Buffalo Grove middle school ranked 28th nationally
Twin Groves Middle School in Buffalo Grove has been ranked the 28th best middle school in the nation, by TheBestSchools.org.
In honoring Twin Groves, the only Illinois middle school on the "Top 50 Middle Schools" list for 2014, the judges cited several weighted factors, including academic excellence, National Assessment of Educational Progress scores, state assessment scores, awards and other rankings, and reputation, according to an email from Wayne Downs, managing editor of TheBestSchools.org.
Twin Groves is part of Kildeer-Countryside Elementary District 96, which has students from Buffalo Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, and Vernon Hills.
Among those awards and rankings are the 2013 Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Department of Education, "superior" state assessment scores; its ranking as the 19th best school in the state by the Chicago Sun-Times; ranked 28th among Illinois middle schools by SchoolDigger.com; given "10" ratings (out of 10) from both GreatSchools.com and Education.com.
The website cited the school's musical electives of band, choir, symphony orchestra and chamber orchestra, and the myriad extracurricular activities available to Twin Groves students, including theater, academic clubs, athletics, Chess Club, History Fair, Lego Club; Future Filmmakers, Science Fair; Yearbook Club and more.
According to TheBestSchools.org, "the National Assessment of Educational Progress results in science, math, and reading for 8th graders were used as a principle (but not the sole) basis for comparison."
State assessment scores were also examined, and weighed together with NAEP scores, the website said.
To see the report, and all 50 middle schools, visit www.thebestschools.org/features/50-best-middle-schools-grades-7-8-america/.