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Maybe we underestimated this bit of information from last week, but since folks who either graduated from Woodrow or have kids enrolled there are all abuzz, we wanted to share the news with everyone.
A recent Newsweek national poll ranked Woodrow Wilson High School as the 637th best in the United States. That’s no small feat when you consider researchers ranked nearly 22,000 high schools across the country.
That places Woodrow ahead of area schools such as Keller (652), Plano East (653), Lake Highlands (707), Allen (882), Flower Mound (885), The Colony (1,235), and Frisco Centennial (1,425).
Way to go … again … Wildcats. And thanks to Mr. Woodrow Alum Kyle Rains, along with J.L. Long Middle School PTA vice president Sara Maxcy, and retiring Woodrow-mom Linda Hale Buchanan for keeping the information flowing.
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LHB said at 7:19 p.m. on June 17, 2009, 7:19 p.m.
Thank you, BWRLakewood, for publicizing this great news -- it IS a big deal, even though being No. 637 doesn't typically sound that impressive. Here's why it is:
This ranking places Woodrow (correctly) in the top 3% of all public high schools in the country in this particular poll. As with any ranking, it's important to understand the methodology by which schools are ranked. This poll looks at the number of all students in a school in 2008 who took AP or IB exams in relation to the number of seniors graduating that year. It doesn't consider how many passed - - it ranks schools based on the level of challenging curriculum offered, and considering how many students take advantage of it. It should be noted, though, that a rating is also included in this poll called the "E&E%," which does consider how students scored on the tests as a factor. The E&E% reflects how many seniors that year passed at least one AP (or equivalent) test (with a score of 3, 4 or 5). Woodrow's E&E% is 36, up from 22.6 last year, which is better than twice the national average and which further justifies this top 3% ranking. (Woodrow was in the top 3% of this poll last year, too. And last year, the only comprehensive DISD high schools to best Woodrow in the poll were WT White and Hillcrest, although all were in the top 3%. This year only White is ahead of Woodrow.)
There are a thousand factors on which schools can be rated and the numbers of students taking advantage of challenging curriculum is only one of them. Just as rankings and ratings that focus on and measure what subgroups are NOT achieving success at schools (like TAKS and AYP - No Child Left Behind) present only part of the picture, so does the Newsweek poll. Together (with other rankings, too) a more meaningful overview of schools can be achieved. It is very refreshing to see a poll that measures other factors and to realize that respected national magazines acknowledge the value of the challenging curriculum offered at Woodrow and the success of the students who participate in those programs. Congratulations to Ms. Vail, Ms. Escanilla, all the administrators and staff, and especially the truly excellent AP faculty, at Woodrow who are largely responsible for this success.
To see the story in Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/201160/?s=...
LHB
scrozier said at 8:45 a.m. on June 19, 2009, 8:45 a.m.
This is fine evidence of what many of us already know about Woodrow. Congratulations to students, faculty, and staff. Top 3% is phenomenal.