By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

RESERVE — The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board has declared the week of Nov. 17 as Ram Week in all St. John Parish Public Schools.

The school will kick off the festive week with a Blue and White Celebration Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. in the school gymnasium, followed by the school’s Fall Fest. The public is invited to attend.

The declaration, presented to students and school administrators Thursday at the School Board meeting, celebrates Newsweek naming WSJ as the 50th best school in the nation at closing the achievement gap by preparing its students for college.

In an article titled “Beating The Odds 2014 – Top Schools For Low-Income Students,” the magazine said it sought to “recognize schools that beat the odds, performing better than statistically expected for their level of poverty.”

For the list, schools were ranked on how well they prepare their students for college, taking students’ socio-economic background into account.

WSJ was ranked 50 out of 500 schools recognized for their efforts, and received special recognition for low-income students at the school scoring at or above average on state assessments.

Superintendent Kevin George said everybody pitches in to make WSJ a great school.