Academics
Los Alamos High School's academic achievements have been recognized by a number of national publications. LAHS was awarded a Silver Medal in US News and World Report's Best High School Search 2008. In 2005 LAHS was named one of the "1,000 Best High Schools in America" (#649) by Newsweek Magazine. In 1998, LAHS was identified as a top performing public high-school in Class Struggle, a book by Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews examining the public education system in America. The strength of LAHS's academic record has been associated with the academic nature of Los Alamos County, which has the highest concentration of PhDs per capita in the United States. LAHS is not a magnet school and does not have an admissions exam; Any student living in Los Alamos is free to attend. Every year students from LAHS students are recognized for the achievements by the National Merit Scholarship Program, the National Hispanic Recognition Program, and the College Board's AP Scholar awards.
LAHS does not rank students, arguing that a focus on rank by potential universities can cause many excellent students to be overlooked. The GPAs of top students at LAHS are separated from each other by thousandths of a point.
63% of LAHS faculty have earned an advanced degree.
LAHS is accredited by the North Central Association of the New Mexico State Department of Education. The Department of Education frequently awards LAHS with an "Exemplary" rating for its academics. LAHS has consistently exceeded the Adequate Yearly Progress Math and Reading proficiency requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act for its student body at large. However, LAHS has sometimes failed to meet the requirements of AYP due to inadequate test scores among students with disabilities or insufficient participation of Caucasian students.
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AYP Testing Results School Year Proficiency Math (Goal) Proficiency Reading (Goal) School Rating Designation Reason if AYP not met 2010–11 79.01% (53%) 84.02 (64%) Not Met SI-2 Insufficient Math Proficiency among Students with Disabilities (24.14%) 2009–10 66.30% (46%) 77.50% (60%) Not Met SI-1 Insufficient Participation rate of Caucasian Students for AYP Math Test (93%)
Insufficient Math Proficiency among Students with Disabilities(22.2%)2008–09 69.50% (40%) 73.50% (56%) Not Met SI-1 Insufficient Math and Reading Proficiency among Students with Disabilities (17.1% and 20.0% respectively) 2007–08 Meets AYP None 2006–07 75.31% (22%) 79.01 (41%) Meets AYP None 2005–06 Meets AYP 2004–05 89.00% (35%) 92.00% (44%) Not Met Insufficient Participation rate of Caucasian Students for AYP Reading Test (94%)
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Famous quotes containing the word academics:
“Our first line of defense in raising children with values is modeling good behavior ourselves. This is critical. How will our kids learn tolerance for others if our hearts are filled with hate? Learn compassion if we are indifferent? Perceive academics as important if soccer practice is a higher priority than homework?”
—Fred G. Gosman (20th century)
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—Stephanie Coontz (b. 1944)