ANNA GREEN

Pike County High School was recently awarded a bronze medal by U.S. News and World Reports as part of the magazine’s “Best High School” review.

The review rates schools throughout the country based on ability to prepare students for college.

Of the 388 schools in Alabama evaluated, 69 schools were considered eligible for a full analysis.

PCHS was one of 54 schools to receive the “bronze or better” award.

Four schools in Alabama received a silver or gold award.

“This essentially means that the efforts of the faculty and staff to ensure academic accountability are paying off,” said Donella Carter, administrative assistant of instructional programs for Pike County Schools.

“This is our second consecutive year to receive recognition,” Carter added.

Becoming a recognized school is not something that is done without effort.

“We make sure that the curriculum is aligned with all of the state testing and academic requirements; it’s all correlated,” said Carter. “Receiving this recognition is from really putting forth the effort for students to perform well academically.”

Pike County High was the only school in the immediate area to receive this recognition. As for the future, Carter intends to continue raising the bar.

“We plan on improving our teaching strategies and remediating them in the areas in which they are struggling, to insure that they are able to be proficient on the state standards,” Carter said.

The recognition has a positive effect on the faculty and the students, she said.

“This will encourage the students and the teachers. They will see the rewards for their efforts and incorporate the strategies that are effective in improving student achievement,” Carter said. “Success breeds success.”