MPS' Rufus King is only school in the nation to win ACT award

MILWAUKEE (WITI) – Milwaukee Public Schools’ Rufus King International School has won ACT’s national College and Career Transition Award for high schools.

Rufus King is the only high school in the nation to receive the award, which was announced in Washington, D.C.

Ranked among the best high schools in Wisconsin in 2013 by both U.S. News and World Report and the Washington Post, Rufus King was nominated for the award by Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers. The six states partnering with ACT for its inaugural College and Career Readiness Campaign were invited to nominate schools.

Schools are nominated by states to recognize “exemplary college and career readiness efforts” as they work to ensure students possess the knowledge and skills to enroll and succeed in college-level coursework at colleges and universities.

In recognizing the honor, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction shared the following about the school: “An International Baccalaureate (IB) school since 1979, Rufus King has created a college-bound atmosphere for its ethnically and socio-economically diverse student population. The rigorous IB curriculum prepares students for the next steps in their educational and life journey. The school uses quarterly assessments to monitor student growth, offers career exploration and college search support, and requires community service for all students.”

“As a nation, we have work to do in terms of college and career readiness, but we can get there,” said Jon Whitmore, ACT’s chief executive officer. “The individuals and organizations we honored this week prove that college and career readiness can be achieved. Our campaign is intended to encourage more people to take up the cause, to support them in their efforts, and to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments.”

“This is a tremendous recognition of the hard work of our teachers, counselors, students and families to ensure students succeed after they graduate,” Rufus King Principal Peter Samaranayake said.

Rufus King won its award based upon criteria including: demonstrated student growth; aggregate ACT scores; the percentage of students meeting college readiness benchmarks; demonstrated success in serving students of underrepresented racial/ethnic/socioeconomic backgrounds; dedication of administrators and teachers to ensure students gain the knowledge and skills needed for success; and the school’s commitment to providing leadership opportunities for students outside the classroom.

MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton said the national recognition “is a strong reflection of what we already know about the rigorous environment at Rufus King and our commitment to college and career readiness.”

MPS’ college and career readiness efforts and results include:

Milwaukee Public Schools is Wisconsin’s largest school district, serving more than 78,000 students in more than 160 schools across the city. MPS is home to the Milwaukee region’s two best high schools according to the Washington Post and three of state’s 25 best high schools according to U.S. News and World Report. In the past year, Milwaukee Public Schools posted a growing graduation rate 14 points higher than the rate for 2000.