Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High School in Florida’s 12th Congressional District for being recognized as a gold medal school in U.S. News & World Report’s first ever ranking of America’s Best High Schools.

U.S. News & World Report analyzed over 18,000 public schools across the United States in an effort to find the top 100 public schools. They used a three-step analysis to sort through the many schools taking into consideration how each school's students performed on state tests, evaluating how well each school's disadvantaged students performed, and looking at whether the school was successful in providing college-level coursework. Bartow's IB School placed third among the 100 other gold medal schools. This is quite an accomplishment and I commend the school for leading the way in excellence and for their commitment to empowering young minds.

Bartow High School has a rich history of providing a high caliber education. Distinguished from other high schools in Polk County and from most high schools in Florida, its origin began in 1887 as the Summerlin Institute. Bartow High School is proudly 117 years old and because of its history and tradition, many of its former students have gone on to achieve great success.

Included in this list are distinguished leaders from various professions. Spenssard Holland served as Florida's Governor in the 1940s and as a U.S. Senator from 1946-1970. Army General James Alward Van Fleet served as a commander and led major campaigns in WWII and the Korean War, and President Truman once remarked that he was America's ``greatest general.'' In addition, Kenneth Jerome Riley was honored as a Rhodes Scholar Candidate while attending Florida A&M University and went on to play as an NFL defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals.

In 1996, Bartow High School embarked on its next endeavor when the school was selected by the International Baccalaureate World School program to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma program. Students that attend the IB School are challenged with increased expectations in both academic and community involvement, and because of this they graduate ready to compete and enter into a fast-paced world that offers endless opportunities.

The IB School's mission is “to ensure each student has the opportunity to achieve his or her potential and creatively influence society by providing students with an advanced international curriculum.”  Today, it is my honor to commend Dr. Edwin Vetter and his staff of extraordinary educators, including some who shaped my classroom experience, for their dedication and hard work. It is clear that the commitment by both staff and students surpasses their mission, as the IB School continues to be recognized for its performance, not only in the State of Florida, but across the nation too. As an alumnus of Bartow High School, which hosts the IB school, I look forward to their many future accomplishments.