HHS: No. 42 on the list, No. 1 in our hearts
November 12, 2015
Board of Education members, staff, students, parents, and alumni were elated to hear that Hillsborough High School was named No. 42 in Newsweek’s list of America’s Top High Schools. Many took the opportunity to pridefully praise the accomplishment on social media and the internet. Principal Karen Bingert was no exception.
“I was very excited to share the news with the staff at our opening faculty meeting and to post the news to the HHS website,” Bingert said. “It is always wonderful to have the hard work of our students and staff recognized by a respected publication.”
In order to create the list, the Newsweek High School Rankings used various criteria to find the schools that best prepare students for college.
Hillsborough first had to be evaluated based on its proficiency rates on standardized state-level math and language arts assessments.
Next, those proficiency rates were used to create a high school achievement index which identified Hillsborough as a high school that performs at, or above the 70th percentile within the state of New Jersey.
After that, the school was surveyed for college-readiness data including statistics on college enrollment, graduation rates, AP/IB/dual enrollment composite, weighted SAT/ACT composite, student retention, and counselor-to-student ratio. The data was then used to create a weighted college readiness index, with college enrollment and graduation rate considered most important.
Finally, all schools were ranked by their College Readiness Score, which put Hillsborough at No. 42.
“Our students already achieve very highly, which is part of what this rating reflects, and I know that everyone, including teachers and students, strives to make each new year better than the last,” Bingert said. “I tend to think that the sky is the limit for HHS students and staff, so any high ranking is well-deserved and wonderful!”
It is not uncommon for New Jersey schools to be recognized for giving students great educations, especially not by Newsweek.
“Unsurprisingly, six of the top 10 come from right here in NJ,” wrote US Senator Cory Booker on his Facebook page.
With six of the top 10 spots on the list, there is no question that New Jersey has some of the highest ranked systems in U.S.
“Our professional educators have high expectations for our students, [and] parents encourage students to do their best and work hard,” Bingert said. “Students largely want to learn, not just to get a diploma, but for the love of truly challenging and engaging learning experiences.”
Many may be wondering whether or not Hillsborough High School will be able to keep rising in the ranks. The school took a huge jump from number 177 in 2014. However, the total pool of participating schools changes each year, depending on the number of schools that answer Newsweek‘s request for information.
“Whether we are ranked 177 or 42 in the country, it is still quite an accomplishment to come in so high on the list,” Bingert said. “There are no limits as long as we all continue to do our best!”