San Gabriel Unified School District
Gabrielino High Receives Silver Medal, Named to 2018 Best High Schools List
SAN GABRIEL, CA – Gabrielino High School’s comprehensive approach to promoting college readiness and boosting academic achievement has yielded a silver medal ranking on U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best High School list. This is Gabrielino’s eighth appearance on the list in nine years.
“This recognition is a testament to our staff’s belief in the school’s mission of ‘a commitment to constant and never-ending improvement,’ a mission that is at the heart of everything we do,” Gabrielino Principal Sharron Heinrich said. “The school’s focus on lessons that are intentional, explicit, engaging and student-centered is reflected in our students’ accomplishments.”
U.S. News and World Report evaluated more than 20,500 public high schools through a four-step process and awarded gold, silver and bronze medals to the top 5,948 public high schools.
The organization first analyzed proficiency in math and English language arts on state tests as well as graduation rates. Eligible schools were then evaluated on their college preparedness efforts. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate participation rates and test scores were used to calculate a College Readiness Index (CRI).
Gabrielino High offers 19 AP courses that challenge students to embrace college-preparatory coursework and potentially earn college credit. Heinrich said the school has added three AP studio art courses in recent years and may add economics and psychology classes in the future.
Gabrielino students begin planning for the future during freshman year through a college prep and transition course. Students are introduced to career technical education (CTE) courses, dual-enrollment courses offered through a partnership with Rio Hondo Community College and after-school enrichment programs.
Gabrielino also has a robust college and career center with a dedicated CTE counselor who aids students with college planning and applications, financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
The center also organizes college and career fairs and coordinates college field trips and guest speakers each year to help students explore their higher education options.
Schools ranked between 501st and 2,711st nationwide – all of which had a CRI at or above 21.51 – were awarded silver medals. Gabrielino earned a CRI of 48.1 and was ranked 145th in California and 871st nationwide.
Gabrielino’s Class of 2018 graduates have enrolled at institutions like UCLA, UC Irvine, Stanford, Pomona College, Syracuse, USC, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern and Art Center College of Design.
“Gabrielino High School works hard to prepare our students for the rigors of higher education by pairing challenging academics with programs and resources that support student achievement,” SGUSD Superintendent Dr. John Pappalardo said. “Congratulations to Gabrielino High students, teachers and staff on this well-deserved recognition.”