Congratulations goes out to Senior Joseph Simonian for earning a perfect score of 36 on the ACT . Joseph joins the ranks of the top 0.5% of high school students in the country to achieve this accomplishment!

Cami Greenall and Abbie Sandquist are named the Silver winners during the National SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City, Missouri. They attended the annually held competition with their dedicated advisor and teacher, Mr. Randy Fiser. There were over 5,600 students competing in 94 occupational and leadership skill areas. SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the lab and classroom, and promote community service.  During Cami's and Abbie's 5-day stay at the SkillsUSA competition and convention they attended a number or vocational seminars that were hosted by companies in the industry of 3-D animation. These professionals gave valuable instruction on preparation for entering the workforce, job training, project development, communication, networking, and so much more.

In May 2012 Cami Greenall and Abbie Sandquist won 1st place 3D animation and visualization by creating a computer animated commercial in San Diego. This qualified these two young women to compete against 33 other state champions during the national competition. This was an eight hour competition where they were given a subject and strict criteria for their 30 second computer animated video. A written script, story board, and descriptions of software and programs were also submitted in order for their animation to be approved.

A huge thank you goes out to Mr. Fiser for providing the dedication and support for Cami and Abbie to succeed at the national level!

Front row L to R: national technical committee members, Gary Chapman and John Hammer; High School medalist teams- Silver-Abbie Sandquist and Cami Greenall , Arroyo Grande High School (Calif.) ; Gold-Mark Ebbole and Hunter Rhodes, A & M Consolidated High School (Texas); Bronze-Priscilla Creswell and Peter Lantz from Kent Career/Technical Center (Mich.); and, national technical committee member, Robin Cain. Back row L to R: Postsecondary/college medalist teams-Silver-Charles Wood and Michael McGeorge, Salt Lake Community College (Utah); Gold-Zachary Fletcher and Michael Orr, Meridian Technology Center (Okla.); and Kyle Budd and Loren Lane, Hutchinson Community College (Kan.).

Click here for more information about SkillsUSA, or contact AGHS Teachers Randy Fiser or Jason Stewart for opportunities available at AGHS.

Since 1998, The Post's Jay Mathews has ranked Washington-area public high schools using the Challenge Index , his measure of how effectively a school prepares its students for college. In 2011, the Post expanded its research to high schools across the United States.

AGHS ranked #537 across the U.S .

In California, AGHS is #62 .

Arroyo Grande High School is named on the prestigious Newsweek list of America's Best High Schools. The annual list ranks Arroyo Grande High School at 436 out of the more than 27,000 public high schools in the country, putting Arroyo Grande in the top 1.59% of schools nationwide. Arroyo Grande has made the list in years past, but this is the Eagle's highest ranking.

"It's extremely impressive how Arroyo Grande High School is continually recognized as a model of excellence not only in our community, but in the state and country as well. It's a tribute to the amazing teachers, staff, and students at the school," said Jim Hogeboom , Superintendent of Lucia Mar Unified School District.

Newsweek calculates its rankings using six components: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), AP tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB /AICE scores (10%), and AP course offered (5%).

Arroyo Grande has a graduation rate of 96% and a college matriculation rate of 85%.

"This is a great accomplishment that is a direct result of our outstanding teachers, staff, students, and community support. We are all very proud," said Tom Butler, Principal of Arroyo Grande High School.

The top two high schools according to the rankings are both located in Dallas, Texas. The complete list can be viewed at http://www.newsweek.com/

Arroyo Grande High School is named on the prestigious Newsweek list of America's Best High Schools. The annual list ranks Arroyo Grande High School at 724 out of 21,766 public high schools in the country!

Arroyo Grande High School was ranked 102 out of California's 2,407 high schools in the state! Arroyo Grande High School received the highest rank in San Luis Obispo county!

"This is a great accomplishment that is a direct result of our outstanding teachers, staff, students, and community support. We are all very proud," said Tom Butler, Principal of Arroyo Grande High School.