MSSM is the only school from Maine to make the gold medal list, which focused primarily on college readiness and is based in large part on the number of students taking Advanced Placement courses and tests, and how they perform on them. Six other schools in New England made the top 100 – one from Vermont and five from Massachusetts.

“This is a significant accomplishment for Maine’s only public magnet school,” says Maine Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron. “It is good recognition for Maine School of Science and Mathematics and demonstrates the success of this unique learning opportunity for students from all over Maine. We recognized in the 1990s how critical math and science were to the economic future of the state and for our students. The Maine Math and Science School is a foundational component of our STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) agenda.”

Gendron said Maine’s only publicly-funded magnet school opens opportunities for all Maine students: “It’s kids who are inquisitive about taking their math and science skills further to the highest level possible who thrive in this exciting environment.”

 Opened in 1995, MSSM has over 100 students from 81 towns and cities. In 2007, 39 students graduated. The school challenges students to achieve their aspirations by fostering intellectual growth through a rigorous curriculum in advanced mathematics, science, and humanities. The residential experience encourages personal accountability and the development of skills in relationships, healthful living and social diversity. This mission is advanced through outreach programs including distance education, summer programs and workshops for students and teachers throughout the state.

 “Our graduates tell us that their education at MSSM sets them apart from graduates of other schools,” said Walt Warner, executive director of the school. “They feel more than adequately prepared for their 1st and often 2nd years of college because of the quality of teachers and their ability to create a really stimulating learning environment.

 “At MSSM they are in an environment where free and creative thinking is encouraged. Students feel they are able to effectively communicate with teachers what they understand. They develop skills that require creative, analytical, and critical thinking.”

The ranking focuses primarily on college-readiness, though it also used measures to determine how well the schools serve all its students well, not just those who are bound for college. The ranking methodologies use Advanced Placement data as the major benchmark for success. AP is a College Board program that offers college-level courses at high schools across the country. This measured which schools produced the best college-level achievement for the highest percentages of their students.  The rankings also looked for schools in which economically-disadvantaged students performed better than would statistically be expected, and where minorities and low-income students performed better than the average for their group in the same state.
 

The full list of schools, methodology, and news reporting on the rankings can be found at: www.usnews.com/highschools.  For more information about Maine School of Science and Mathematics, visit:
www.mssm.org.