For Immediate Release: Mount Airy High School Named Signature School
Mount Airy City Schools is pleased to announce that Mount Airy High School (MAHS) has received the Signature School designation from the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium (PTEC). This recognition highlights the accomplishments and exemplifies the excellence that MAHS experienced in 2018.
MAHS students and staff have experienced success due to their academic and innovative accomplishments. Staff members in collaboration with parents and students strive to grow every child, every day. On average, students attending MAHS grew more than one year’s worth of growth each year according to accountability reports. This highlight is supported by data that notes 100% of teachers met or exceeded growth academically. This work has placed the school in the top 20% in the state for overall growth.
At 87.6% for school growth, Mount Airy High School earned a B ranking for its school performance grade. Some highlights of the year include students ranked 7th in the state for proficiency in mathematics, had 100% of Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators graduate, and performed well with 93% of students achieving technical skills attainment on CTE exams.
The class of 2018 graduated 108 students and earned an astounding 1.3 million dollars in scholarships. 88% of graduates chose to go on to a 2 or 4 year college.
Principal Jason Dorsett commented, “I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of Mount Airy High School. Our staff has dedicated themselves to help create a tradition of excellence in the classroom, athletically, and through fine arts. Led by a devoted team of educators who works together to put students first, I am excited about the future of Mount Airy High School and the career and college opportunities being provided.
MAHS continues to be innovative in preparing students to be career and college ready. The district’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) framework includes a global emphasis that allows MAHS to create a learning environment where students are striving to be problem solvers and global thinkers.
Course selections continue to increase with the addition of STEAM and health science courses. Students now have access to Project Lead the Way, a Certified Nurse Assistant program, and drone program. Through the Richard Childress Racing partnership, students are provided ongoing internship and shadowing experiences, after-school racing clubs, and mentors for up and coming engineers.
MAHS’s world language courses include Spanish and Chinese taught by native speakers. The Global Partnership Initiative enhances learning through the opportunities to travel to China and host students from China. These experiences, in addition to frequent video-conferencing and project work with students in Beijing allows students to grow in their cultural awareness and appreciation.
Superintendent Dr. Kim Morrison stated, “We are proud of Mount Airy High School’s accomplishments and know that a strong K-12 program results in graduating our students career and college ready. We are thankful that in addition to 11 Advanced Placement offerings we are also able to offer multiple college courses for our students to be dually enrolled with Surry Community College. Our high school has a reputation for excellence and outperforms most traditional high schools in the state ensuring that we work with every child to help them fulfill their purpose. Congratulations to the administration, staff, and especially students for this great honor.”