[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 54 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE WEST SIDE MAGNET SCHOOL, TROUP COUNTY, GEORGIA

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                             HON. BOB BARR

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2001

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, although the magnet school concept 
is not new to the public school system, West Side Magnet School of the 
Troup County School System in the Seventh District of Georgia has 
accomplished a goal that most would find challenging. The school was 
ranked first (with an 87.3 score) of 35 schools in the nation, given 
exemplary status, and received national recognition from the Getty 
Trust and National Arts Education Consortium. It was one of only six 
southern schools chosen to be tested for a period of five years the 
goal: see what new curriculum combinations result when arts are 
combined with school reform.
  Principal Nancy Stevens says the school's accomplishments are a 
direct result of support from the school system and the arts community, 
which includes arts support from the Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, 
LaGrange College, the opera guild, and The LaGrange Symphony.
  The study found the top scoring schools shared the following 
characteristics: ``strong'', and supportive leadership either from the 
principal or key staff, an openness for learning,'' and support for 
arts ``both in the school and the community.'' The study and its 
findings will be published in 2002.
  I hope all Members of the United States Congress will join me in 
recognizing the hard work of everyone who has contributed to making the 
West Side Magnet School a success.

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