MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Halfway through the school year the same routine can get old. But two high schools celebrate tradition.

“That’s something else about Okemos Public Schools, is its (not like) you’re going to stand still on your accolades and say hey we are above state average we’re this that and the other thing,” says Okemos High School Principal Christine Sermak.

In Bridge magazine’s third annual Academic State Champ’s report, Okemos High School is recognized as the number one affluent school in Michigan.

However it’s not the first time they’re ranked among the best and their principal says they owe their success to many.

“That tradition is because parents send us their very best and the very best become great at Okemos High School,” says Sermak.

The school rankings look at college readiness based on ACT scores and how schools compare to districts similar to their own economic standing.

Haslett High School students are reminded by hanging banners every time they walk into the school doors about what it takes to be the best.

“We talk about those banners all the time and even when it was a smaller like rural community in the 1950’s and 1960’s it was still known as you know as a very good school district,” says Darin Ferguson the Associate Principal at Haslett High School.

Haslett Public Schools ranked 20th overall in this year’s standings. Associate Principal Ferguson and his parents attended Haslett High School and they say time is the only thing that’s changed.

“It’s just continued on over the last 50 or 60 years,” says Ferguson.

In the state 540 school districts and charters were judged, but some areas just might stand out more than others.

“If you've got it in Ingham County narrowed down to Okemos, Haslett, East Lansing or maybe Williamstown you’re not going to go wrong because they’re all great school districts,“ says Ferguson.