Mendham Drops, Central Not Ranked Among Top High Schools

West Morris Central remained outside the top-50 high schools in New Jersey, and Mendham High School dropped from number 33 to number 40 in this year’s U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings, released Tuesday.

The magazine’s annual report ranks all high schools in the country and marks the top 50 in each state. New Jersey had many changes, including the top spot, which went to Biotechnology High School in Freehold, ousting this year’s number two, High Technology High School.

Three main factors are calculated for the rankings, including college readiness, math proficiency and language proficiency.

U.S. News & World Report ranked West Morris Central and Mendham High School as indicated in the chart:

35.5
(39% AP Tested)

Mendham High School, which was nationally ranked in 2012 at number 632, dropped to 863 in the country for 2013. Central remained unranked nationally.

When speaking of the New Jersey Department of Education’s recent release of its annual school report cards, district Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast mentioned those statistics­–just like the U.S. News rankings–do not include the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

IB is offered in both high schools and the district has become recognized in the state for its proficiency in the globally instructed curriculum. Many students that would normally be placed in advanced proficient (AP) or honors courses now study under the IB umbrella instead.

Both schools had a 15-to-1 student to teacher ratio, according to the report.

No Morris County schools made the top 10 in New Jersey, a change from 2012. Chatham High School ranked number 13, dropping from number seven last year. Nearby Ridge High School was ranked number 14.

What do you think of the rankings? Do they fall in line with your perception of the district?