The Woodward News

Local News

November 6, 2012

High school receives readiness award

Chris Cooper Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Woodward High School was recently recognized for making improvements in preparing students for college.

The ACT Southwest Region presented the school with the 2012 College Readiness Award in recognition of significant increases in students' average ACT composite score over the past 5 years while simultaneously increasing the number of students taking the ACT assessment.

"It's quite an accomplishment for us," WHS Principal Kirk Warnick said. "We've been emphasizing the importance of the ACT in our school for the last 5 years. We've been working hard to improve our ACT scores, (and) we've tried to get kids to enroll and be serious and prepared for taking the ACT."

This 5-year improvement was no easy feat, as can be seen by the fact that only 11 percent of Oklahoma high schools that managed to meet the standards required for earning it, according to a letter from ACT Southwest Regional Manager Karen Pennell that accompanied the award.

"It's not without hard work," Warnick said. "Our teachers have worked very hard and diligently to help improve students scores."

The principal said the high school has implemented a number of programs in an effort to better prepare students for the test.

"We started an ACT prep class for junior and seniors about 5 years ago. It's a semester long (course), usually averaging 20 to 25 students a semester. The class consists of practicing on ACT tests from previous years to get better prepared for college readiness," Warnick said.  "We also had ACT practice sessions outside the school days in the afternoons which emphasized specific curriculums of the ACT test, such as science or math."

In addition to prep classes, the school has also started hosting more ACT tests as a means of increasing students scores.

"We've started offering more ACT test days at our schools because we feel it's important students take the test in a familiar environment," explained Warnick. "Taking the test in a room where they sit every day and take tests helps keep students more relaxed than they would be taking the test at a different school in a foreign environment."

Not only has Woodward High School increased its ACT test scores over the years, but they've also managed to increase the number of students taking it as well.

"We feel that by making ACT prep more readily available and emphasizing its importance that we stress the significance of the test to students and that makes it more of a priority to them. We think that's helped increase the number of students taking the test," Warnick said.

Despite the appreciation of the award, Warnick stressed that the Woodward High School and its faculty were not doing it for the awards.

"We're not in the teaching business for the pats on the back," he said. "We don't do it for the awards.  We're here to teach kids and make sure they're prepared for whatever lay for them beyond high school, whether that be college or the work force.  But it is nice to receive recognition for the time and effort that the faculty puts into getting students prepared, so we do appreciate it."

Text Only
Local News
  • County OKs agreements

    Woodward County Commissioners approved a renewal contract between Oklahoma Juvenile Affairs and the county during their regularly scheduled meeting Monday morning.

    June 18, 2013

  • Infrared camera can help with safety

    Ever since Spencer Albracht can remember, he has been taking things apart, curious about just what made them work.
    "Back then, when I was a kid, I mostly couldn’t get them put back together,” Albracht joked.

    June 16, 2013

  • Celebrating with American Cancer Society

    Teams at this year's Relay for Life in Woodward had a party.
    A birthday party that is, as they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the American Cancer Society (ACS).  They also celebrated how ACS seeks to help all cancer patients celebrate more birthdays.
    So during Friday night's Relay birthday party, the guests of honor were, as they are every year, the many local cancer survivors.
    The News visited with just a few of these brave battlers who shared stories about their individual journeys to overcome cancer.

    June 16, 2013

  • Commission to take up contracts

    Approval of the annual contract with the Woodward Industrial Foundation is one of the major topics Woodward City Commissioners will discuss in their regular meeting on Monday.

    June 16, 2013

  • 6 arrested on felony methamphetamine charges

    A single search warrant recently led to the arrest of 6 people on serious drug charges including intent to distribute and endeavoring to manufacture methamphetamine.

    June 16, 2013

  • Students to benefit from bond issue

    Days after the Sharon-Mutual Bond Issue passed, school officials are still celebrating on the inside, said Jeff Thompson, Sharon-Mutual superintendent.

    June 16, 2013

  • School board hires BWA Architects

    While the actual size of a bond issue proposal for the Woodward School District is still being determined, there is an architectural firm on board to go along with the already-hired construction manager Joe D. Hall.

    June 15, 2013

  • Back to School Bash coming up at Living Word

    It all started with just two women who wanted to ease the pressures associated with preparing to send children back to school in the fall.

    June 14, 2013

  • Meeting focuses on early childhood development

    What do a university dean, a bank president, a former business manager, a school board member, a city official, an executive director of a youth services agency, and a state legislator have in common?

    June 14, 2013

  • Patterson preparing for national contest

    She wants to be the rodeo queen who makes time for people and remembers where she came from.

    June 14, 2013