- Ann Arbor Public Schools
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May 17, 2019 - Four Ann Arbor Public Schools High Schools Ranked in Top Ten Percent in the Nation
Four Ann Arbor Public Schools high schools have received rankings in the top ten percent in the nation in the U.S. News and World Report 2019 Best High Schools Rankings. AAPS high schools continue the trend of high achievement in this rigorous national comparative assessment of high school programs.
In the latest rankings, AAPS Skyline High School placed 10th in Michigan and was ranked 81st in the nation for Magnet Schools.
Also earning high marks in Michigan:
AAPS Huron High School ranked 17th in the state,
AAPS Pioneer High School placed 22nd, and
AAPS Community High School was ranked 55th in Michigan.
This year’s rankings are the most comprehensive in U.S. News and World Report history, with over 14,000 additional high schools ranked compared to 2018. The new methodology has eliminated gold, silver, and bronze designations. The U.S. News and World Report revamped their methodology for three reasons:
- To expand the rankings holistically so all eligible public high schools are ranked, versus previous editions where around 14% of eligible schools were ranked.
- To make the rankings easier to understand for families seeking to evaluate public high schools in their area. The changes will also make historic comparisons easier going forward.
- To compare schools using a more comprehensive approach. Schools are ranked on multiple disparate measures of academic quality, versus previous editions where rank order was determined entirely by proportions taking and passing college-level exams.
“The 2019 U.S. News and World Reports rankings of Community, Huron, Pioneer and Skyline again confirm the top quality educational experience and rigorous programming characteristics of our quality Ann Arbor Public Schools. We are especially proud of our students, staff, parents and the Ann Arbor community as these awards reflect yet another measure of our exceptional Ann Arbor Public Schools education,” states Superintendent Swift.
Schools are evaluated in six categories:
- College Readiness
- Math and Reading Proficiency
- Math and Reading Performance
- Underserved Student Performance
- College Curriculum Breadth
- Graduation Rate
A school’s college readiness score is calculated based on the proportions of 12th grade students who took and passed at least one AP or IB exam. Math and reading proficiency is based on aggregated scores on state assessments required for graduation, while math and reading performance are the aggregated scores compared to U.S. News and World Report expectations given the proportions of students who are black, Hispanic, and from low-income households.