Did You Know?, Part II

The first comment to my earlier post was from School Board President Airick Leonard West. It deserves it's own post.

Here are the "Did You Know" statements we used during Opportunity Knocks.DID YOU KNOW...

- that KCMSD has one of the best jazz bands in the region and one of the top in the nation?

Last year, members of Lincoln's jazz band were invited to play at Carnegie Hall along with other top high school bands from across the nation – twice. Several of the members were identified as top high school musicians in the State.

- that KCMSD has the best urban debate team in the region and one of the best in the nation?

Last year, the debate team from Central High won multiple urban debate tournaments and came away with the top prize at the national urban debate competition.

- that KCMSD's Superintendent was honored as the region's public administrator of the year?

Dr. Covington was named the local Public Administrator of the Year by the Greater Kansas City chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. The award recognizes outstanding performance in the practice or teaching of public administration.

- that KCMSD scholars can earn up to 60 college credits during high school -- that are completely paid for?

This fall every KCMSD high school will offer a full slate of AP and dual credit courses. At Southwest Early College Campus and ACE, scholars following the program fully are capable of earning up to 60 credits from UMKC or Penn Valley, respectively, prior to completing high school.

- that a KCMSD school is ranked among the top 100 high schools in the nation according to Newsweek Magazine?

Newsweek ranks all high schools – public and private – based on their college preparatory offerings. On that list, which came out this Spring, KCMSD's Lincoln College Preparatory Academy ranked #72 in the nation. More information is available at www.newsweek.com.

I covered this one in yesterday's post. You can find the Newsweek list at the top of the right-hand column. Notice that Lincoln Prep is first among the top ten high schools in the state. Our school beat Park Hill by a walloping 717 places. -Casey

- that two KCMSD 2010 graduates each earned over $350k in scholarships for college?

One of our scholars received the Gates Millennium Scholarship and is currently studying to become a medical doctor. More information is available at www.gmsp.org. Another of our scholars received a full ride to West Point. More information is available at www.usma.edu. Both scholarships are valued at more than $350k.

- that KCMSD scholars placed in the top 10 best in the nation at the SkillsUSA competition in June 2010

The SkillsUSA Championships is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. In June, KCMSD teams came in 4th and 10th in the nation in audio/video production for radio and television. More information is available at www.skillsusa.org.

In short, the scholars of the KCMSD are doing remarkable things and deserve our support. These are just a few examples of what they can accomplish when the community stands behind them.