Hold on to your hats partners for the world has just found out what we here in Big Sandy have known for a long time. Big Sandy High School is a darn good school!

But we never knew quite how good until “US News and World Report” came out with the top high schools in Montana. Big Sandy is not only in the top 25 of Montana High Schools but took home the bronze award.

The top twenty-five schools are broken into awards. The best school got the Gold Award. Schools two through eight got the Silver Award and schools nine through twenty-five got the Bronze Award.

Here is what “US News and World Report” had to say about Big Sandy bringing home the Bronze.

“Big Sandy High School is recognized in the National Rankings, education, best high schools national rankings and earned a bronze medal. Schools are ranked based on their performance on state required tests and how well they prepare students for college…………….”

With an enrollment of forty-nine and six teachers that brought the student/teacher ratio to nine to one. Who says small schools can’t be great?

The top twenty-five high schools in Montana are Gardner high school, Lone Peak high school, Stevensville high school, Glacier high school, Sweet Grass County high school, Hellgate high school, Corvallis high school, Red Lodge high school, Three Forks high school, Polson high school, CMR high school, Big Sandy high school, Bridger high school, Broadwater high school, Fairfield high school, Flathead high school, Garfield high school, Harlem high school, Lambert high school, Plains high school, Plentywood high school, Seeley Swan high school, Shields Valley high school, St. Ignatius high school and Sunburst high school.

This is a huge honor for our community. It is a testimony to the hard work and exceptionalism of the Big Sandy School Board, Administration, Teachers, Staff and Students.

Superintendent Brad Moore should take a lot of credit for bringing home the Bronze as well.

Superintendent Moore shared some thoughts about how Big Sandy got to number twelve.

Top 12 Reasons

1. Teachers- It takes highly qualified and talented teachers to make a school great. Big Sandy High School has in place a great group of teachers who do a great job working with kids.

2. Parents- Without parent support and involvement no school can be successful, and we have wonderful parent support.

3. Support Staff- It takes a strong support team to help make a school successful and we have a great group with our secretaries, bus drivers, cooks, paras, and custodians.

4. School Board- Without a visionary school board who puts the needs of students first we could never be a quality school. We have a school board committed to the students and the staff that works with them every day.

5. Community Support- Big Sandy is one of the finest communities around and supports their school and students in every facet of their education.

6. 4-Day week- Change can be healthy. This change brought a whole different environment to the school that has been nothing but positive for the students and staff.

7. Technology- Schools have to have current technology to be successful and we have made tremendous strides in that area the past few years.

8. Shared Vision for the Future- Everyone involved has a shared vision to do whatever they can to help make Big Sandy schools as good as it can be.

9. Financial resources are allocated where they have the greatest impact for student success.

10. Students- No school can succeed without quality students and our rural community has hard working and dedicated students.

11. Elective Offerings and Curriculum- We have devoted time, resources, and personnel to implement a solid set of electives and a modern curriculum to help students succeed in all aspects of their education.

12. Quality feeder program that feeds the high school. Every high school needs a solid elementary school to prepare students for high school and Big Sandy is no different with an outstanding elementary school with great teachers.