RUHS Awarded Bronze Rating

By Martha Slater

Randolph Union High School social sciences teacher Brian Rainville teaches a class on American history. Randolph Union High School scored a "bronze" rating from U. S. News World Report, putting it in the top 6% of American high schools. (Herald / Tim Calabro)

It caused a great deal of excitement at Randolph Union High School recently when U.S. News & World Report gave the school a "bronze" rating in its annual ranking of American's best high schools.

Over 19,000 schools nationwide were reviewed, with the top 100 ranked "gold," the next 400 "silver," and the next 1,000 "bronze."

In addition to RUHS, four other Vermont schools are on the bronze list: Arlington Memorial, Danville School, Hazen Union High School in Hardwick, and Stowe High School. (Earlier this week, it was announced that "a mathematical error" used in determining the rating, had dropped Montpelier High School, which had originally been awarded a "Top Five" ranking in the U.S. to the "Top 500" instead.)

The ratings were based on a formula created to measure how well students did on state reading and math tests and advanced placement (AP) tests. The number of poor and minority students was also considered.

"The award recognizes the input of the teachers and the output of the students," said John Holmes, who is in his sixth year as principal at RUHS. "We can offer everything in the world in the way of courses, but of the students don't understand the material, then we're just not doing a good job.

"This ranking shows that our efforts are working."

Excellence in Math

Ginny Richburg, who teaches AP math courses, said the mathematics department was willing to take its share of credit for this success, "because it's a payoff for all our hard work. We've been offering three AP courses, not just calculus AB, but also calculus BC, which includes second year calculus, and AP statistics.

"Over the past few years, the average student score on these has been between a 3 and a 4, meaning that many of the students have been awarded college credit for these classes.

"Our students have placed on the annual UVM Prize Exam, and looking at the data from the NSRE's two years ago, Randolph was the only school in this entire region whose students met or exceeded the standards about 80% of the time on the 10^th grade math piece."

Richburg noted that, "the 'bronze' rating was a huge validation of our efforts so far, and an indication that we need to continue our efforts in the direction we've taken."

AP Raises Standards

"There are many benefits to offering AP courses at RUHS," said Hannah Dransfield, who teaches AP English courses. "First, in enrolling in these courses, students choose to challenge themselves with college level work. This choice- this personal ownership each student takes- creates a classroom culture in which students are engaged, motivated, and inquisitive.

"This academic rigor and respect for learning proceeds to permeate not just the AP course, but the culture of the school in general."

Tom Harty, who is helping handle publicity for the school, pointed to the physical education program as another unique feature at RUHS that contributes to the school's overall high quality.

"The goal of the physical education department is to provide a foundation for life-long health," Harty said. "One unique aspect of the RUHS program is that all students in physical education partake in activities designed to provide 20 minutes of sustained aerobic exercise in accordance with the recommendations of the Surgeon General, the CDC and the National Association of Physical Educators. Anecdotally, it seems that RUHS is the only school in Vermont with such a requirement for students."

Harty added that, "a rich program with some 20 units ranging from archery to ballroom dance rounds out the usual programs of team sports. One program that gets raves from students is the circus skills unit in which students try their hand at tumbling, plate spinning, juggling and other activities."

Associate Principal David Barnett noted that, "There are many other factors, including senior project, the Shizukuishi exchange program, and more, that make RUHS a rich learning environment for our students. We truly have a great school community!"

Brian Rainville, who teaches American history and theater, summed it up this way: "This ranking is clear evidence of this faculty's commitment to students."