The Race to the Top Commencement Challenge winner has been announced: Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Take a look at the school's winning video and essay.
After a voting process that was open to the public narrowed the finalists' list from six to three, President Obama made the final choice on the winner yesterday. A couple quick comments:
First, Greatschools.net gives KC a 6 out of 10, based on its statewide standardized test score performance. The school sends 91% of its grads to college, though, which is probably what put it at the top of the President's list. As we've seen before, the administration is emphasizing not just on academic achievement but also college access. Which is not without its own pitfalls.
Second, the one really exceptional thing about Kalamazoo is its College Promise, a program that gives all high school graduates in the city a full tuition scholarship to any public university or community college in the state, funded entirely by anonymous donors. I remember hearing about the program in this interesting NPR story, comparing Kalamazoo's economic resilience with the dilapidation in nearby Detroit. Hopefully the attention will encourage more similar programs across the state and the country.
Third, KC boasts its recent rapid increase in AP course enrollment ? an increase in 221% over the past four years. This is certainly encouraging, but take a look at our recent report here about some of the drawbacks to AP enrollment growth.
Congrats to KC and to Kalamazoo.
-Mickey Muldoon