McBee High School has been recognized by the State Department of Education for “rapid improvement” on the ACT for 2009.

McBee High was among fourteen high schools statewide to win a performance award for significant improvement on the ACT tests.

In their first year, the ACT/SAT Performance Improvement Awards (ASPI) were created to showcase schools that showed high performance on the ACT or SAT and those that have had rapid or continuous improvement in their scores.

According to Valerie Harrison, Deputy Superintendent of the Division of Standards and Learning at the SDE, the ASPI program has three types of awards for high performance and three types of awards for high improvement.

The award banners for the schools indicate Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude for the level of award given. McBee High School has been designated as Magna Cum Laude.

Improvement awards go to schools whose score exceeds the state average and level of significant improvement, and who show improvement over a three-year period.

McBee High Principal Dennis McDaniel said that the award confirms what he has seen at the school since he became principal.

“Our students are working hard to learn and achieve success, and our teachers are working hard to facilitate it,” says McDaniel. “More importantly, parents are being supportive of both students and teachers, which is the key to any sustained and measurable achievement.

“I am excited to see that the hard work for all of these groups is now being acknowledged. I believe that our school is among the best in the state, and now we have the numbers to prove it.”

Chesterfield County School District Superintendent Dr. John E. Williams said that the award is indicative of the performance of the faculty and students at McBee High.

“The faculty and staff at McBee High are doing a great job at preparing our students,” says Williams. “When you combine that with the hard work of the students, you are going to see positive results.”