Kenwood attains Silver Medal status
March 11, 2010 • Jennifer White
Filed under News, Top Stories
Kenwood Academy has been ranked among many other prestigious schools by U.S. News & World Report as one of their best high schools of 2010.
Of 21,786 public high schools that were analyzed nationally, Kenwood Academy was one of only 461 high schools to achieve Silver Medal status, indicating that a school meets certain college readiness criteria but is not a part of the top 100 high schools nationally. A school’s college readiness index is determined by their AP (Advanced Placement) or IB (International Baccalaureate) participation rate and student performances on those tests.
Some students were surprised that Kenwood was ranked among other highly regarded schools such as Whitney Young, Lincoln Park, and New Trier Township High school, all of whom were also awarded Silver Medal status.
“I wasn’t aware that we were among the best,” said Senior Briana Rice. “I personally knew and thought that Kenwood was a great school, but I didn’t think everyone else did as well.”
Many students disregard Kenwood when they are thinking of some of the top schools in Chicago, but it was one of only 10 CPS high schools to achieve either Gold or Silver Medal status.
“[Kenwood] is often underrated,” said Senior Brandon Johnson. “People look at the students who go here and automatically make judgments just because we aren‘t a very diverse school, but apparently we can hang [with the best],” Johnson said.
This ranking has shed a new light on Kenwood and has instilled pride within our teachers and possibly our students who thought Kenwood didn’t do as well as other schools in the area.
“To have this ranking means a lot, said Jennifer Hey-Lewis, head coordinator of the Academic center at Kenwood Academy. “We can be put in the same category as all the other highly recognized schools in Cook County. We deserved that title. Kenwood has been working hard to be regarded as a top school and finally in the eyes of others we are.”
Three CPS high schools attained Gold Medal status: Northside Prep (#37 nationally), Walter Payton (#96), and Jones (#99). Brooks, Lake View, Lane Tech, and Von Steuben joined Kenwood, Whitney Young, and Lincoln Park in being awarded Silver Medal Status.
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