Northview High School, in Johns Creek, Georgia, has always been known to people all over the state as one of the top high schools. That, however, changed in the last few years. Our ranking fell, and many speculated that something was going wrong in Northview. But even the greatest of institutions have their falls, and to be #1, perseverance and determination have to be your guiding qualities. According to Newsweek, Northview is back on top in Georgia, and 132nd in the nation, and here's why:
1. Student Body
Northview's student body is made up of the some of the brightest minds in the country. However, it's not talent that solely brought us to the top. Everybody knows that Northview is one of the toughest schools, because the expectations are high, and that's how it should be for one of the top schools in the country. In order to make the best of that, the students have to put in the work to get the most out of school, and at Northview, that happens every day. People are constantly working to get better grades, make a better position on the team, or work for leadership in a club. A common misconception about Northview is that every student just does activities for college. But think about it, if we really did do that, we wouldn't have the kind of results that we achieve on a consistent basis. Every student does it out of passion, and they know that they can succeed in whatever their passion is because that is the kind of environment they study in. Another misconception is that students are ultra-competitive, but that definitely isn't true. Yes, we like to push each other to work harder, but not at the cost of friendship. Friends help each other, motivate each other, and most importantly, get each others back when one of them isn't succeeding. Being the best school in the state isn't just about having the best test scores, because the friendly environment of Northview's students is a major plus point that can't go overlooked.
2. Teachers
As they say, a good teacher is the reason why extraordinary students go on to do extraordinary things, and the teaching staff at Northview has done just that. When they teach, they teach with their own passion for the subject, because they want the student to experience it too. Sometimes, that comes at the cost of a bad grade, but it's worth it. High school is when every student can consider their career options and what they want to major in college. Getting a bad grade in a subject but loving every minute of it and working harder to succeed in a class is exactly what the teachers at Northview want, and they've been successful year after year. Our college readiness is a staggeringly high 82.3%, better than some of the top 25 schools in the country. Without the teaching staff that Northview has right now and in the past, Northview never would have made it into the top ranks.
3. Administrative Staff and Counseling
Of course, without the counselors and administration that Northview has, the school would be different. Both the counselors and the staff work closely with student emphasizing balance in life over academic success, because balance in life is what gets kids to the highest colleges. Since Mr. Downey stepped up as principal, he emphasized academics, arts, and athletics, to make sure kids are doing all three. That program has been working beautifully, as we have one of the best orchestras and bands in the country, and our art program rivals programs in the top 10 schools in the country.
When someone thinks of Northview, the first words that should come to mind are compassion, perseverance, and willingness to do the right thing. Yes, our school isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean that our school had a decline. We are back on top, and for good reasons too. The best students, the best teachers, and the best staff make today, and everyday, a great day to be a Titan!
