It wasn’t necessarily a bad morning Friday for Bridgeport High School Principal Mark DeFazio. It was, however, ‘one of those’ days when getting a bit of good news wouldn’t have hurt things.

 

As it turned out, DeFazio and the school he leads got just that.

 

A year after Bridgeport High School was ranked as the fifth best school in West Virginia and the second best Class AA school in rankings by U.S. News and World Report, things proved to be a bit better this year. The Indians jumped several spots in the latest poll for 2018 that was released late Tuesday.

 

According to the rankings, Bridgeport is ranked No. 2 in the new standings. The ranking also leaves them as the top Class AA school in the state – a three-spot jump from last year and up two spots from the year prior to that. Schools were ranked nationally and received national gold, silver or bronze status. Seven Mountain State schools earned silver status and two earned bronze.

 

“Anytime our kids perform well academically, particularly in something judged on the national level by U.S. News where the public can see it, it’s a good thing and it makes you feel good for everyone involved,” said DeFazio. “I’m proud and I know our staff is proud as well as our students. I hope it makes our community proud as well.”

 

For the second straight year, Morgantown was listed as the top school in the state. Followed by BHS, University, George Washington, Washington, Winfield, and Nitro in the silver category. Bluefield and Brooke High School were awarded bronze status.

 

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used a “college readiness index.” The items used in determining that are percentages relating to students taking Advanced Placement classes and passing those AP classes, mathematics proficiency and reading proficiency.

 

Click HERE to see the methodology.

 

DeFazio said after reviewing the article and the methodology used that it was Bridgeport’s Advanced Placement classes that provided the boost leading the way.

 

“The most important thing in that criteria is the number of AP tests and the percentages of students that passed, which goes to help with college readiness … Our kids are not only taking an increasingly higher amount of AP classes, but the percentage in which they are passing those classes is seeing an increase as well,” DeFazio said. “We’ve been pleased to see our students accept the challenge of taking the AP classes and we’re trying to let them know, particularly as they head to college, why it’s relevant to them. When it’s important to them then they’re much more likely to take it serious.”

 

U.S. News’ “Best High School Rankings” reviewed 115 high schools in West Virginia. Nationwide, the magazine 20,500 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. BHS ranked No. 1939 out of the schools reviewed.

 

DeFazio said the ranking is a reflection of the entire process of education in the Bridgeport system.

 

“The big thing is that this community values education and its importance,” said DeFazio. “When that happens and the kids know the value their parents see in education then it translates to them. We have excellent students here and that’s a big reason.

 

“Plus, for the most part we have excellent teachers that care about students having success in their classroom and they care about the students’ well-being as well. They care how they prepare for their classes and the students quickly pick up on who those teachers are,” he continued. “Honestly, I wouldn’t trade this staff for any staff around.”

 

Click HERE to see the story page of West Virginia high schools with links to multiple areas of information.