The Washington Post this month released its 2014 rankings of the most challenging high schools in America, giving Westchester residents insight to how the county’s education system fairs against the rest of the nation’s.
The report looked at over 2000 public and private high schools nationwide and ranked them based on the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year. That number was divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year.
The most challenging schools in Westchester, according to the list, are:
Bronxville High School
1 Westchester, 7 New York, 132 National
Rye High School
2, 16, 214
Yonkers High School
3,17, 215
Harrison High School
4, 18, 218
Irvington High School
5, 25, 270
Staff from the top Westchester schools reacted positively to their rankings. In a press release, Bronxville High School congratulated its students, but added that metrics relating to Advanced Placement courses were not the only relevant measures of academic success.
“We do not solely use Advanced Placement courses as a way to prepare our students for college,” the statement read. “We offer a Cambridge Pre-University course, we have a course that is a partnership with Sarah Lawrence College, and we offer other electives that provide our students with opportunities to think critically.”
“The recently published rankings from the Washington Post reaffirm the pride and enthusiasm that is found in the Rye City School District,” said Rye High School Principal Patricia Taylor. “I am proud of the students and faculty for setting and reaching high goals for themselves.”
“This ranking is a testament to the school’s dedicated staff, highly motivated students, involved families, and principals,” said Yonkers Board of Education Vice President Steve Lopez. “We commend Yonkers for continuing its legacy of academic excellence.”
Full rankings can be viewed at apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/
