Here's How U.S. News Ranked High Schools In The Caldwells
THE CALDWELLS, NJ — New high school rankings from U.S. News and World Report have put high schools in the Caldwells in the top 25 percent of schools in New Jersey and the top 15 percent nationally.
These rankings were among 17,800 high schools nationally, and 445 in the state.
In the Caldwells:
James Caldwell High School, which serves Caldwell and West Caldwell, was ranked 70 in the state and 1,541 nationally. See its statistics here.
West Essex High School, which serves North Caldwell and nearby towns, was ranked 112 in New Jersey and 2,742 nationally. See its statistics here.
The top-ranked schools in state and national lists often are magnet or specialized county high schools that can take the top-performing students, and this year's lists are no exception. In fact, the first 11 schools on the list are magnet and county high schools.
Statewide, U.S. News ranked Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies in Edison as the top school.
Some have criticized such lists as only reflecting socioeconomic factors, since well-off students may have access to more educational help and better funded districts. U.S. News said in a release that the 2022 ranking is intended to show how well the nation’s public schools serve all students by teaching them basic skills and preparing them for college-level work.
This year’s schools were ranked on six measures: college readiness, college curriculum breadth, state assessment performance, state assessment proficiency, reading and math proficiency, reading and math performance, underserved student performance and graduation rates.
The data used in this year’s ranking is from the 2019-20 academic school year, which was impacted by COVID in the last few months. Since many schools suspended their standardized testing, U.S. News considered previous years.
Nationwide, the following New Jersey public high schools appeared in the top 100:
Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies, Edison. Ranked 23.
Union County Magnet High School, Scotch Plains: Ranked 49.
Bergen County Academies, Hackensack: Ranked 61.
High Technology High School, Lincroft: Ranked 65.
Dr. Ronald E McNair High School, Jersey City: Ranked 68.
Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health, Woodbridge: Ranked 69.
Biotechnology High School, Freehold: Ranked 80.
Bergen County Technical High School - Teterboro: Ranked 93.
NJ Schools
These public non-magnet high schools were in the top 20: Glen Ridge High School, 12 in NJ and 244 nationally; Elizabeth High, 13 and 262; West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, 14 and 293; West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 15 and 339, Summit, 16 and 363, Millburn, 18 and 418. Livingston was 19. At 20 was Chatham High.
Read more about the Best High Schools methodology.
In addition to the national rankings, U.S. News also published rankings at the metro area and school district levels. Only metro areas and school districts with three or more high schools were included in these subrankings.
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This article originally appeared on the Caldwells Patch
