Newsweek Ranks Regional Schools Nationally

As the school year winds down and students set their schedules for the start of classes next fall, the annual compilation of high school rankings by various media outlets has begun.

Newsweek just released its yearly rankings of the top 1,000 high schools in the country, and both and ranked 226th and 291st, respectively.

Central ranked 20th in New Jersey, according to the report, while Mendham ranked 31st in the state.

The rankings were compiled using six criteria, according to Newsweek. Making up 75-percent of the formula are three factors: four-year graduation rate; college-acceptance rate; and number of Advanced Placement (AP) and other high-level exams given per student, according to the report.

Average SAT/ACT and college-level test scores, in addition to the number of AP courses offered per student is weighted as the remaining 25-percent.

While Mendham outscored Central on SAT scores, the latter had a higher rate of college-bound students (96-percent to Mendham’s 93-percent). Both schools had an equal percentage of graduates, with 98-percent, according to the report.

In Newsweek's 2011 rankings,  

To see the full list, visit Newsweek’s online platform, The Daily Beast here.

Earlier this month, New Jersey’s ranked schools did not go beyond the top-51 positions in that report, leaving West Morris Central unranked.

Based on that report, one of Patch’s bloggers felt Mendham High School’s ranking was a disappointment and said “serious and immediate change” was necessary. .