Spring Hill High School was recently given a bronze medal award  by U.S. News & World Report magazine for standardized test performance and proficiency rates of students as part of their recognition for being included on the U.S. News & World Report second annual list of America’s Best High Schools.

Superintendent Dickie Williams was humbled by the honor.
“We are trying to do what we are supposed to do, and that is just a little recognition. We will just continue to work hard and keep trying,” Williams said.

America’s Best High Schools recognizes three categories of distinction, gold, silver, and bronze, for standardized test performance, proficiency rates of all students, and rigorous college-ready curriculum, according to an announcement by the magazine.

The bronze medal recognizes high schools that met the first two criteria of the methodology, but not the third. The bronze recognizes commendable performance on state tests, but did not perform well enough on college readiness to merit identification as a top-performing high school.

“Congratulations to you, your teachers and your students for achieving this great distinction,” Brian Kelly, editor of U.S. News and World Report, said in a letter of congratulations to Spring Hill High.

Williams said several schools in Arkansas received the recognition.
“I think it is an honor for our school; it shows we are trying to do what we are supposed to do. We are performing well and we are proud of that,” Williams said.

Spring Hill High School Principal Steve Britton said U.S. News and World Report has always recognized colleges, but recently began to recognize top high schools.
“We are very excited and extremely proud of the staff and students,” Britton said.