COLUMBIA — Rock Bridge High School Principal Kathy Ritter was pleasantly surprised Monday when she learned the school received a silver medal award from U.S. News and World Report’s first “Best High Schools in America 2007” report.
“This is certainly an elite award,” Ritter said. “We’re thrilled.”
Along with Metro High School in St. Louis, Rock Bridge was one of two high schools in Missouri to receive a silver medal award. No Missouri high school received a gold medal award.
A release from U.S. News and World Report said the silver award places Rock Bridge in the top 3 percent of the 18,790 public high schools in 40 states examined.
Using data from the 2005-2006 school year, the magazine honored Rock Bridge based on high state test scores in math and reading, Advanced Placement test score performance and academic achievement by economically disadvantaged students.
Rock Bridge has no plans to celebrate the achievement, but Ritter said the news will be announced at a future school assembly.