How Does West Orange High Compare to State's Top High Schools?

U.S. News & World Report released its annual list of the nation’s best high schools last week, but the West Orange High School didn't seem to make the cut.

On average 87 percent of West Orange High student were proficient in language and 71 percent in math. Those percentages were based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work, according to the publication. 

The list, which includes the top 50 performing schools in New Jersey, measures a variety of criteria including, the proficiency levels on High School Proficiency Exams (HSPA).

On the HSPA in language the school tested:

On the HSPA in math the school tested:

Also on the report, the West Orange High School was given a 39.9 college readiness index. The index  Index is based on AP and IB exams participation rates and percentages of students passing at least one exam.

On AP exams, the school's students tested:

Topping the state were:

1. Biotechnology High School in Freehold — Ranked 8th nationally
2. High Technology High School in Lincroft — Ranked 12th nationally
3. Bergen County Academies in Hackensack — Ranked 34th nationally
4. Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School in Jersey City — Ranked 50th nationally
5. Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro — Ranked 73rd nationally
6. Mdlsx Co Academy in Edison — Ranked 146th nationally
7. Academy for Allied Health Sciences in Scotch Plains — Ranked 159th nationally
8. West Windsor-​Plainsboro High School South in Princeton — Ranked 162nd nationally
9. Academy of Allied Health and Science in Neptune — Ranked 178th nationally
10. Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth — Ranked 183rd nationally

The publication used the same methodology as 2012 to compile its list of Best High School throughout the country.

According to the magazine, U.S. News partnered with the Washington, D.C.-based American Institutes for Research (AIR), which implemented the rankings methodology. To determine the Best High Schools national rankings, schools were first analyzed at the state level in terms of how well students in each school performed on state assessments, taking into account the test scores of disadvantaged students (low-income, Hispanic, and black), who tend to score lower on tests.

High schools that made it through this analysis were then eligible to be ranked nationally, in terms of college readiness. U.S. News determines the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work by analyzing student success in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, both of which include college-level courses.