MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon High School’s health policies and related programs have earned it a gold level rating in the 2009-10 Buckeye Best Healthy School “competition.”

Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health and endorsed by the Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Buckeye Best rates schools in the areas of physical education and activity, tobacco and nutrition education. The rating is based on a detailed application completed by school personnel.

MVHS received an 83.3 percent in the area of physical education. Principal Kathy Kasler said questions in that area dealt with class sizes, teacher-to-student ratios, whether various teaching styles were used and the percentage of gym class time the students are actually physically active.

Tobacco education at MVHS scored 96 points out of a possible 100. In addition to posting no smoking signs and having lesson plans about not smoking and/or smoking cessation, for example, the school earned extra points because students are very active with the STAND program.