2014 Best High School List Released
U.S. News & World Reports has released its best high school rankings for 2014, along with the best STEM high schools in a separate list. The rankings were compiled based on nearly 5,000 high schools across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. There are also separate rankings for the best charter and magnet schools.
The top five high schools overall were:
- School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas, Texas)
- BASIS Scottsdale (Arizona)
- Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology Magnet (Lawrenceville, Georgia)
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria, Virginia)
- BASIS Tucson North (Arizona)
If you notice, the top-ranked overall schools all involve STEM learning in some way. You don’t see any neighborhood or district schools on that list, and no performing arts schools either. Those schools do appear throughout the rest of the list, but just looking at these top 5 is very telling when it comes to the what people perceive to be “good” schools.
It’s no secret that STEM learning is an educational priority, and the job market reflects it. These rankings show that not only are educators and policymakers putting more stress on STEM subjects, so are outside unbiased entities like this publication. In other words, STEM learning is valued and seen as the present, and future, of education.
Academics aside, I’d like to see a rankings list for school environments and student services too. What schools have the most to offer for students who may be struggling with subjects or disabilities? Where are the bullying rates the lowest? I suppose these things are harder to measure than academics and graduation rates, but it would still provide a better snapshot of what students will experience at each.
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I find it interesting that these schools listed are not district schools. Does that mean that the K-12 public school districts are allowing the local charter and magnent schools that are also publicly funded take the load of teaching the STEM courses?
Interesting observation. I know that many of the brighter students tend to gravitate to the science and technology charter schools because of the opportunities they offer. My wife and I even have a nephew who began to read at the age of three, who was in advanced classes throughout elementary and will be heading to a science and technology school next year. Out of the 300 or so students who applied only 50 got in. We’re very proud of him.
This doesn’t surprise me one bit. Charter schools tend to fare better in the academic realm. It would be interesting to rate schools on other areas such as special education services and maybe even services to the low income populations. Would charter schools still be the top?
It’s all about the money! Teaching STEM courses take money because teachers that are worth anything require a good wage! Charter schools and Magnent schools have money!
There are a good many Math and Science teachers who teach in the general school districts that know their stuff. It’s not always about the money…