Westwood High School Among Top Schools to Send Students to College

Massachusetts public schools have been known to produce a variety of conscientious, well-educated and responsible students. Westwood is no stranger to this list.

In a poll taken for the 2008 - 2009 school year, almost 50 public schools in the state had at least 80 percent of their high school graduates moving on to higher education at four year colleges.

Of that percentage, more than 20 of those schools had more than 90 percent of their students going on to do the same, according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  

Westwood High School, in particular, was noted for having 93.8 percent of high school graduates proceed to a four-year college after graduation.

"The Westwood community has strong parental investments -- the parents expect their kids to go to college," said Westwood High School Principal Emily Parks.  "We are constantly looking at our students' work. It's a never-ending process for improvement."

The skills Westwood High School provides for its students are meant to help them through college and life after college, Parks said.

"We pride ourselves on students having the skills necessary for college and beyond college," Parks said, adding that there are, of course, students who don't wish to attend a college after graduating high school.

"Some enter the world of work, or may do a year of service in the military," she said. 

Parks highlighted that Westwood High does everything possible to prepare students for a life after high school, even if they don't go to college.

Westwood High School has a list of expectations for each student, and every course is designed to meet at least one of these requirements. But it doesn't stop at academics – there are also social and civic expectations that each student is required to follow. 

Students are taught to "assume responsibility for one's own behavior," to eradicate the bad habit of blaming others for their own wrongdoings and teach the students the importance of making good decisions. 

"Members of the Westwood High School community will strive for excellence in academic endeavors," reads the Westwood High School's mission statement, which can be found on the Westwood High School website.

"We recognize that fostering a climate that promotes intellectual, social and emotional growth is the shared responsibility of students, faculty, administrators, support staff, parents, and the community-at-large. We challenge all members of our school community to practice self-discipline, exhibit respectful behavior, celebrate others' achievements and demonstrate a commitment to learning as a lifelong process."