#74  and #2

Recently US NEWS and World Reports conducted an independent survey of more than 20,000 high schools across the country to determine their “Best High Schools Rankings”.  Unlike the Washington Post’s AP Rankings that should come out in a few weeks US NEWS looked at numerous factors in determining their list of the best high schools in the United States to include student achievement on state tests, the achievement of traditionally undeserved groups, college readiness, and teacher to pupil ratio.  While the Washington Post targets a more precise measure of schools, US NEWS uses a broader approach in assessing schools.

Based upon the US NEWS criteria Corbett School has been identified as a Gold Medal school and ranked #74 in the United States and #2 in Oregon!  The satisfying part about these types of announcements is that the hard work of students, staff, and their families is shared publicly.   I want to extend my thanks to all of the folks that work hard to make Corbett School a wonderful place.

Follow this link to find the US NEWS article about Corbett School:  US NEWS: Best High Schools, Corbett School

(Last year, in response to their employee, the author of their AP Rankings, leaving Newsweek to work for the Washington Post, Newsweek launched a new Best High Schools list. Corbett School was overlooked last year and we believe that it was because we were a K-12 School.  This year I made sure that Newsweek allowed us to participate in their new school valuation.  I do not know when the Newsweek rankings will be published.)

#3 and #1

Corbett Choir: 3rd in State!

Corbett Symphonic Band: State Champions!!

All Hail Mr. Killgore and his high school Choir and Band students!   Dynasty is not a strong enough word to describe what is happening with our music program at Corbett.  Beginning in Kindergarten and progressing through 8th grade Mrs. Swanson builds a love of music in our students that propels them into band and choir at the older grade levels.

Mr. Killgore continues to work with those students and the combined results of their efforts show year after year.   I believe that this is the third State Championship in band for Mr. Killgore and his students.  He has posted more than a decade of top five finishes.

This may sound like a broken record….but I have to say.  The satisfying part about these types of announcements is that the hard work of students, staff, and their families is shared publicly.   I want to extend my thanks to all of the folks that work hard to make our Corbett music program stellar!

$150,000

As you know the Board and I have been working for almost two years to answer the question “What do we do with Springdale School?”.   With the CAPS (Corbett Arts Program with Spanish) as a vision multiple volunteers and many school staff have been working hard to open the building for five classrooms next year.  The efforts of volunteers Bob Buttke, Charlie Oneal, Eric Stevens, and Eric Kneeland have been invaluable with regard to the technical aspects of the construction process.

Last week because of the work of the grant writing firm PARC, and volunteer help from Rebecca Gandy and Gary Law of the SSCA the Ford Family Foundation voted to award Corbett School District $150,000 to help complete the auditorium in the Springdale School!

Interest in the programming offered at Springdale is palpable.  Resident students and transfer students who are in grades K-8 next year can apply to the program by following this link until May 17th.  Corbett Arts Program with Spanish at Springdale School  At last check about 90 resident and transfer students have already applied!  Feel free to contact me or Lori Luna with questions about the programming at CAPS.  rtrani@corbett.k12.or.us   AND  lluna@corbett.k12.or.us

It is invigorating to be working to build something that will provide more choice for resident students, provide a much needed positive source of revenue for our district, reduce class size in grades K-8 and turn a liability into an asset that can be shared with the community for decades to come!

Once again I have to say…..The satisfying part about these types of announcements is that the hard work of staff, and incredible volunteers can be shared publicly.   I want to extend my thanks to all of the folks that have been working hard to turn Springdale School back into a place where the laughter of students will soon fill the halls and community events that have been struggling to find a home can once again take place in a building that holds so much history for our community.

Enjoy the Sun!