Two local high schools recognized by national magazine
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Region - Shrewsbury High School (SHS) and Westborough High School (WHS) have both been named Silver Medal winners by "U.S. News & World Report," which graded the more than 18,000 public high schools on the test scores and college readiness of their students.

SHS and WHS are two of 402 Silver Medal winners across the country, 29 of which are located in Massachusetts.

According to the magazine's guidelines, the first requirement for award-winning schools is that they perform statistically better than other schools in the state.

This is factored by looking at school's MCAS, Advanced Placement (AP) and SAT scores for the general population with specific emphasis on math and reading. Schools that have higher than average scores continue to the next step.

The second step looks at how test scores for black, Hispanic and low-income students score compare to similar students throughout the state. Schools that have higher than average scores for these specific classifications of students then move on to the third stage of the selection process.

Once a school is determined to have higher than average test scores for the general population and minority students, it is then eligible to be judged nationally on the college-readiness of its graduates. This is measured by using AP data, including test scores and participation levels. Depending on these results, schools are given gold, silver and bronze medals.

SHS Principal Brian Reagan said he had no idea the magazine was looking at the school, and that he actually first heard about the honor from a parent who had read the magazine.

Although he said he is surprised to hear about the medal, he is not at all surprised that SHS has the scores to receive the award.

"I didn't realize we were in the running but based on student performance, which has been exceptional over the past several years, I'm not at all surprised," he said.

Reagan said he and the entire district are honored to have been recognized by the magazine. He said it's especially gratifying because it shows the school's success in reaching all populations at the school.

"It reaffirms that we're doing a good job for all of out kids, not only the top kids who are headed to Ivy League schools," he said. "We want to do right by all of our students and help them live up to their fullest potential, and I think this reaffirms that we're doing that."

WHS Principal John Smith said he is very proud to have been chosen, but that the recognition needs to go beyond the walls of the school.

"This recognition highlights the real commitment to education in the community of Westborough," he said. "People in town are so willing to support education and are so generous not only with money but with social and academic support that they give us."

Smith said he and the rest of the staff are focused on the future, improving areas that need improvement and continuing to provide a quality program to each of its students. In addition to the 402 Silver Medal winners, 100 schools were named Gold Medal winners and 1,086 earned a Bronze Medal.