Langham, Cy-Creek make Challenge Index ’07

May 24, 2007 — Both Langham Creek and Cypress Creek high schools were among the 1,258 U.S. high schools ranked in the Washington Post and Newsweek’s annual Challenge Index, a system that measures a public high school’s effort to challenge its students.

The Challenge Index is determined by dividing the number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge tests a school gave by the number of seniors who graduated in June. Tests taken by all students, not just seniors, are counted. All schools that achieved an Index rating of 1.000—meaning they had as many tests in 2006 as they had graduates—are included in the list.

The Index also includes a subsidized lunch percentage that determines the percentage of students receiving federally subsidized meals, and an equity and excellence percentage that shows the portion of all graduating seniors that had at least one passing grade in one AP or IB test.

Langham Creek cracked the Index for the third straight year, coming in at No. 855 with an Index of 1.414. It was the highest rating achieved by LCHS, which earned a 1.106 in 2006 and a 1.073 in 2005. Langham Creek had an equity and excellence percentage of 25.4 and a subsidized lunch percentage of 24.8.

Cypress Creek ranked one place ahead of their 2006 standing, at No. 1,086. Cypress Creek scored an Index of 1.168, with an equity and excellence percentage of 27.6 and a subsidized lunch percentage of 21.0. In 2006, Cypress Creek’s Index was 1.143, including a 19.5 equity and excellence percentage and a 20.5 subsidized lunch percentage.

For more information on the Challenge Index and the complete set of 2007 rankings, please visit http://projects.washingtonpost.com/challengeindex.