Four Stars and choir award for North Putnam High School

ROACHDALE -- Due to exceptional ISTEP test scores, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz designated North Putnam High School (NPHS) as a Four Star school this week.

In order to qualify for this status a school must score in the top 25th percentile in three ISTEP-based testing categories.

A total of 311 schools received the award throughout the state.

Principal Alan Zerkel credits the effort of teachers, students, and parents for the achievement.

"The teachers are the driving force, they did an awesome job," Zerkel explained, "all these students have all these great abilities, it's just great when it comes out for them to realize the potential that they have."

This marks the second consecutive year that North Putnam High School has been classified with the honor, an accomplishment that the high school can be more than satisfied with.

"I'm just proud of the whole staff," Superintendent Dan Noels said, "they were out there in the field doing it and I know they're very very proud."

The high school choir program also received accolades this week receiving the All School Choir Award from the Indiana State School Music Association for the second consecutive year.

An assembly next week will be organized to recognize the students' efforts.

"I am honored to name these schools as our Four Star Schools for this year," said Ritz, "Winning this award required excellent work by teachers, administrators, students and parents throughout the year and on behalf of the entire Indiana Department of Education I send them my sincere congratulations."