For the fourth consecutive year, Abington Senior High School has been recognized with a silver medal in the annual list of “Best High Schools” from U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings and civic journalism. The 2018 edition of the list ranks ASHS No. 1,186 among the 5,948 public high schools the outlet rated nationwide, and awarded them the 31st spot among the 677 schools in Pennsylvania. This represents a total jump of 18 spots for ASHS from the year prior, when it was ranked No. 49 in the Commonwealth. Most notably, this is ASHS’s fifth time earning a silver medal in the rankings, and its sixth time being included in the list overall.
According to U.S. News, the nationwide evaluation of more than 20,500 schools aims to identify those that best serve all of their students – including historically underserved populations – and assess the degree to which students are prepared for college-level coursework. Overall, the rankings emphasize student outcomes, incorporating data on graduation rates and state assessments. Students at the 5,948 schools that receive national recognition from U.S. News graduate at rates that are 12 percentage points higher, on average, than students at other schools throughout the country.
“Top-ranked schools succeed in three main areas: exceeding expectations on state proficiency tests, offering challenging coursework and graduating their students,” said Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News. “We encourage parents to use the Best High Schools rankings and data to research which schools in their state and nationwide are ensuring students are well-equipped for the future.”
The Best High Schools rankings, available exclusively on usnews.com, feature data on a number of factors, including enrollment, graduation rates, diversity, participation in free and reduced-price lunch programs and the results of state assessments, as well as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test data.
Among the highlights that contributed to ASHS’s standing of 31 in Pennsylvania and 1,186 nationwide, were the graduation rate of 97 percent and an AP participation rate of 47 percent, based on 2015-2016 school year data. For more information on ASHS’s evaluation and placement on the list, please click here.
“We are proud to yet again have Abington Senior High School ranked as one of the best public high schools in the country from a well-regarded outlet like U.S. News & World Report,” said Dr. Amy Sichel, Superintendent of Schools for the Abington School District. “We firmly believe in our motto, ‘Excellence is our standard, achievement is the result,’ and this recognition – our fourth consecutive silver medal – is proof of that mindset in action.”
U.S. News worked with RTI International, a global research firm, to implement the comprehensive rankings methodology. To see the full list, click here.