S*0962 Concurrent Resolution, By Campsen
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
 FOR BEING SELECTED BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AS ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST HIGH
 SCHOOLS.

   01/08/08  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-79
   01/09/08  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-27

CONGRATULATING CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS FOR BEING SELECTED BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AS ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST HIGH SCHOOLS.

Whereas, Charleston County School of the Arts is a county-wide magnet school that blends intensive artistic instruction with a strong academic program, serving grades six through twelve, and with a student body of nearly one thousand; and

Whereas, Charleston County School of the Arts' composite SAT scores rates it among the top five schools in the State of South Carolina; and

Whereas, Charleston County School of the Arts' students have distinguished themselves creatively and academically since the school was opened in 1995, focusing in art majors in creative writing, visual art, dance, theatre, instrumental band, piano, string orchestra, and vocal music; and

Whereas, the School of Arts' students receive a daily instruction in their major art area and participate in a challenging academic curriculum that includes college preparatory, honors, and advanced placement courses; and

Whereas, U.S. News and World Report's first-ever list of America's Best High Schools ranked schools in forty states based on three criteria: (1) students' test scores on state reading and math exams must exceed statistical expectations given the students' poverty level; (2) the least advantaged student groups must achieve proficiency rates on state tests that exceed state average; and (3) the level of students' college readiness, measured by student participation in and performance on Advanced Placement tests. The one hundred top performing schools were given gold status and ranked numerically, and the remaining schools that met all three criteria were classified as silver schools; and

Whereas, Charleston County School of the Arts was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of America's Best High Schools, receiving silver medal status. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, congratulate Charleston County School of the Arts for being selected by U.S. News and World Report as one of America's Best High Schools.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Charleston County School of the Arts.