US News and World Report has analyzed school data from 21,069 high schools nationwide from the 2006-2007 school year. Hazen Union has been determined to be one of the best high schools in the United States. For the second year in a row, we have been awarded a Silver Medal by US News and World Report!

There are several steps to the process and different data sets are analyzed. Steps one and two address ensuring that all of our students learn, based on the state proficiency standards, our NECAP tests. They also look at how we perform according to statistical expectations. The third step assesses the degree to which we prepare our students for college-level work using data based on the AP tests to include the number of seniors that take AP tests and their scores.

Data from 21,069 schools were analyzed. The top 100 high schools nationwide are awarded Gold Medals. The next 504 top-performing high schools nationwide, from that group of 21,069, earn Silver Medals! We are within the top 3% of the schools in the NATION! We are one of three high schools in Vermont to have this award. By the way, of the 48 states, Vermont ranked third on the list as having the highest percentage of schools being awarded a gold or silver medal and no gold medals were awarded in Vermont. There were only three schools in Vermont to receive a Silver Medal and Hazen Union is one of those three...The tremendous work by our students and teachers helped Vermont to be recognized as holding third place in the Nation!

Vermont had 6.6% of its schools receiving a silver medal and Hazen is among those statistics along with Danville and Montpelier.

This confirms, once more, that Hazen Union School is, indeed, a School of Excellence and a Model Rural School!

Congratulations, students and teachers, you have earned this great honor. Keep up the fantastic work as we Go for the Gold!

As a way of celebration, we will be serving ice cream at lunch    Go Wildcats...You are #1!

Dear Hazen Union Community:

I would like to pause for a moment and pay tribute to two members of the Hazen family whom we recently lost. Marlene Clark served the Hazen Union School community for 36 years with a loyal and passionate dedication to “educate” both teachers and students alike. Her steadfast focus and zeal for excellence will remain within the culture of Hazen Union School. She was an incredible lady, administrative assistant to the principal, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Dean Daigle’s bright smile and high fives will be long remembered as he greeted students and teachers alike in the halls. He loved music and enjoyed the cultural assemblies greatly! We will miss both Marlene Clark and Dean Daigle, but our memories will never fade. We will create a scholarship fund in the name of Marlene Clark to be given to a senior each year in her memory.

As we close another fantastic year at Hazen Union, it is fitting that we review the year’s accomplishments, awards, and successes that have been bestowed upon Hazen Union School. None of the following could have happened without the tireless work of our teachers and students and the ever present parental and community support!

I would like to ask you to join me in walking along Hazen’s “Hall of Achievement for 2009” to reflect upon this year’s plethora of awards: Drum roll, please:

The above awards are proof that excellence is our goal and what we strive for every day at Hazen Union!

Congratulations, Hazen!

Commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, June 13, at 10:00 am. We are very proud of the Class of 2009 as they will leave with many memories of Hazen and perhaps will reflect back upon them as they forge new paths and ways to create a better world in which to live. Good luck, Class of 2009!

Have a great summer!

Sincerely,

Elaine F. Laine, Ph.D. Principal