Sweet Water High School was recently recognized by U.S. News&World Report as ranking among the country&8217;s best high schools.

In all, 31 schools from Alabama were recognized, SWHS was honored with a bronze distinction.

Hallmark said the recognition says a lot about the administration, faculty, staff and students in Sweet Water. Next year, Hallmark said, he hopes that more of the Marengo County Schools will be on that list.

As he has said in the past, Hallmark said all Black Belt area schools face challenges when it comes to funding, but this award clearly shows it does not impede local schools in achieving great things.

The ranking was based on three qualifications:

Schools attain performance levels that exceed statistical expectations given the school&8217;s relative level of student poverty, as measured by the state accountability test scores for all the school&8217;s students in the core subjects of reading and math.

Schools achieve proficiency rates on state tests for their least advantaged student groups that exceed state averages.

Schools prepare its students for college, as measured by student participation in and performance on Advanced Placement tests administered by the College Board.