Thanks to the Bangor Daily News for the coverage of Maine School of Science and Mathematics’ gold medal achievement in the US News & World Report ranking of best public high schools in the nation. MSSM ranked 35th.

All Maine residents can be proud of this gem of a public residential school that was created in 1995 after the closure of Loring AFB. It is tuition free for all Maine students, and room and board costs are adjusted with the ability to pay. Kudos to the MSSM faculty and staff, past and present, who have overcome a history of adversity and poor funding to provide the best education in the country. They endured the tough times and good times. Now we are seeing the results of our investment in education as the first MSSM alumni complete graduate programs and join the ranks of physicians, scientists, engineers and scholars. These graduates excel in their college environments and are leaders in their fields.

As the proud single mother of three MSSM students (’04. ’05 and anticipated ’08), I never could have afforded a private school education for my children. I thank the residents of Maine who, in their wisdom, funded and created this opportunity in the first place, and I thank the outstanding MSSM faculty and staff who made it one of the best public high schools in the nation.

Dale J. Gordon

Caribou