By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor

DE PERE – West De Pere junior Kaden VanPrice is one of the elite high school students in the country who scored a perfect score of 36 on his ACT.

Kaden, the son of Ron and Kathie VanPrice, was honored at the West De Pere school board meeting Monday, May 17.

“That’s not accomplished by many,” Dennis Krueger, West De Pere superintendent said. “That’s a testament to our school district, staff and Kaden and his ability and talent.”

VanPrice said he wants to study computer science.

“I have my choices narrowed down to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Georgia Tech or the University of Wisconsin-Madison,” he said.

High school Principal Russ Gerke put VanPrice’s accomplishment into perspective.

“Approximately 1.7 million students across the country take the ACT every year,” Gerke said. “Only .3% of those who take it (5,100 students) achieve a perfect score. He had lots of help along the way.”

VanPrice said he’s currently taking AP (Advanced Placement) Music Theory, French 4, AP Economy, Honors American Literature and College Credit Calculus.

In other district news, the high school was recently notified it again ranks as one of the best high schools in the nation, according to US News and World Report.

West De Pere is ranked No. 1 in the Green Bay Metro area, No. 29 among high schools in the state and No. 1,212 among all national high schools.

These rankings are based on performance on state-required tests, graduation rates and AP course participation.

Locally, after West De Pere, in order, Wrightstown, De Pere, Ashwaubenon, Bay Port, Pulaski, Oconto Falls, Algoma, Luxemburg-Casco and Green Bay Southwest complete the top 10.

Odds and ends

• The turf inside the high school indoor athletic facility has been installed, and the lines and “W” have been completed.

• At the recently completed Division 2 state championships, the high school dance team placed first in kick and third in pom. Kayla Hecker, Fiona Green and Gabby Pawlak earned first-team, all-state honors, while Grace Neuville and Natalie Berg were named second-team and honorable mention, respectively.

• For the second consecutive year, the board unanimously named The Press Times the official newspaper of the district.