Abbeville High students, teachers and administrators have a lot to be proud of this week after seeing the new state performance scores.

Abbeville High, which was a D school last year, jumped up to a B this school year. No other school in the parish jumped two grades like AHS did.

The school also just missed being an A school by eight points.

Principal Ivy Landry, an AHS graduate, learned of the news around 11 a.m. Monday but could not tell the students and teachers until 1 p.m. For two hours he had to keep the information inside of him. Then, just at 1 p.m. the announcement was made over the intercom and the celebrating began and on Tuesday morning, it continues.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” said Landry. “But I did not know until I saw the state scores. When I saw an 111.9, I got emotional. The students and teachers have put in a lot of work. When you put in a lot of work, you hope to see success. When I saw that success, it felt like winning the state championship.”

A year ago, Abbeville High had a school performance score of 81.5, which was a D-plus. Landry raised the bar for the students and teachers to 91 this year. That would have given Abbeville High a strong C grade. The next year he would raised the bar even higher to a B grade. Well, now the bar has been raised to an A grade.

Landry said the key to making Abbeville High a success was not rocket science. The administrators and the teachers just had to convince the students to buy into their philosophy that hard work pays off.

The teachers committed to giving a strong effort into making AHS students better, he said. “We showed the students that we care about them,” Landry added. “I like to show our students that we care about them. I high-five them and praise them. We want the Abbeville High students to be successful.”

Well, because of the success Abbeville High had, Landry and band instructor Tim Farnsworth will have to wear a dress on Thursday because they lost a bet. The two men told the students if Abbeville High scores a 91 or better, the two will wear a dress to work. Both are now searching for a dress and pumps to wear.”

“This is a bet I do not mind losing,” Landry said.