weltz said a school counselor happened on the Best High Schools list online.

“I was pretty excited, first of all,” Weltz said. “You have to be careful and ask what data are they pulling and looking at, but I think it’s something we can celebrate and use as a motivational tool.”

This is his first year at Polson and he said it was great to see an outside organization recognize the school.

“All year long I’ve been telling the student body they’re great kids and this is some outside proof — not just the principal beating that drum.”