AMES HIGH SCHOOL NAMED BY NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE
AS A TOP PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2008

For further information contact:
Valerie Terando
Ames Community Schools
515.268.6650
valerie.terando@ames.k12.ia.us

AMES—Ames High School has been added to an elite list of schools ranked in the top 5% of public high schools nationwide. Newsweek Magazine, in its recently released list of top public high schools ranked Ames High School among the top 1,300 high schools in the country.

According to the publication’s website, public schools were ranked according to “the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2007 divided by the number of graduating seniors.”

This year, only four Iowa high schools appear on the list: Ames High School, which ranked 1,135th, along with Cedar Rapids schools Washington and Kennedy, and Iowa City West.

Ames Community School District superintendent Dr. Linda Beyea commented on the high school’s recognition: “It is an honor for AHS to be recognized by Newsweek Magazine as one of the nation’s top high schools. Advance Placement (AP) opportunities at AHS are extensive. AP Offerings reflect both the serious interest (in education) of our students and the expertise of our skilled teaching staff. It is exciting to experience our students taking such an active part in preparation for college work and their futures.”

AHS principal Michael McGrory shared Dr. Beyea’s enthusiasm, saying he was pleased to learn of the distinction, and added, “It is certainly an honor to be recognized by a nationally prominent publication such as Newsweek, as one of the top high schools in the nation. This honor is a tribute to our outstanding staff, students and community and the high regard they have for education.”

More information can be found by visiting the magazine’s website, www.newsweek.com and searching the site for “top U.S. high schools.”