SHERMAN – Buffalo Business First has named Sherman Central School District the biggest overachiever out of all Western New York school districts.

The recent report found despite a high poverty rate, Sherman has pulled ahead.

The school district has held the title since 2008 and has one of the highest poverty rates in Western New York at 26.4 percent, Buffalo Business First reports.

Kaine Kelly, Sherman Central School District superintendent, said he is delighted to hear of the news, but is not surprised due to the hard work of the district staff and students.

“We are honored that the Business First publication has named us the No. 1 overachieving district out of the 96 districts in Western New York for the ninth straight year. It is very nice for our staff to have their hard work recognized because it is their commitment to doing whatever it takes to help our students succeed that makes it so many of our students are able to achieve beyond what statistics would lead you to believe they could achieve,” Kelly said. “It is my belief that our entire district’s commitment to educating the whole child allows our students to defy the odds.”

He said education is highly valued in Sherman, and it shows.

“Sherman may be poor financially but it is rich in the things that count. We have an incredibly supportive community that loves this school and the students who attend it,” Kelly said. “When you have a school and community that are united in a quest for what is best for its children, finances play no role.”

A few other districts in the area made the top ten of academic overachievers, including Silver Creek Central School District at No. 5 and Randolph Central School District at No. 2.

The ranking is based on an achievement index which includes a comparison of each district’s academic rank and socioeconomic climate rank.