National recognition
The Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy isn’t the No. 1 high school in the country.
More like No. 550.
But Charter Academy Principal Dan Nicklay has done the math and he couldn’t be more proud: His school is in the top one-half of 1 percent of all U.S. high schools.
The charter school is one of four Idaho schools recognized in Newsweek’s annual list of the country’s top high schools. The recognition is based on a formula devised by writer Jay Mathews: The number of students taking Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests divided by the number of graduating seniors.
Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy’s rank was based on 2007’s graduating class of 37 students.
“It’s great to be recognized obviously in a major weekly magazine for any kind of excellence by any standard,” Nicklay said.
With waiting lists for admission in many grades, Nicklay said he feels the charter school’s reputation is already well-established.
But Nicklay said the recognition from Newsweek might make some people “take a closer look.”
“We simply have great teachers and we set them loose to teach and it seems to work well,” he said.
Free science for girls
A free summer science program for girls begins this week at locations throughout North Idaho.
The program, organized by Girls Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, uses the free summer meal programs at area schools as a way to introduce girls to Scouting. Students can eat for free and then participate in a science-based activity at the schools, according to Girl Scout Membership Coordinator Elizabeth Henkel.
“Every session I do has some different science theme: The power of air, sound waves, critters,” Henkel said.
The programs run through the week of July 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. each Monday at Bryan Elementary School in Coeur d’Alene; 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. each Tuesday at Ponderosa Elementary School in Post Falls; and 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Thursdays at Rathdrum City Park.
For information on the summer science program or Girl Scouts in North Idaho, call Henkel at 215-5489.
School district wins award
The Coeur d’Alene School District has been designated as having “What Parents Want.”
SchoolMatch, a nationwide school information service that helps corporate employee families find schools for their children, has designated the school district as “What Parents Want” for the past 12 years.
The Ohio-based company recognizes 16 percent of the country’s public schools as having “What Parents Want.”
The designation is based on test scores, accreditation, recognition the school district has received, school spending, spending on library services and class sizes.