Loyalsock Township High School Again Recognized as One of America’s Best High Schools

1. Loyalsock Township High School Again Recognized as One of America’s Best High Schools By U.S. News & World Report for 2012

2. Loyalsock is among this 7% - great company!

4. Regional Schools in the Rankings • Lewisburg Area HS #15 • State College Area HS #26 • Selinsgrove Area HS #29 • Hughesville HS #37 • Bloomsburg Area HS #39 • Loyalsock Township HS #41 • Montgomery Area HS #42

5. Methodology for Ranking • 21,776 public high schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia were analyzed • Three-step process determined the Best High Schools • First two steps ensured that the schools serve all of their students well, using performance on PSSA • For those schools that made it past the first two steps, a third step assessed the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work. 

6. Methodology for Ranking • AP or IB participation rate = number of 12th-grade students in the 2009-2010 academic year who took and passed (AP score of 3 or higher) at least one of the tests before or during their senior year, divided by the number of 12th graders at that school. • College readiness index = quality-adjusted participation rate was weighted 75 % in calculation, and the AP participation rate was weighted 25 %. The test that was taken by the most students at a particular school to calculate school's college readiness index. 

7. Methodology for Ranking • Only schools that had values at or above 16.3 in their college readiness index met the criteria for gold and silver medal selection. • In total, U.S. News nationally ranked the 4,877 highest-scoring schools as gold, silver, or bronze. Loyalsock’s position in the numerical rankings is what awarded us a silver medal

8. LTHS’s state ranking of #41 places us in the top 5%of all Pennsylvania HSs • LTHS’s national ranking of #1643 places us in the top 7% among all HSs in the country

9. Why do we enjoy this recognition once again? • We have EXPECTED success, and it has paid dividends • Continued focus on student achievement on PSSAs with help from everyone • Will continue as we assess using Keystone Exams • Continued focus on the whole child – where Lyco CTC, art/music, special education/gifted services, and ‘open enrollment’ in AP coursework is encouraged and celebrated! • School board’s support of payment for AP courses is a HUGE motivator for all students who take AP • We support our teachers’ professional development in preparing to design great instruction for our kids (AP coursework and other) • We stay on the cutting edge with respect to best practices

10. How do we plan to celebrate and recognize our stakeholders? • Providing a much deserved ‘Spring Fest’ for all of our kids on June 1 coupled with 2 other dedications • A gift for every student in our school who has been a part of the success – hopefully to be given out to each student on June 1 • A special celebration for all of our HS faculty and staff on the excellent work they do with kids every day • Their efforts are contagious and will only grow more such accolades in the near future