DOWNS - Tri-Valley High School is one of the top 50 in the state, based on a newspaper study of results of the Prairie State Achievement Exam. | Area high schools: PSAE test rankings | Area school districts: All state tests rankings

The Chicago Sun-Times ranked the school as 28th highest of public schools whose test scores were reported by the Illinois State Board of Education.

"We just found out … and we are very excited," said Dave Mouser, principal of the Downs-based school. The tests were taken by juniors in April 2007.

Tri-Valley moved up from 65th last year. The only other Central Illinois high schools finishing in the top 50 were Morton High School, 31st; and Metamora and Tremont, which tied for 42nd.

Tri-Valley educates more than 1,000 students. Elementary and middle school students took a different standardized test, the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, and also ranked above state standards.

"I think it's a reflection of a great deal of hard work on the part of the students, organization skills of teachers and involvement of parents," first-year Superintendent Curt Simonson said.

The district continues to "refine and improve" the curriculum and connections from kindergarten to 12th grade to make sure all students learn what they need to know, Simonson said.

Tri-Valley had a PSAE composite of 73.87 percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards in reading, math and science.

Among the reasons for improvement, Mouser said, is a schedule that calls for clubs, assemblies, freshmen mentoring, and college test prep lessons to be held in class time at the end of the day so all eight regular classes are focused on instruction and curriculum.

As an added incentive for good test scores, juniors can skip final exams as seniors. The school pays close attention to curriculum, resources, a new mentoring program, and school values, Mouser and Simonson said.