Because of the support of our community, Auburn High School is being reborn right in front of our eyes.

Since the groundbreaking ceremony in February, the Auburn High project has risen from the earth in expeditious fashion.

East Main Street is a popular destination in the downtown area, as our community follows this very visible and amazing project. Eighty workers a day work in a synchronic way, using high-tech equipment and well-designed plans. From the 400-plus pilings drilled over 27 feet into the earth to the thousands of connected pieces of steel and concrete to the magnificent steel girders, the school rises with the hope and promise for future students to come.

This visible project is emblematic of the same kind of high standards for instruction and learning that have propelled the Auburn School District into a top performer in the state. Recent test scores show another systemic increase in literacy scores in all grade levels from kindergarten to 10th grade. The same is true in math except in sixth and eighth grade.

High school assessment results show significant increases in end-of-course exams in math and science. The high schools have doubled the number of students enrolled in advanced placement courses, representing 40 percent of our high school students. The district was recently honored by the College Board for AP enrollments and most recently, 165 Auburn students earned AP Scholar awards, the 15th highest number in the state.

Our music, arts, career and technical students are top performers in state and national competitions. We have robotic programs that are ranked in the world.

The last two years our schools have received 31 state academic and national title awards. These school awards represent the top 5 percent of academic achievement and the top 10 percent in improvement in the state.

The Auburn School District has garnered state and national awards in financial reporting, child nutrition services, transportation, school psychologists, and conservation.

Just like the progress of the new Auburn High School, our academic programs rise from foundations of early learning success, standards-based teaching and learning, collaborations for student learning, data analysis and a commitment for every child’s success.

The recent state Legislature support, increasing our full-day kindergarten from two to 10 schools, will have a significant impact on literacy and mathematics success.

Our community has much to celebrate and students are fortunate to grow up in community that values the future of our youth.

Reach Kip Herren, Auburn School District superintendent, at 253-931-4900 or kherren@auburn.wednet.edu.