This year, recent scores based off the ACT Aspire have shown that the class of 2018 have earned the highest scores in student achievement in the county.

Schools across the county have recently been judged through a new system called an A-F Report card, in which each school is assessed in three categories, local indicator, graduation rate and student achievement.

“The way schools are being evaluated is by coming up with an A-F report card. So next year the school is going to be judged on whether than are an A, B, C, D, E or F school, ” principal Chris Shaw said.

Students excelled in the category of student achievement, scoring a 50.13 percent, which was 8.13 points higher than Hazel Green High School, the lowest scoring school in student achievement in the county.

“We had the top scores on student achievement on the report card in categories such as reading and math,” Shaw said.

Shaw is not at all surprised by the success of his students that took part in taking the ACT Aspire. He feels that students have always been successful, but this success has not been broadcasted and noticed by other schools throughout the county.

“I think we always have had good students and teachers here, but for whatever reason we have had to toot our own horn to let others know how good our students do. It is good that we are finally getting that message out there that we are just as good as anybody,” Shaw said.

The preparation of faculty is also an important aspect in the success of students. Faculty must receive professional training and attend workshops to ensure that they have all the proper skills necessary to assist them in aiding students when helping them prepare for standardized tests.

ACT Prep teacher Ashly Johnston stresses the importance of preparation before taking the ACT or ACT Aspire. She believes that practice is the best road to take when wanting to succeed on either of these test and that getting help from someone will raise scores even higher

“The most important thing you can do is practice,” Johnson said, “and get feedback from that practice.”

The continue the success of students, Shaw as well as other faculty members plan to motivate students by making it evident how important tests such as the ACT and ACT Aspire are. Shaw plans to help show the weight that they have on the future of a student.

“You have to let students know that the better that you do on the ACT and the aspire  the better opportunities you have to go to college, as well as a better opportunity to receive scholarships. [We] must inform students of what’s at stake and that not giving it their all will hamper them,” Shaw said.