Website ranks Erath and North Vermilion as top three high schools in the state

Two Vermilion Parish High Schools learned over the Mardi Gras break that they rank No. 2 and No. 3 amongst public schools, according to a certain website.
The website Value Penguin.com ranked the Top 100 public high schools in Louisiana. Erath is ranked No. 2, while North Vermilion is ranked No. 3.
Belle Chase High School is ranked No. 1, according to the web site.
Two other parish high schools ranked in the Top 100 are Abbeville (90th), Kaplan (38th) and Delcambre from Iberia Parish is ranked 32nd.
The website looked at Algebra test scores and English scores from EOC exams. Also considered was school size and the diversity of the student body.

Here is what the website said about the two schools.

2. Erath High School
Recently ranked as the 3rd best public high school in Louisiana by the Department of Education, our independent study showcases Erath as the 2nd best overall high school in the state. What drove EHS’s score was an outstanding performance in academics with almost half of their students receiving “excellent” scores for their 2013-2014 end-of-course tests. These scores were amongst the best in the state especially considering the size of the student body. The school received slightly above average marks for diversity in their student population and below average marks for their student/teacher ratio of 18.3.

3. North Vermilion High School
Students and parents associated with North Vermilion High School speak of the great teachers, camaraderie, and the preparation the students receive before heading off to college as the biggest selling points for this-based school. Our numbers also reflected that sentiment. Students seem to be quite well prepared as the number of kids with excellent test scores in Math and English are 14th and 15th best in Louisiana. Also, with a high school student body size between 500-600 the school is large enough to provide plenty of social opportunities, but not so big that students get lost in the shuffle.

Vermilion Parish School Superintendent Jerome Puyau said it is a team effort to make our schools the best in the state.
“Our schools are making great strides in providing a great education in which our students will be prepared for a career or college,” said Puyau. “The key to economic development starts with the investment in our schools, teachers and students. This study verifies the commitment our teachers and administrators have made to provide many years of high quality classroom instruction. We are definitely on the right pathway to success!”
Erath Principal Marc Turner was thrilled by the ranking.
“This study by True Penguin is a true acclaim for implementation of high standards and assessing students according to these standards,” said Turner. “Erath High School is honored by this ranking as it is proof positive students in Louisiana can perform at high levels and a testament to teachers who deserve the opportunity to show off their hard work. For this acclaim we are quite proud everyday to be a part of Erath High School. It truly is an honor to lead this faculty and student body.”
North Vermilion Principal Tommy Byler likes the idea that NVHS is starting to get recognition for academics.
“A lot of people have heard of Erath and its academics,” Byler said. “We are showing people we are now on their heals in academics. Our academic scores are moving up. I credit that to our teachers and students. They are buying in.”

Here is how the other surrounding public high schools rank. Many high schools did not make the Top 100.
Berwick - 49
Lake Arthur - 55
Loreauville - 56
Lafayette - 60
Mamou - 62
Jennings - 66
Morgan City - 71
Iota High - 76
Comeaux - 83
Centerville - 85

Link to original study is here: http://www.valuepenguin.com/2015-best-public-high-schools-louisiana-study