CORINTH - A prominent, widely circulated national magazine has selected Corinth High School as one of the most outstanding public high schools in America.

Redbook singled out the best school districts in each state plus Washington, D.C., in the third annual America's Best Schools project.

Top schools were selected by a panel of 10 leading national education experts. The winning schools spent an average of $5,350 per student, less than the national average of $5,721. At Corinth that figure is much lower at $3,618 per student.

Dr. Wayne 0. Gann, superintendent of Corinth city schools, said, "It shows you that money is not everything." It is more about how effectively you spend money than it is about the quantity spent, he said.

Gann pointed out that about 40 percent of the school district's students' families are at the poverty level, a factor that usually means lower test scores. In the Corinth school system, that is not the case, 

"It is another compliment to our community for everyone concerned, the teachers, kids and everybody concerned. Our teachers do a good job. They are not perfect but they do a good job."

The School district last year was given a Level 5 accreditation, the highest rating available in the state. The achievement ranked Corinth with only one other district, Ocean Springs, as the top two districts in Mississippi. All other districts are Class 3 or below in accreditation ratings.

Application for the Redbook education project was made almost a year ago, said Assistant Superintendent of Education Lee Childress. Officials were notified about a week ago that the school would be listed among the 51 best in the nation for 1994.

Corinth High School competed and won for best overall excellence, academic achievement and extracurricular activities. In addition to the national recognition, the school will receive a $2,000 grant from the Sega Foundation. The grant can be used to develop or fund a new project at the high school.