Adding to its list of accomplishments, Southwest was recently added to U.S. News and World Report’s list of best high schools, ranking in the top 8% nationally. Southwest ranked 13th in the state of Kansas, with all five district high schools finishing in the top 15.

Schools are ranked on their graduation rates, performance on state-required tests, how well they prepare students for college, which is why librarian Kristan Bowlin said she was proud when she found out the school was granted this accomplishment.

“[Blue Valley Southwest] is a very good school, so I’m happy to hear that it is ranked highly,” Bowlin said.

Like Bowlin, senior Lexi Dunn was also proud of the ranking. She said she was pleasantly surprised at the news.

“I never really thought of us as that big of a deal,” Dunn said. “But it’s really interesting we’re that good compared to everything else in the entire nation.”

Despite her surprised reaction, Dunn said the school may have received this accomplishment because of the community and its teachers.

“We have a lot of clubs and sports that everybody can find a spot to be in,” Dunn said. “And the teachers do a really good job at teaching different curriculums.”

However, it’s not just clubs and sports that helped the school get ranked in the top 8%, but also the many resources the school provides for all.

“My very favorite thing about Southwest is the library,” Bowlin said. “Just because of all the resources we have for staff and students.”

Bowlin said she loves the environment she works in, not just academically, but socially as well. She enjoys working with teachers and other staff and being a part of a school that offers popular programs.

“I think students have a lot of opportunities when they get to the high school level with AP classes and various programs like CAPS,” Bowlin said. “And I think our teachers do a great job of preparing them for the future.”