Maryland Schools Are Best In Nation

SILVER SPRING, Md. (WUSA)--Ask students at Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring why they like their school and certain themes emerge.

"Cool teachers," 5th grader Yairtd Walker-Thomas said.

And reward money to spend in the school store for being respectful--and a good listener.

Monica Medina who loves math and her classmates says, "the kids don't get into trouble. It's nice to be here at Highland."

It wasn't always that way-- this is an at risk population--where 82 percent of the kids get free lunch--and almost that many speak english as a second language.

Principal Ray Myrtle was brought in four years ago to rescue Highland from the brink of a state takeover.

He handpicked nearly his entire staff--retrained teachers to teach non-english speaking kids and turned it around.

" You don't come into a school like this and make changes overnight.. you have to breathe..eat it, live it.. even when you're asleep."

In December-- Highland was named a blue ribbon school.

Highland Elementary's scores on the Maryland state assessments have skyrocketed since 2003. They're up 56 percent in reading and 52 percent in math.

"Our parking lot is still full at 4 pm--people come in on Sundays.. teachers here are very dedicated to the kids," Brian Freiss, who teaches 5th grade says.

And because of that, the kids are thriving.

"Just a lot of hard work...and always believing these kids can perform at high levels," Myrtle says.

Virginia schools came in fourth. DC schools last.