EGHS Earns Spot On Newsweek’s Top 1,000 High Schools

is riding a wave of positive news that continued Monday with Newsweek’s announcement that EGHS is one of only two in Rhode Island to make its top 1,000 high schools in the country.

The ranking comes just a week after local website for the third straight year.

EGHS was ranked number 824 on Newsweek's list. Classical High School in Providence ranked number 411.

Newsweek used a combination of four-year graduation rates (25 percent of the total ranking); percent of 2011 graduates who were accepted to college (25 percent); the number of students who took AP tests or their equivalent (25 percent); average SAT and/or ACT score (10 percent); average AP or equivalent exam score (10 percent); and finally the number of AP or equivalent level courses offered per student (5 percent).

“We’re very proud,” said School Committee Chairwoman Deidre Gifford on Monday. “Strong families, strong community, strong teachers — to me those are the three key ingredients.”

EGHS Principal Mike Podraza credited some changes made a few years ago with making the difference.

“Some of the changes we made a while ago have now become a part of the culture,” he said, citing the elimination of study halls and the implementation of advisory as two such changes. “We’ve been able to implement these changes  … increasing accountability,” he said, “while sticking to core values.”

Supt. Victor Mercurio suggested East Greenwich has been able to weather the financial downturn a bit better than most.

“The last five years, because they’ve been fiscally tumultuous, communities have had to make cuts,” Mercurio said. “I think we’ve been able to maintain and sustain programs and structures to support kids and teachers. The community support for schools has never waivered.”