THE ISSUE:The Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Best Buy schools.
OUR VIEW:Nine area schools deserve congratulations for providing a quality education while watching the taxpayers’ money.
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce last week recognized nine high schools in the Kokomo area for providing a quality education while being outstanding stewards of the public’s money.
Taylor, Western, Eastern, Tipton, Tri-Central, North Miami, Lewis Cass and Carroll were among 135 schools named to the chamber’s 11th edition of Best Buys, a list intended to recognize those Indiana high schools that have excelled academically while providing the greatest value for Hoosier tax dollars.
Northwestern High School was among 10 named to the Head of the Class list.
According to the chamber, schools made the list in one of two ways.
The first was to have a quality index above the statewide median and revenues below the state median of $10,179 per student. The quality index was based on ISTEP pass rates, graduation rates, SAT participation rates and average composite scores and advanced placement test scores.
The second was by having a quality index rating that was 20 percent higher than the school’s revenue ranking.
Western, Eastern and North Miami made the Best Buy list for the second consecutive year. Northwestern for several years has been a Best Buy school, but its inclusion among the Head of the Class list was a first.
“We’re very proud,” Northwestern principal Tim Edsell said. “It sends a great message and solidifies and verifies that we’re providing a high quality education.”
Edsell could’ve been speaking for the other eight area schools, as well. Congratulations to all on a job well done.
