House Resolution 4

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL UPON BEING SELECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE NATION.

WHEREAS, St. Andrew's Episcopal School is being honored upon being selected as one of the 20 top private day schools in the United States; and

WHEREAS, this prestigious recognition, which St. Andrew's ranked 18th out of 50, was presented to St. Andrew's by TheBestSchools.org, which is an independent ranking group that is composed of editors who have extensive experience in teaching, research and publishing at the university level; and

WHEREAS, notably, St. Andrew's, which did not apply or lobby for this national ranking, is the only independent school in the state to receive this prominent designation and is one of the few in the Southeast, which speaks volumes of the school's students, faculty and parents; and

WHEREAS, St. Andrew's selection was based on a variety of weighted factors including the following: overall academic excellence, Ivy League matriculation rates, innovative curricula, extracurricular programs and socioeconomic, ethnic and geographical diversity; and

WHEREAS, in addition to being selected as one of the top private day schools in the nation, St. Andrew's, which has approximately 1,170 students on its two campuses, led the state this year in the number of students recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which once again exemplifies the supreme quality of education that the school provides; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to an outstanding educational institution such as St. Andrew's whose mission of "to nurture a diverse community in the Episcopal tradition, fostering spiritual growth, moral responsibility, academic excellence, and artistic and athletic pursuits while preparing for a life of service to our community and the world" is irrefutably admirable and only benefits this great state as a whole:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate St. Andrew's Episcopal School upon being selected as one of the top private schools in the nation and extend sincere wishes for continued success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to St. Andrew's Episcopal School and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.