Christopher Lang, Correspondent, @topherlang2 | May 9, 2018 | MonroeNow
Five Middlesex County public high schools have some bragging rights following the release of U.S. News and World Report’s Best High Schools 2018 study on May 9, as they were the only ones that received a number ranking, while a few others were recognized.
Highland Park High School had the best county ranking, coming in at 17th in New Jersey and 397th nationwide. Also making the list is West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North at 20th in the state and 420 nationwide; J.P. Stevens High School in Edison at 31st and 882nd; Monroe Township High School at 57th and 2,060th; and the Academy for Urban Leadership Charter High School in Perth Amboy at 67th. The academy did not receive a national ranking but was recognized with a bronze medal.
Though the majority of Middlesex County schools did not receive a number ranking, several were awarded at least a bronze medal for their performance. Highland Park and West Windsor-Plainsboro in addition to their rankings received gold medals and Monroe Township and J.P. Stevens earned silver awards. Schools receiving bronze medals include Carteret High School, Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies (also called the Edison Academy), Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences and Perth Amboy Technical High School.
Overall, New Jersey did not have any schools crack the Top 20, but several came close. High Technology High School in Monmouth County ranked 1st in New Jersey and 22nd nationally. Bergen County Academies ranked 2nd and 43rd, Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro ranked 3rd and 58th, Biotechnology High School in Freehold ranked 4th and 66th and Dr. Ronald E. McNair High School in Jersey City ranked 5th and 68th in the report’s state and nationwide rankings.
Nationally, the top-rated high school is BASIS Scottsdale, a charter school in Scottsdale, Ariz. The school was also ranked tops in the nation in 2017. The BASIS network had four other schools ranked in the Top 5.
The U.S. News and World Report list complies its rankings based in part on participation and proficiency in advanced placement, international baccalaureate and state-mandated tests. It also factors in graduation rates.
In the report’s state-by-state analysis, Massachusetts received the most gold or silver awards, which equated to 25-percent of its eligible schools. New Jersey ranked 17th, with 14.8 percent of eligible schools receiving a gold or silver medal.
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