Marshall, Blair ranked among the best

from the Pasadena Unified School District

Marshall Fundamental School in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) has been recognized as the eighth best high school among both public and private high schools in Los Angeles County, according to rankings published by Los Angeles Magazine in their September issue. PUSD’s Blair High School also made the list due to their status as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, coming in at 67 of the 250+ LA County public and private schools considered for the rankings. Marshall was also the third highest ranked public school in the county and the top rated public high school in the San Gabriel Valley.

“Marshall maintains a commitment to high standards and equity,” said Marshall Fundamental Principal Dr. Mark Anderson. “The collaborative effort between students, parents, teachers, counselors, and staff has led to our success.  Each member of the Marshall family believes in the school, works hard to educate students and feel it is the greatest place in the world to be.”

Los Angeles Magazine used the Challenge Index, which was developed by Washington Post education columnist Jay Mathews, to formulate their rankings. The Challenge Index took the total number of Advanced Placement (AP) and IB exams taken by students in 2013 and divided that number by the number of graduating seniors that year. Mathews points out in the magazine that the Challenge Index “recognizes schools that try hardest to improve the critical thinking and writing skills needed to thrive in tough college courses and the job market.”

Citing the almost sevenfold increase of students taking Advanced Placement (AP) tests from 1998 to today and the teaching of the critical thinking skills in sixth grade that are needed to be successful on AP tests and ultimately in college, Los Angeles Magazine notes that Marshall has performed just as well as affluent private schools even though 70 percent of students are low-income. At Marshall, “students aren’t chosen on the basis of STAR, PSAT or any other test scores but on their willingness to work hard,” wrote Mathews about Marshall Fundamental.

“I am proud of both Marshall and Blair for being recognized as two of the top high schools in the county,” said PUSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Brian McDonald. “As noted in the article, these two PUSD schools are near the top because they excel at preparing students to succeed and thrive in college and career.”

Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre families can choose to attend Marshall or Blair as part of the district’s open enrollment process. General open enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year will take place in January 2015.