Columbia High School (CHS) was named 64th out of the 100 best public high schools in New Jersey by NJ Monthly. The full list of all 337 ranked high schools can be downloaded here.
In the past few years, CHS has seen much fluctuation in its rankings from New Jersey Monthly’s biennial list. CHS climbed from #89 in 2008 to #75 in 2010, and reached #47 in 2012.
But, CHS dropped down to 96th two years ago. Even with this large drop, CHS remained in the top 100 best public high schools out of 339 reviewed schools in the state.
NJ Monthly ranked each school according to a score obtained through different categories: School Environment, Student Performance, and Student Outcomes.
School Environment is based on each school’s student/faculty ratio, number of Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests offered, and the percentage of 11th and 12th graders taking at least one AP or IB test (in any subject area).
Student Performance is based on the amount of students scoring a 1,550 or better on the SATs, the amount of students showing advanced proficiency on HSPA exams, and the amount of students scoring a 3 or higher on their AP exams or a 4 or higher on their IB exams.
Students Outcomes are based on an adjusted 4-year cohort graduation rate and the percentage of students enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college 16 months after graduation.
Several key changes to this year’s methodology include:
- NJ Monthly did not use data from the PARCC tests, which replaced the HSPA, because after polling superintendents in various districts the magazine concluded the PARCC data is not yet a reliable metric given the uneven participation rates among students in different schools.
- For the first time, the rankings took into account student participation in classes in the visual and performing arts. CHS rivals top-ranked Chatham High School with 63% of students taking one of those classes.
- Rather than looking at the percentage of 11th and 12th graders taking at least one Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) test in English, math, social studies or science, NJ Monthly considered the percentage taking any AP or IB class.
After the dip to #96 two years ago, then-Board of Education member Jeff Bennett told Village Green that CHS had begun pushing more students to enroll in AP classes. According to NJ Monthly, 59% of eligible Columbia High School students took AP exams this past academic year, 85% scoring a 3 or higher.
Chatham High School was once again in the number 1 spot; Livingston was #10, Millburn High School rose from #5 to #4 and Summit was #18. Montclair came in at #73, leaping from #120 two years ago.
