Districts: Lack of AP test information contributed to drop-off in national high school rankings
There were some steep drops in this year's list and some Long Island districts tell News 12 it was due to state data that was not included in the list.
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A new list of the top Long Island high schools has been released and some of those typically at the top are seeing drastic drops on the list.
A total of 22 Long Island high schools made the top 100 in New York State on the annual U.S. News and World Report list. At the top is Rockville Centre's South Side High School at number eight.
There were some steep drops in this year's list and some districts tell News 12 it was due to state data that was not included in the list.
Last year, Jericho High School was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as number nine in New York State. This year, it fell to 41. Nationally, Jericho was ranked 108 last year. This year it came in at 3,959.
Syosset High School also saw a drop. Last year it was ranked number 39 in the state and this year moved down to 44. Nationally, Syosset was ranked 328 last year and this year it dropped to 4,955.
In a statement, Jericho Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Kravitz said:
"We are aware of the recent rankings released by U.S. News & World Report and recognize that the New York State Education Department hasn't released the College Board data used in the rankings, which has affected the information available for this year’s evaluation.
As a district committed to open enrollment and providing access to rigorous coursework, we strongly encourage our students to challenge themselves academically and take advantage of advanced courses whenever appropriate. Our philosophy is to provide students with opportunities to pursue the most rigorous coursework available to them while ensuring they have the support necessary to be successful.
It is also important to recognize that the data utilized in these rankings are from the 2023–2024 school year. Much has changed in the Jericho School District since that time. We have continued to examine our practices, strengthen instruction, expand opportunities for students, and implement initiatives designed to elevate teaching and learning across the district.
While rankings can provide one perspective on a school district, they do not fully capture the breadth of our students’ accomplishments, the opportunities available to them, or the dedication and commitment of our faculty and staff.
We remain focused on what matters most: providing every Jericho student with an exceptional education and the opportunity to reach their highest potential. We are proud of where we are today, while remaining committed to reaching even higher levels of excellence in instruction and student achievement in the years ahead."
The Syosset School District tells News 12:
“It’s gratifying to learn we remain so highly ranked in New York. However, it’s disappointing that the New York State Education Department withheld the AP exam data that USNWR uses to calculate these rankings, because Syosset had its best AP results ever this year. Unfortunately, the State’s decision now distorts comparisons between districts and between states.”
JP O'Hare from the New York State Department of Education said, "The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is committed to transparency and makes educational data - including AP participation - publicly available on the NYSED website. The Department takes data privacy matters seriously and protects educational data in accordance with state law. We also have concerns about how a for-profit company will benefit from the use of private student data.”
