The Hollis Brookline Cooperative School District was recognized recently as the top district in the state as reported by Microsoft Network.

New Hampshire was acknowledged as the state with the 18th-highest School Smart rating in the country because of SAU 41’s score of 94.

The School Smart rating as disclosed in MSN’s article by Nick Selbe is taken from a research engine called StartClass. The database is designed to help parents and students when looking at colleges, school districts or medical schools.

When told of this potential tool for college-bound seniors at Hollis Brookline High School, head guidance counselor Rich Winslow expressed his interest in the database.

"I don’t know much about (StartClass)," he said, "but I’m going to check it out."

StartClass uses data gathered from the Department of Education to put districts on a "Smart Rating system," where they’re scored from 1-100.

"The ratings are primarily based off student math and reading proficiency on state assessment tests, along with other institutional factors (i.e. student-teacher ratio, student discipline, etc.)," the StartClass website says.

With SAU 41 having a score of 94, this district is first in the state.

"This is an award for the Hollis elementary and Brookline elementary schools, as well," HBHS Principal Richard Barnes said. "It’s a big pipeline with strong support from the families."

He credited the success to "exceptional students who are well prepared from their sending school."

"We have really amazing teachers that are among the best in the state," Barnes said. "It’s further validation that the quality of instruction and the students here at HB are amazing."

Emma Dougherty is a senior at Hollis Brookline High School.