"Elmira has become an academic powerhouse."   
 
Congratulation Elmira, to  your students, teachers, administrators and parents!  Great job, especially as a lot of folks in this area are experiencing tough times these days as Jade noted.

It's interesting that the   Falcon football team is also enjoying a resurgence this Fall, shows there's a lot of community spirit here.
Only thing  in the article I'd take  issue with is Elmira is "in a town of 2,500 west of Eugene."
Elmira hardly exists as a "town" anymore, as most everything except the high school moved to the brand new Veneta in 1912 with the arrival of the railroad.  Thus Elmira HS serves the entire Fern Ridge area including Veneta which does have a population of several thousand.