Each year, Newsweek magazine ranks the top 1,300 high schools in the United States. In , this survey, schools are ranked according to a ratio of the number of advanced placement, international baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2007 divided by the number of graduating seniors.

Once again, our own Glenelg High School made the list, coming in at No. 948 (up from a ranking of 1,026 in 2007). All of the schools on the list have an index of at least 1.000; they are in the top 5 percent of public schools measured this way.

In other Glenelg High School news, they recently released the names of the 2008 National Merit Scholarship finalists and commended students. Senior Shannon Jones has earned a National Merit Scholarship. She is in the top 1 percent of all students taking the PSAT in their junior year. Her scholarship will be to the University of Maryland.

In addition, 13 students have been recognized as commended students in the National Merit program based on their PSAT scores in the junior year. The students are Kelly Boeckl, Alexander Edgerton, Susan Giampalmo, Peter Greenberg, Kirsten Jacobson, Kesshi Jordan, Nicholas Kratzmeier, David Li, Timothy Marcoux, William Mettle, Stephen Seo, Austin Siegfried and James Wissman.

Brianna Allen was recognized as an outstanding participant by the College Board in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Finally, 14 Glenelg High School students met requirements to enter next year's National Merit Scholarship Program. These students are among the 50,000 highest scoring participants of some 1.4 million on the PSAT in their junior year. They are: Elisabeth Asher, Colin Burns-Hefner, Christopher Finley, Courtney Knill, Lauren Lake, Natalie Perna, Jacob Tatum, Lauren Toole, Madeline Vincent, Nolan Walter, Ariel Wehland and Drew Willson. The students will find out in September who has been selected to be a National Merit semifinalist.

The Maryland Distinguished Scholar Program recently recognized several students for academic achievement. These students have earned an unweighted grade-point average in core academic courses of 3.7 or higher midway through their junior year, and are eligible for up to $12,000 in scholarships if they attend a Maryland university.

This year's achievement finalists are Jones and Jordan. Semifinalists are Devon Caldwell, Jacobson and Siegfried. Twenty-seven additional students earned an honorable mention.

As the kids ended the school year, parents were brought news of changes at some local schools. Each year, parents anticipate which teachers will be coming back to school to teach next year, and which teachers will be moved to other schools.

The end of the school year brought news of changes in many local school administrations that was on parents' minds. Rick Wilson, current principal at Glenwood Middle School, told school families that he will become principal at Folly Quarter Middle School next year. Dave Brown, current principal at Mt. Hebron High School will be taking Wilson's place.

As Wilson steps in to take charge at Folly Quarter, Carl Perkins will be moving on to become principal at Centennial High School.

Over at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary, Susan Webster, who has been principal since the school opened in 1998, will now become principal at Waterloo Elementary School. Taking her place will be current assistant principal Chanel Morris.

These changes all take effect July 1. We welcome the new principals and wish each of these individuals great success in their new endeavors.

It seems like the kids just got out of school and already we are a week away from the Fourth of July. The days are flying and fall will be here before we know it.

Western Howard County Soccer registration is now open. Registration will continue through July 15th. Register early to guarantee placement on a team. For more information, go to www.whcsoccer.org.

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