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Highest rated in Spartanburg County
By Theron Willis
HOMETOWN NEWS
Woodruff High School placed 586 in Newsweek’s annual America’s Best High School listing that was released this week. Criteria is based mainly on how many advanced-placement tests are taken in relation to the size of the senior class. Only six percent of all the public schools in the U.S. (just over 1,600) made the list.
“Obviously we’re very pleased to be on the list with such a high placing,” Principal Aaron Fulmer said. “We’re thankful for our teachers and academic staff for all their hard work and excellent instruction.”
The Newsweek list is based on the Challenge Index, which takes the total number of AP tests given (as well as International Baccalaureate and Cambridge (AICE) tests taken when applicable) and divides that by the number of graduating seniors in May or June. Fulmer said Woodruff High is a school that allows students to challenge themselves and strive to reach their full academic potential even at the risk of a low AP test score.
“We have a policy of inclusion,” Fulmer explains. “If a student wants to take an upper level course we encourage them and want them to take challenging classes even if they might not pass the AP test or make a high score. We want to expose them to academic rigor to prepare them for college.”
Fulmer said this year’s senior class performed handily when given the opportunity to reach their full scholarly potential. It was a graduating class that was both big in population and big in brainpower.
“This is the largest senior class ever,” he stated referring to the Class of 2010, “and very academically gifted with 15 Palmetto Fellows, which is the largest number we’ve ever had and the most scholarship money ever awarded as a whole.”
Other schools from the Upstate listed were Southside in Greenville placing 125, Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities placing 506, and Wade Hampton and Eastside, which placed 794 and 863 respectively.
The only other school from Spartanburg County on the list is Spartanburg High, which is 1256.
Fulmer said he hopes Woodruff High can place even higher next year in the Newsweek listing but also believes that listings and data streams don’t tell the whole story of a school and the work it does.
To view the full listing, go to www.newsweek.com
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