U.S. News & World Report named a magnet school in Rutherford County as its top high school in the country.¶
Central Magnet School beat out nearly 18,000 other schools in the Best High Schools ranking, which is based on six performance factors including state assessments and college preparation.¶
"We’re very proud to be the home of the best high school in the nation, and the employees, parents, and students of Central Magnet School should be commended for their long history of unmatched performance. This recognition also highlights the strength of public education in Rutherford County as a whole and the caliber of opportunities we provide for our students and families.” Dr. Jimmy Sullivan, Director of Schools, said in a statement sent to the Tennessee Firefly.¶
How the Rankings Work
U.S. News & World Report created its ranking by providing each high school with a score based on college readiness (30 percent), college curriculum breadth (10 percent), state assessment proficiency (20 percent), state assessment performance (20 percent), underserved student performance (10 percent), and graduation rate (10 percent).¶
Central Magnet ranked number one in the nation in each category except college curriculum breadth, where it ranked 30th. According to the report, 100 percent of the magnet school’s students took and passed at least one AP exam, graduated, and scored proficient on state assessments in reading and science.¶
Other Tennessee Schools Ranking High
The publication ranked four other Tennessee high schools in the top 100 of one of its categories. Each is a choice school for the district rather than a traditionally zoned public school.¶
Hendersonville’s Merrol Hyde Magnet School ranked 27 on the Best High Schools list while Nashville’s Hume Fogg Magnet High School ranked 32 and Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School ranked 85¶
Nashville’s Valor Flagship Academy ranked 88 in the publication’s Best Charter Schools rankings.¶
