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| New York dominates Newsweek's list of top public high schools May 13, 2005 ALBANY, N.Y. May 13, 2005 - Just days before voters are asked to approve local school budgets, a new report shows that 144 of the nation's top public high schools are in New York State - a reminder that the public's investment in education is paying dividends, Richard Iannuzzi, president of New York State United Teachers, said today. "There is a real, measurable explosion of excellence in New York's public schools," Iannuzzi said. "In every corner of the state, students and teachers are demonstrating they are among the very best in the nation. Public school excellence - not merely competence - is becoming the norm. Test scores are up. Our Regents standards are the toughest high school graduation requirements in the nation, and more and more students are meeting those standards. Public schools are using taxpayers' increased investment in education to boost student achievement. It's money well spent." Iannuzzi said a "yes" vote on May 17 is vitally important. "Voting 'yes' ensures that students have the programs and resources they need to continue making tremendous strides forward," he said. "That 'yes' vote is a message to our students: Keep working hard, and we'll give you the support you need. A budget defeat only hurts children by taking away school programs, teachers and other staff who do so much to assist teaching and learning." Newsweek ranks the top 1,036 public high schools out of 27,468 high schools nationwide in its May 16 issue. Those making the list are in the top 3.8 percent of all public high schools in America, based on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams. New York ranks second to California, which has nearly twice the population of New York State, in the number of high schools on the list. Nineteen of New York's high schools placed in the top 100, including three Long Island high schools (Jericho High School, Cold Spring Harbor High School and Great Neck South High School) that are in the top 25 nationally. The Wilson Magnet School in Rochester, along with Pittsford-Mendon and Brighton in suburban Rochester, also placed in the top 50. In 2003, New York placed 125 schools on Newsweek's list. NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 525,000 classroom teachers and other school employees and retirees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. -30- |
CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org. |
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