By James Day
Kennedy High and Silverton both have received lofty rankings in the annual ratings of American high schools by U.S. News & World Report.
Kennedy came in at No. 26 in the rankings, while Silverton took 41st.
The U.S. News high school rankings include data on nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 18,000 schools were ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.
The six factors that U.S. News emphasized were college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation rates.
Kennedy rated high in both state assessment proficiency and state performance, according to the US News data.
Mt. Angel Superintendent Rachel Stucky told Our Town that she is “really excited that U.S. News is highlighting JFK. We need to always celebrate such successes, but their data and reports don’t necessarily include everything.”
“JFK is a great high school because we are performing at a high level in so many ways,” Stucky said. “It makes my heart sing.”
Silverton also rated high in both state assessment proficiency and state performance, according to the U.S. News data, with the graduation rate of 93% also a positive factor.
“We’re thrilled about the new school year and the 41st ranking for Silverton High School from US News and World Report,” Superintendent Scott Drue said.
“While the ranking is encouraging, what really matters are the daily accomplishments in our classrooms and community. We take this as a nod to our ongoing efforts and a reminder that there’s always room for growth.”
The top Oregon school on the list was the International School of Beaverton, which also earned the No. 14 spot nationally. Private schools are not included in the ranking.
