Polson, Glacier ranked in top 10 percent in U.S.

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

Polson High School was ranked fifth in Montana and 1,530th nationally. Glacier High School ranked seventh in the state and 2,140th 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 and Glacier — received silver designations, denoting them as high-performing schools with a substantial number of college-ready students. Only those designated as gold or silver were ranked within their state.

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. Glacier had 27 percent of students testing in Advanced Placement subjects with 15 percent passing, which is near the national average, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Principals of both schools 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.”

Glacier Principal Callie Langohr received the news about two weeks ago in the mail.

“I opened a piece of what I considered junk mail, and in the letter it said ‘Congratulations on your 2013 national ranking,’” Langohr said. She followed up by visiting the website online.

“I realized it was more than an advertising gimmick,” Langohr said.

She announced the designation to teachers at a May faculty meeting and announced it to the public at Saturday’s graduation of the Class of 2013.

Langohr said this ranking affirms the school’s dedication to excellence.

“It’s validation of a goal we set the first day that we opened the doors of Glacier High School,” Langohr said. “Our vision has been to be one of the top schools in the U.S.”

She also was glad to see that the report considered the entire student body, including minority and economically disadvantaged student populations.

“We’re closing out the school year on a solid note and plan to do a lot of work this summer getting ready for next year to continue to show we deserve that national ranking,” Langohr said.

For a complete list of rankings, visit www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.