"We were invited to generate a questionnaire. I
don't know how they selected us [to enter into the competition]," said
Kinder. In all, approximately 22,000 high schools were chosen
nationwide.

However, the school received a letter, citing
"high academic achievement," as the essential factor for Somerville
High School's ranking in the top six percent of all of the high schools
in the country. That level of quality was not contingent on the
personal background of students, according to Kinder.

A separate competition for elementary and middle schools is not held through U.S. News and World Report.

Kinder
foresees that Somerville High will be ranked in an even higher
percentage by U.S. News and World Report next year because "the school
survey also asks about college prep, which was not available at the
time, so it was not reported."

At Somerville High,
standardized test preparation mimics the techniques utilized for other
exams. "We prepare students the same way we prepare them for regular
tests."

Yet, what if a student seems to be struggling in
school? Kinder outlines the available assistance, which is available to
the student body at Somerville High.

"We have a rigorous program
for providing students with the best education possible," said Kinder.
"We have tutoring in all academic subjects."

The high school's
tutoring program, comprehensive in nature, ranges from ninth grade
English to 11th grade Geometry. Therefore, if a student displays
difficulty in a particular subject area, he or she can count on solid
assistance to explain problematic subject areas.

Although MCAS
has proven problematic in the past for many students throughout the
state, now, there is a solution. "We also offer MCAS Preparation
Tutoring, for students who have not passed the MCAS on the first try,"
said Kinder. "I want to reinforce [that] passing the MCAS is one of
several things a student has to do in order to earn her high school
diploma. They also have to get a certain number of course credits."

"The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts allocates funds to provide MCAS tutoring
to students who have not attained a score of 'proficient' on the
state-mandated standardized test."

"Every student who has not
received a 'proficient' score has something called an Educational
Proficiency Plan (EPP)," said Kinder. The EPP determines the optimal
blend of "personal, tutoring and classroom support to help them acquire
the knowledge and skills they need to not only pass MCAS, but also to
succeed in their classes."

Currently, in Somerville, seventh and
eighth grade MCAS results have been scrutinized, according to Kinder.
Academic and social support services are available for rising ninth
graders, who have been identified as being, potentially, at risk for
struggling with the 10th grade test. The aim of the system is to ensure
that a student is equipped with the tools to prevent failing MCAS on
his or her first attempt.

On the other hand, almost half of the
Somerville High School student body is enrolled in at least one of the
11 Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Three AP courses have proven
extremely popular among students: AP Psychology, AP U.S. History, and
AP Government & Politics, according to Kinder.