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Canfield is among America’s top high schools
By Denise Dick
CANFIELD
Canfield High School is one of the best high schools in preparing students, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, for college, according to Newsweek’s 2015 high school rankings.
The school ranks No. 332 of 500 schools and is the only Mahoning Valley school to make the list.
“Obviously, first and foremost, it’s the efforts of our staff and student body,” said Superintendent Alex Geordan. “They work diligently to get everyone on the same page. We have a vision for our district and our staff is educated on the vision, and they collaborate with one another.”
It lists 78.6 out of 100 as its score for college readiness with a 100 percent graduation rate and 100 percent college bound.
The ranking lists 12.5 percent as the poverty number. That number is based on the number of students at the school who qualify for free or reduced lunches.
The high school also meets the magazine’s equity measure by helping low-income students score at or above average on state tests.
Geordan said the district also ensures that parents are involved in everything happening at the schools.
He said he’s worked at rural, urban and suburban schools during his career.
“No matter what type of district you’re in, families want what’s best for their kids,” the superintendent said.
The “America’s Top High Schools” list measures “graduation rate, college enrollment rate, SAT and ACT scores and participation, AP/IB [Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate] scores and participation, full-time counselors to students ratio, dropout rate, enrollment in college courses during high school and state test scores,” a Newsweek news release said.
The “Beating the Odds” factor ranks the schools on those measures “but also accounts for the effects of social inequality on education by factoring in student poverty as reflected by eligibility for free/reduced price lunches,” the release says.