For the fourth year in a row, public charter Beehive Science and Technology Academy claimed the top spot as Utah’s No. 1 high school, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of high school rankings.
The charter’s first-place finish comes as five traditional high schools made this year’s Top 10 list, an indication that traditional high schools are still shaking off years of charter schools dominating Utah’s rankings.
Last year, four traditional high schools made the Top 10 list. Two of the ones that placed this year are Granite School District schools.
Here are the 2024 rankings:
1. Beehive Science and Technology Academy (charter); Sandy.
2. Skyline High School (Granite School District); Millcreek.
3. Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy (charter); Lindon.
4. Itineris Early College High School (charter); West Jordan.
5. Park City High School (Park City School District); Park City.
6. Corner Canyon High School (Canyons School District); Draper.
7. Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering and Science (charter); Layton.
8. Academy for Math Engineering and Science (charter); Murray.
9. Olympus High School (Granite School District); Holladay.
10.Farmington High School (Davis School District); Farmington.
This year’s list saw Skyline High School kick out Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy for second place.
Olympus High School also jumped into the Top 10 from spot No. 13 last year. InTech Collegiate High School, which ranked No. 6 last year, fell off the Top 10 list to spot No. 25.
But while there are more traditional high schools included in this year’s Top 10 list, only two made the top five, compared to three last year.
Overall, Utah ranked No. 21 in the nation with 163 schools analyzed. Five of those (3.1%) ranked in the top 5% of schools nationally; 12 schools ranked in the top 10% of schools nationally; and 41 ranked in top 25% of schools nationally.
Across the U.S., 17,660 public high schools were analyzed for this year’s rankings.
The ranking methodology is based on six factors, including college readiness, proficiency rates and graduation rates, according to U.S. News. and World Report.
College readiness is the most heavily weighted factor, making up 30% of a school’s overall score. There are two elements included in that score: “participation rate” and “quality-adjusted participation rate.”
Participation rate is the number of 12th graders in the 2021-2022 academic year who took at least one Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam, divided by the total number of 12th graders at the school. It’s weighted at 25% toward a school’s college readiness score.
Quality-adjusted participation rate is the number of 12th graders who took and earned a qualifying score on at least one AP or IB exam, divided by the total number of 12th graders at the school. That rate is weighted at 75% toward a school’s college readiness score.
Other factors include: college curriculum breadth (10%); state assessment proficiency (20%) and state assessment performance (20%) (or a measure of total assessment scores compared to what is predicted, based on a school’s demographic characteristics relative to its state); graduation rate (10%); and underserved student performance (10%).
Nationally, Beehive Science and Technology Academy ranked No. 414 this year, dropping from No. 116 in 2023.
Skyline High School, Utah’s highest ranked traditional school, ranked no. 508 nationwide.
Last year’s Top 10 list:
1. Beehive Science and Technology Academy (charter); Sandy - (same rank).
2. Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy (charter); Lindon - (now 3rd).
3. Skyline High School (Granite School District); Millcreek - (now 2nd).
4. Park City High School (Park City School District); Park City - (now 5th).
5. Corner Canyon High School (Canyons School District); Draper - (now 6th).
6. InTech Collegiate High School (charter); North Logan - (now 25th).
7. Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering and Science (charter); Layton - (same rank).
8. Itineris Early College High School (charter); West Jordan - (now 4th).
9. Farmington High School (Davis School District); Farmington - (now 10th).
10. Academy for Math Engineering and Science (charter); Murray - (now 8th).
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