SVHS Ranked One of Best in U.S. and State

The students and teachers at are doing something right. In its 2012 Best High School rankings released on Tuesday, U.S. News and World Report placed SVHS among the top in the U.S. and state awarding it with a “Gold Medal.”

Out of 21,776 high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia that were reviewed, SVHS placed 259th. And out of 2,407 schools in 515 districts in California, SVHS ranked 50th.

“Education drives our country's future. Recognizing schools that are performing well and providing them as models to other schools will inspire educators and communities to do better,” U.S. News said in a statement. “Also, by sharing this information, parents across the country will be armed with information to help them make better-informed decisions about their child's education.”

SVHS has 831 students and a teacher to student ratio of 24 to 1. The students consistently score high on the Academic Performance Index Evaluation, and the school also has an International Baccalaureate program with a 66 percent participation rate.

“I am so very proud of our students and staff and all the hard work they do,” SVHS Principal Valerie Bariteau said. “From day one of their freshman year students continually challenge themselves to take rigorous courses and do the very best they can. We have the most phenomenal staff who strive to give their all in support of our students.”

U.S. News teamed up with Washington, D.C.-based American Institutes for Research (AIR), one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world, to produce the rankings. AIR measured data from advanced placement and International Baccalaureate tests and statewide accountability “proficiency” exams, and also determined students’ preparedness for college by evaluating the course content of college-level courses. To read about the complete methodology used, click here.

SVHS scored above the state average for college readiness and on API results. The school also has a high participant passing rate on IB exams.

“My congratulations to our staff and students for all of their hard work,” the school’s IB Diploma Program Coordinator, David Crawford, said. “This is further evidence that we have the strongest comprehensive high school in the county. My hope is that the residents of Scotts Valley will take pride in what a special high school we have.”

For more information on the rankings, visit www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2012/05/07/about-the-best-high-schools-rankings. 

To read more about SVHS’s ranking, visit www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/scotts-valley-unified-school-district/scotts-valley-high-school-1591.