Schools

Sequoyah Is One Of America's Most Challenging High Schools

Sequoyah, Etowah and Creekview high schools were named to the list published by the Washington Post.

Sequoyah High School is one of three Cherokee County School District high schools that have been named to the America's Most Challenging High Schools list published by The Washington Post.

Sequoyah, as well as Etowah and Creekview high schools, were named to the list, which ranks schools based on factors including the percentage of graduating seniors who take Advanced Placement (AP) tests, the school district said on Tuesday in a press release. 

Only 9 percent of the roughly 22,000 public high schools earned placement on the 2014 list. All three schools were also named to the list in 2013.

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“Every student, parent, teacher, administrator, support staff member, partner and volunteer at these schools is congratulated for their efforts that have led to this National recognition,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said. “Despite the continued economic challenges facing our schools, everyone has worked together diligently to earn this honor… which is another testament to the high-quality public education available to every child in Cherokee County.” 

Creekview ranked at No. 1,404, while Etowah came in at 1,830 and Sequoyah clocked in at 1,849. Creekview is led by Principal Dr. Adrian Thomason while Principal Keith Ball is tasked with running Etowah and Principal Elliott Berman oversees Sequoyah. 

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All district high school students have the opportunity to take AP courses and tests, "which offer more rigorous curriculum to better prepare them for higher education and the workplace and the opportunity to earn college credit without the cost of taking college courses," the district said.

The AP Program allows high school students who score a 3, 4 or 5 on an AP exam to earn college credit and, subsequently, exempt those courses in college.  

Continued growth and expansion in AP course offerings continues to be a priority for Cherokee, which was also named to the Fourth Annual AP District Honor Roll, an elite list of 477 systems that have succeeded in maintaining or improving the exam passage rate while also boosting participation. 

Cherokee County is one of only three school systems in the state to earn a spot on the list.


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