Have you ever wondered why Principal Robby Parker graces the intercom system every morning (without fail) to reiterate his position that Bob Jones is the “best dadgum high school” in the country? Well, wonder no more. The facts are in. There might finally be some substance to our fearless leader’s vague assertions.
According to Bob Jones High School College and Career Counselor Sheila Roberts, 130 of the 566 seniors at Bob Jones have scored a 30 or higher on the ACT this year. That’s almost one quarter of the graduating class. Take a moment to let that sink in.
No, really, go ahead.
Now consider this achievement in perspective. According to act.org, a student who scores a 30 on the ACT ranks among the 95th percentile nationally. The national average is a score of 21. Still not impressed? Read what the big man himself, Mr. Robby Parker, had to say:
“Obviously, I’m very impressed and proud of the student body. 130 students scoring 30 or higher is the most we’ve ever had in one class.” Add to this the fact that our senior class is the smallest in recent memory (thanks, James Clemens) and the fact that seniors are still taking the test, and what’s already a milestone appears all the more noteworthy.
To whom or to what do we owe this success? Our principal humbly states that our accomplishment is rooted in the “raw materials” Bob Jones is provided with, from hard-working students to well-trained instructors. He also notes that “high expectations and rigor in the classroom” interact to perpetuate a perfect storm of sorts.
Equally elated are the students who are finally seeing their hard work pay off. As senior David Gunther said, “After working hard in class at Bob Jones, it was nice to see my work pay off in the form of a good ACT score.” Having a good ACT score certainly helps when applying to college, whether it be the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Auburn or Harvard.
The biggest impact may be felt in the wallets of those kids’ parents, though. According to Patricia Weber, mother of senior John Weber, “an improvement of a few numbers in an ACT score can mean the difference of thousands of dollars in tuition.”
But the ACT is just the tip of the iceberg. Our school’s ability to produce future leaders depends also on the character of the student body. As Mrs. Roberts told Patriot Pages, “Our students are involved in community service and take initiative to give back in many ways. Leadership takes vision and commitment, both of which I find consistently in the character of students in this community.”
Outstanding standardized test scores will be the fuel that helps Mr. Parker stay “fired up.”
