R-FH Ranks High Among High Schools

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (R-FH) made the grade as one of the top high schools in the state and nation as identified by a U.S. News & World Report ranking.

U.S. News collected data on more than 21,000 public high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia, the magazine reported.

Known as a competitive school, R-FH came in 17th in the state among 383 public, 12 charter and magnet schools. With a student body of 954 and an advanced placement participation rate of 62 percent, R-FH ranked 249 nationally.

There are 62 full-time teachers at the high school; and the student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.

Based on test scores and advanced placement findings, the school showed 98 percent proficiency in math and 92 percent in language arts, with a college readiness index of 57.5 percent.

"U.S. News calculates these values based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work (AP®/IB exams)," the report said.

Biotechnology High School in Freehold ranked number one and High Technology High School, Lincroft, ranked second.

The 2013 Best High Schools rankings, released recently, can help parents wade through the ever expanding options of public high schools, according to the magazine. 

According to U.S. News, the publication joined forces with the American Institutes for Research, a D.C.-based organization, to evaluate schools on overall student performance on state-mandated assessments, as well as how effectively schools educated their black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students.

Performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams was then used to determine the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work, according to the publication.