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Best
of the Best Award
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Houston County High School
MacArthur High School
Houston County High School
Warner Robins, GA |
| School Statistics |
| Total Enrollment: |
2,196 |
| Type of School: |
Public, Grades 9-12 |
| Location of School: |
rural |
| Demographics: |
White: 70%
African American: 23%
Latino: 4% |
| Special Ed: |
17% |
| Computers: |
Desktops: 925
Laptops: 240
Handhelds: 25 |
| Student: Teacher Ratio: |
19:1 |
| Staff Development Hours: |
70 |
| Teachers with a major or minor in their subject area: |
100% |
Houston County High School has caught the eye of many and is no stranger to Scholastic Administr@tor magazine. (See Spotlight School in the April/May 2004 issue.) Since the summer of 2002, more than 140 groups from 20 states have come to see the high school's technology solutions in action. In fact, several of our Schools of Distinction finalists said they had visited Houston and implemented parts of its program into their own technology plans.
The school's motto is "futuristic goals and old-fashioned values." While organizations often tout mottoes that don't really mean much, Houston County High is true to its word. Although located in the middle of a rural, farming community steeped in traditional skills, the high school is totally wireless. And its programs are outstanding. Here's an example: Students at the school farm learn old-fashioned animal husbandry and traditional dairy and pig production and couple that with tech-enhanced lessons on artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and research into protein loading for maximum growth.
 Houston County High is a showcase for innovative thinking. Consider its ground-breaking ninth-grade academy, which helps ease students' transition to high school with a curriculum that includes decision-making skills, time management, and study skills.
Of course, the school's main objective is the academic and personal success of each student. And it shows. Students consistently show strong performances on statewide exams. This year, HCHS juniors scored in the 96th percentile on the state's eleventh-grade writing assessment. For the past four years, students participating in the internationally renowned Intel International Science Fair have won the Grand Prize for microbiology one year, and second prize and third prize in Computer Science in consecutive years.
To achieve academic success to this degree, the school relies on and recruits experienced teachers who've demonstrated excellence in their fields and who understand the importance of technology in the classroom. Partnerships with a wide variety of corporations and community organizations help Houston County High develop new strategies and approaches for teaching and learning.
The high school has been recognized in so many magazines, presented at so many national conferences, and won so many awards, it's hard to keep track. But its successes are apparent. Perhaps, the committee chair on Houston County High's last accreditation visit said it best: "If a student can't be successful at [Houston], he can't be successful."
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