A high ranking for South High

Valley Stream South High School was ranked 75th in the state by U.S. News and World Reports which last week announced its annual “Best High Schools” rankings.

Overall, South was ranked No. 579 in the nation out of nearly 17,500 high schools which were analyzed. It earned a Silver Award and was the only one of the three Valley Stream high schools to rank.

The News ranked high schools based on the overall performance of students on state assessments, the performance of “least advantaged” students, and college readiness. It used data from the 2009-10 school year.

According to the three-step ranking process, South students performed better than expected on state English language arts and math tests, and the performance of disadvantaged student subgroups exceeded state averages. Additionally, South’s college readiness index was at or above the median for all high schools based on student performance on Advanced Placement exams.

“I am so proud of the students’ accomplishments and certainly the staff that got them there,” Principal Maureen Henry said. “This was a great surprise, but not so surprising because everyone works hard here.”

Central High School District Superintendent Dr. Bill Heidenreich said that officials were not told of the ranking. Administrators learned last week that the rankings came out and found South High School on the list.

The district doesn’t seek recognition like this, Heidenreich said, but is pleased when others, on their own, acknowledge the good work at one of Valley Stream’s schools. “You’re always trying to do the best,” he said.

Henry said that South High has an environment very conducive to learning. As a building that houses seventh through 12th grades, that six years of stability makes a difference for students. Teachers really get to know the students, she explained. “You know their academic potential but you also get to know them as people,” she said.

The district’s strong Advanced Placement program is what Henry said she believes put South High over the top. This year, South is offering 18 AP courses in math, social studies, science, English, languages, music and art. Next year, the school will add psychology to its offerings.

She said nearly 700 AP tests will be taken by students at the school this month. Many students take more than one AP exam, she noted, which teaches students how to balance and prioritize their schedules. “We encourage them to challenge themselves,” she said.

Henry explained that AP tests are appealing to students because they can earn college credits if they score high enough. Additionally, she said, many simply do it to prepare themselves for the rigors of college.

Heidenreich said that the credit for the success as South High belongs to many. Student achievement on AP exams can be traced back to a solid elementary school education, he said, as well as the junior high school level teachers. “It’s really something that is a K-12 success,” he said.

The formation of the Interdistrict Curriculum Council should lead to even more success, he said. Once a month, educational leaders from the four Valley Stream school districts get together to talk about curriculum. One of the goals, Heidenreich said, is to create a more uniform curriculum in the elementary schools, specifically fifth and sixth grades, so more students are prepared for accelerated courses by the time they reach the high school district. That, he said, could translate to more students taking and passing AP exams.

Heidenreich also noted that the rankings cited South High for the achievement of “least advantaged” student subgroups. U.S. News and World Reports defines those groups as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and economically disadvantaged.

Districtwide, Heidenreich said that all students subgroups are achieving a high rate of success. “This is confirming the fact that all our students, regardless of background, are doing well,” he said.

Diane Winter, co-president of the South High School Parents Club, said she was pleased with the news. “South High School has been always been No. 1 in the Parents Club’s eyes,” she said. “It is very nice to see that U.S. News and World Reports acknowledges the hard work our students and staff have accomplished.”