By Christian Coffman

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — A bronze medal is nice, but for Natchez Early College Academy it will not suffice, district officials say.

Natchez Early College Academy was recently named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best high schools.

NECA was included in the list of 6,041 schools that made the publication’s national rankings.

U.S. News & World Reports reviewed more than 20,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In Mississippi, no schools received a gold award, five schools received silver status and 59 school received a bronze award.

NECA Principal Kesha Broady-Campbell said she was happy the school was recognized and hopes the community will see what is possible in the school district.

“It’s good to know that people moving into the area will see there is something to look forward to in terms of receiving a quality education,” Broady-Campbell said.

Broady-Campbell said data was taken of the school when it only taught ninth and tenth graders. Last year the school graduated its first class.

Public Relations Coordinator Steven Richardson said members of the district are happy NECA received the honor, especially because the rankings used information from when the school was just in its infancy.

“We are confident we will get a silver going forward because the school has moved to including 11th and 12th graders now,” Richardson said.

Richardson said the rating listed in the score is from two years ago.

Richardson said the Mississippi Department of Education and other official organizations took reports and student data from NECA’s first year.

The 2015-16 school year was when NECA earned its B state rating.

“If this evaluation was done for 2015-16, which I anticipate for it to be done next year, you should see NECA achieve a silver medal, at least,” Richardson said.

Richardson said the criteria for a school to place gold, silver or bronze is four-fold.

Officials looked for high performance based on the relative level of student poverty, a level of proficiency of non-failing students, an above average graduation rate and a high number of students who take AP courses.

Richardson said each student at NECA has taken at least one AP course, which will also sway future numbers in the school’s ranking.

Richardson said that recieving a bronze medal for NECA is a huge accomplishment.

“It’s a testament to the hard work to the students and staff … they earned that, just as the earned the B state rating for the 2015-16 school year,” Richardson said. “Some of the schools in the country did not earn a medal, but we are proud to say that NECA did.”

Richardson said that with all of the district’s schools, they are shooting for the gold.