Pine View held its sixth-place rank in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2014 high school rankings.
The rankings compiled data on over 19,400 schools, according to U.S. News and World Report. Schools were judged through a series of steps, with initial categorization based on student performance compared to state averages. Above-average schools were then analyzed on the performance of least-advantaged students (according to U.S. News and World Report, black, Hispanic and low-income) and college readiness.
A school’s student college readiness was based on multiple groups of data, including Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test data. “The AP courses taught effects the score,” Principal Dr. Stephen Covert said. “The more access we ensure of AP coursework, the better for our students.”
As a Gold Medal school, Pine View is considered one of the top 500 schools in the nation. It is one of 15 to receive a College Readiness index score of 100.0, a perfect score.
“If you look at the rankings, there’s a formulaic approach,” said math teacher Dr. Ken Jukes. “What I admire about this school is that you have a situation where students applaud others on their success. It’s wonderful for the school.”
Teachers’ performance ratings are not used to rank schools, but teachers of Advanced Placement courses influence pass rates of AP tests, an important ranking factor. However, Covert said that that fact should not change the school’s focus. “We’ve got amazing students who do really well in this environment,” Covert said. “Don’t worry about specific tests…let’s stay focused on good teaching.”
“Something we have is a sense of competition, and that we’re up there with the best schools of the nation,” said eleventh-grader Cullen Marshall. “It’s the competition that allows us to be this good — to be the best — or as close as we possibly can.”