2013 Washington Post Challenge Index - Columbia Heights Educational Campus

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Contact: Robin Winer
Columbia Heights Educational Campus
Phone: (202) 939-7703
3101 16th St., NW
Washington, DC 20010
www.checdc.org


COLUMBIA HEIGHTS EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


CHEC ranks #1 among non-select schools (schools with no entrance exam requirements) in DC according to Washington Post’s 2013 School Challenge Index; In overall rankings CHEC is #34 among top performing schools in the metro area.
Washington, DC, April 15, 2013:  The Columbia Heights Educational Campus (CHEC), home to Bell Multicultural High School and Lincoln Multicultural Middle School, is once again one of DC’s most academically challenging institutions according to the Washington Post's annual rankings.

CHEC is #5 overall in the District and #34 in the metro area when compared to other public schools, public charter schools and private schools. But it is the only school on the list with 100% of its student body on the federal free lunch program.  Of the 175 top performing schools in the region only 24 schools or 13.7% of the schools that were ranked served a student body with a free lunch participation rate of more than 50%. Nationally, CHEC ranked #241 out of 22,000 public schools.

Annually, the Washington Post “America's Most Challenging High Schools” ranks schools, locally and nationally, based on the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. A ratio of 1.000 means the school had as many tests as graduates. Of particular importance is the percentage of students who come from families that qualify for lunch subsidies and the percentage of graduates who passed at least one college-level test during their high school career, a score called equity and excellence.

CHEC’s challenge index this year was 3.833 up from 3.478 in 2012 and its equity and excellence score was 31.00 up from 23.00 in 2012.  This year marks the sixth straight year that the Post has ranked CHEC among the District’s most challenging schools.
According to Principal Maria Tukeva, “our students understand that college readiness, college access and success at college are the greatest equalizers of our times.  CHEC students strive for academic excellence at the highest possible level in preparation for college.  This accomplishment also to all the hard work and commitment of our faculty, staff, students, parents and volunteers.  I thank our team for continuing to show the CHEC spirit, nationwide.”

CHEC’s student body of 1,300 children and youth is the most diverse within the DC Public Schools with 50 countries represented and 24 languages spoken.  The mission of CHEC is that all students who graduate will be prepared to succeed in college and as leaders in the quest for social justice. We develop intellectually curious scholars who are articulate communicators in several languages and who are also critical thinkers and consumers, cultural ambassadors, and contributing community members. Our students develop positive habits that build physical and mental health. They demonstrate perseverance, ethics, and character in the pursuit of excellence.

For additional questions regarding CHEC or the Challenge Index, please contact Robin Winer at mcipoffice@yahoo.com or (202) 939-7703.

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