This year, Northwood students reached an all-time high on their first semester EOCs, putting Northwood in the running to become a “School of Excellence.” Northwood is currently a “School of Distinction,” a status earned for the past two years.
     To be a “School of Excellence,” Northwood must have a 90 percent passing rate on EOCs for the entire year. Last semester, 91.82 percent of NHS students passed. So in order to achieve this status, Northwood must maintain these scores through second semester.
     Assistant principal Melanie Williams had tears in her eyes when she was sharing the news with the teachers.
     “I was actually crying on the loudspeaker when I was explaining it to them because it’ll be the first time, I believe, in history,” said Williams, earlier in the semester.
     The upcoming EOCs will determine whether Northwood does, in fact, become a “School of Excellence.”
     “For the last three years, our second semester scores have averaged five to six points higher than first semester did, so if we run true to form, we’ll do as well, or better, than we did first semester,” said principal Chris Blice.
     Blice was very proud of the students of Northwood.
     “[I’m proud of] the fact that four years ago the school was at 66 percent [passing rate] and at the end of first semester this year we [were at] 91 percent,” Blice said.
     Students claim that the possibility of becoming a “School of Excellence” is further affecting their dedication to their schoolwork.
     “It makes me feel like I have to do better in my classes, to keep up with other students,” said sophomore Bryce Sawyer.  
     Students credited their teachers for the confidence that they felt while taking their EOCs last semester.
     “I had a pretty good feeling that I was going to pass because Ms. Chris (science teacher Cari Christopherson) said her tests were harder than the EOC and I did pretty well on my tests,” said sophomore Eric Belcher.
     Biology teacher Aaron Freeman said that she felt the students were well prepared by the teachers. She gave her students as many old practice EOC questions for homework as she could find.
     According to Blice, the success on EOCs can be credited toward the “improvement of our instructional program” and “working hard to improve the environment and culture within the classrooms.”
      Students shared their opinions on the upcoming EOCs.
     “I feel sort of pressured because it is coming up really [soon],” said sophomore Giana Bonomolo.  
     Preparation has been a key proponent of the EOC classes since the beginning of May. The teachers and students are getting ready for exams.  
     “I have Dr. Raymond and she is a really good teacher,” said Bonomolo. “I feel prepared.”
      If the students are able to pull through and reach a 90 percent passing rate on these exams, according to Blice, it could greatly affect the value of a diploma from Northwood.
     “When you are applying for colleges, colleges know who the better performing high schools are in the state, and for us to be one of those…. [It] has untold rewards,” said Blice.
     Blice encourages the teachers and students to pursue this goal.
     “We have a chance to do something that nobody’s ever done before and unfortunately this is our last chance to do it,” said Blice.
     This is the last year that the “School of Excellence” accountability award will be offered.
     ”Lets pull out the stops and give it our best shot,” said Blice.