GCS High Schools Ranked Top in the Country

Newsweek ranks one school on top high schools

list and five more for “beating the odds.”

"Greensboro, N.C. – Six Guilford County Schools were recognized by Newsweek’s 2015 Top High Schools list, one on the general list and five on the magazine’s “Beating the Odds” list.

Northwest High was one of 15 schools in the state, and one of two in the Triad, ranked on Newsweek’s 2015 Top High School List. Northwest received additional recognition for economically disadvantaged students performing at or above the state average.

Another five schools made it onto the magazine’s Beating the Odds list of the nation’s top high schools. That list identifies schools that do an excellent job of preparing students for college while also serving a high percentage of students who live in poverty. Across the U.S., socioeconomic status is closely correlated with academic achievement.

The Middle College at Bennett was ranked 86th in the entire country, followed by The Academy at High Point Central, The Middle College at GTCC-High Point, The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro and Grimsley High.

Each list includes 500 high schools of the approximately 22,000 in the country, putting GCS’ schools in the top three percent in the nation.

Between 2010 and 2014, The Middle College at Bennett graduated all of its students. An all-female, minority-majority school, Bennett students take both high school and college courses while enrolled and can earn transferable college credits before they graduate. Every student in the school’s class of 2015 also was accepted to a four-year college and received academic scholarships. In addition, the Middle College at Bennett was recognized in 2015 as A National School of Character.

“We encourage our students to set and meet high goals, and they know we are here to support them every step of the way,” says Middle College at Bennett Principal Esther Coble. “We’re building strong women and community leaders as well as strong students.”

Newsweek’s rankings were determined by six indicators:

·        College enrollment rate (25 percent)

·        Graduation rate (20 percent)

·        Weighted AP/IB/dual enrollment composite (17.5 percent)

·        Weighted SAT/ACT composite (17.5 percent)

·        Student retention (10 percent)

·        Counselor-to-student ratio (10 percent)

This is the third national list to recognize GCS schools for academic excellence. Earlier this year, U.S. News and World Report also recognized three GCS schools in its 2015 Best High School Rankings with national gold medal status, and the Washington Post named 15 GCS high schools as some of “America’s Most Challenging.” That list recognized schools for persuading a diverse group of students to take college level courses and exams.

The Washington Post rankings put the schools in the top 11 percent in the entire country, three were ranked in the top 10 for the state of North Carolina, and one school made the newspaper’s “Public Elite List.”

The recognition validates GCS’ efforts to encourage more students to not only graduate, but to challenge themselves academically before they do.

Research shows that just taking one AP, IB or college-level course in high school improves a student’s chance of success in college. In the class of 2015, more than third (37 percent) of graduates not only took but also passed an AP exam, IB exam or college-level course and associated exam.

Increasing student access to advanced academics and preparing students more successfully for college and career are main goals outlined in the district’s 2016 Strategic Plan – Achieving Educational Excellence: Personalized Learning."

- A Press Release

GCS Students Reach One Million Hours of Service

Service learning gives students real-world experiences while bettering the community

"Greensboro, N.C. – Guilford County Schools (GCS) students have volunteered more than one million hours serving the community, providing an economic impact of about $21 million to the local community. On Wednesday, students, educators and community partners were celebrated for their work in reaching that milestone.

“Service learning takes what students are learning in class and applies it to the real world,” says Yvonne Foster, coordinator for character development and service learning. “It also helps instill pride in their community as they work to make it better.”

It’s all part of GCS’ Character Development Initiative, designed to give students the tools and motivation necessary to make a positive impact on the world. In the 2014-15 school year, The Middle College at Bennett was named a National and State School of Character; Brooks Global Studies and Joyner Elementary were also named State Schools of Character with nine others receiving honorable mentions; and another 16 schools were recognized nationally with Promising Practice awards by Character.org.

GCS’ Character Development initiatives are also opening doors for students. Seven were invited to Washington, D.C., as presenters for the National Service-Learning “More Powerful Together” Conference, where they led discussions with educational leaders, policy-makers and other students from around the country on how their efforts have made a positive change in their community.

“GCS’ Character Development Initiative foster those important and sought-after skills like teamwork and interpersonal communications that will help them stand out and be successful as they enter colleges and the professional world,” says Charlos Banks, executive director of student services and character development. “We are so proud of all of our students who are working to make a difference in the world.”

The event on Wednesday also recognized individual service learning projects and community partners, including High Point Student Human Relations Commission, City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation, The Greensboro Science Center, The Volunteer Center of Greensboro, NCCJ of the Piedmont Triad and Four Seasons Town Centre for providing students with service opportunities throughout the year.

To close out the event, Banks quoted Jane Goodall as a charge to students and staff to continue their good work. “Every individual matters, every individual has a role to play. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

The next celebration is the Cool to Serve event on June 28, which rewards the more than 1,000 students who have volunteered more than 100 hours of service during their high school career. Students who served more than 250 hours will have the chance to win new car!"

- A Press Release