Altamont High School Earns Status from US News

Altamont Community High School earned Bronze Medal status from US News and World Report.

Altamont Superintendent Jeff Fritchtnitch said there are 667 high schools in Illinois.  183 Illinois high schools made the rankings, and Altamont High School is ranked 71st.

Fritchtnitch said the bronze medal status is up from Notable Recognition for the district from last year.  He said, "It's my belief that the inclusion of instructional technology and curriculum alignment to standards are the main reasons for our ability to attain this award."

Altamont board members this week heard that grade school enrollment is at 527 students, exactly the same number as at this time one year earlier.  High school enrollment is at 250 students, 10 fewer than last June.

High school principal Jerry Tkachuk said Altamont's end of the year report to the State shows an attendance rate of 94.7%, with an 11% mobility rate and a 5.7% rate of chronic truancy.  The average class size at Altamont Community High School is 13.3.

Fritchtnitch reported new video cameras for the high school and grade school have been installed.  The cameras were discussed at the Board's March working weekend. 

The Altamont board also accepted a letter of resignation from Ty Totten.