Philadelphia Magazine Report Names 22 Schools in Top 50

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. – Oct. 24, 2012 – Philadelphia Magazine’s October issue lists the top 100 public high schools in the eight-county Philadelphia region. Forty-four percent or 22 schools in Bucks and Montgomery counties can be found in the top 50.

Therankings are based on information collected from every public and charter high school in the eight-county area, including enrollment; graduation rate; percentage of graduates going to a two- or four-year college; average SAT scores for the past three years; percentage of 11th-grade students ranked proficient or above in state assessment tests for the past three years; student/faculty ratio; instructional cost and total cost per student; number of designated Advanced Placement courses offered; number of varsity sports teams; and number of clubs and activities offered. Each category was weighted by order of importance, for example, graduation rate, SAT scores and college attendance rate were worth 10 percent of the rank, while access to AP courses, varsity sports and clubs were given 2.5 percent.

“We’re very happy to hear that once again our schools in Bucks and Montgomery counties are ranked at the top in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region,” said Linda J. Weaver, a leader of the Council for the Advancement of Public Schools. “Our teachers and students work incredibly hard every day to make their schools outstanding and we couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments. From the prime minister of Israel to Nobel Prize winners and people at the top of their game in every field of endeavor, our alumni also demonstrate that public schools in Bucks and Montgomery counties are preparing students for a successful future.”

School Rankings are as follows:

Montgomery County

Lower Merion - #2

Harriton - #5

Lower Moreland - #7

Jenkintown - #12

Upper Dublin - #15

Wissahickon - #17

Methacton - #25

North Penn - #32

Springfield Twp. - #33

Hatboro-Horsham - #37

Cheltenham - #39

Plymouth Whitemarsh - #40

Perkiomen Valley - #41

Upper Merion - #42

Spring-Ford - #44

Abington - #49

Bucks County

NewHope-Solebury - #11

Central Bucks East - #13

Council Rock North - #14

Central Bucks West - #22

Council Rock South - #23

Central Bucks South - #28

For more information on CAPS, visit www.FriendsOfPublicEd.org. You can also support public education and receive invitations and information of interest to parents in Bucks and Montgomery counties by registering on the site to become a Friend of Public Education. For more information, call 866-302-3198.

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The Council for the Advancement of Public Schools was founded in 1995 to celebrate the success and value of public schools in Bucks and Montgomery counties.