Ninth Graders at Macho Springs Wind Farm (Photo Courtesy of ALCS staff)

Silver City, NM: Aldo Leopold Charter School has been named GÇ£Bronze AwardGÇ¥ winner in the 2017 U.S News and World Report's GÇ£Best High Schools in AmericaGÇ¥

Of the 37 New Mexico schools ranked among the U.S. News Best High Schools, five earned silver medals and 30 received bronze medals. Two schools earned the Gold Award. Aldo Leopold charter School was ranked 12th and received a Bronze Award.

GÇ£We are quite proud of our studentsGÇÖ performance and this national recognition that we are on the right track with our mission and emphasis on experiential education,GÇ¥ said Wayne Sherwood, School Director. GÇ£We expect our students to be connected to the community, develop leadership skills and do well academically.GÇ¥

As part of U.S. News rankings, New Mexico high school students are assessed in English language arts and math via the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Careers, or PARCC, assessments. Students must earn 24 credits in specific subjects to graduate. One of those credits must be an honors, Advanced Placement, dual-credit or distance-learning course, according to the New Mexico Public Education Department.

Aldo Leopold Charter School is a tuition free public school that provides an engaging and challenging educational program for grades 6 through 12 emphasizing direct experience, inquiry learning, stimulation of the creative process, and stewardship of our community and natural environment.