A number of western Wisconsin high schools are included on a list of the country’s best places to learn.

The latest U.S. News & World Report analyzed 18,790 public high schools in 40 states using test results and data from the 2005 to 2006 school year.

It then used a three-step process to find the best schools, which included looking at state proficiency standards, how the school’s least-advantaged students were performing and how the schools prepare kids for college-level work.

The top 100 schools earned a gold medal, the next 405 earned a silver medal and an additional 1,086 schools earned a bronze medal.

Locally, Augusta High School was just one of the schools that earned a bronze medal recognition.

"It makes me feel very good that our teachers and students get some recognition, because they work hard around here and it's nice when some organization as well known as U.S. News & World Report recognizes their hard work,” said Superintendent, Stephen La Fave. "It just shows that, you know, sometimes people say, you know, small rural schools are a thing of the past. But, it's obvious we still can compete on a level that's pretty high."

Superintendent La Fave says this award is even more meaningful because just a few years ago, the Augusta Middle School was identified as a facility in need of improvement.

"The staff got together and brainstormed and came up with lots of ideas and the students have worked hard and to their credit, they've turned a lot of things around,” La Fave said.

"I think over the years we've gone through some challenging times and I think that maybe this is kind of' solidifies the fact that we know that what we do, we do well and we're very deserving of this recognition,” said English teacher, Kristine Sell.

According to the U.S. News & World Report, this is the first-ever ranking of America’s best high schools.

The report is perhaps best known for its ranking of America’s best colleges.

Again, a number of other western Wisconsin high schools were also featured on this year’s best of 2008 report.

To see if your child’s school made the cut, click on “featured links” at the top of your screen.