RICHMOND—Middle College High School was ranked among the top high schools in the nation for the fourth consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report, the news magazine announced this week.
The 2016 Best High Schools rankings features top-performing schools at the national and state level. U.S. News reviewed more than 28,000 public high schools in the United States to identify which schools are best at preparing students for college and careers.
“Middle College High School is a shining example of students meeting high expectations,” Superintendent Matthew Duffy said. “The students, teachers, staff and parents should be congratulated for their sustained success and the state and national recognition the school has received.”
MCHS graduated 100 percent of its students in the Class of 2016, but did not receive a national ranking because the magazine does not evaluate students who take college classes. Instead, the magazine calculates the number of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examinations taken, which it uses to determine a school’s “College Readiness Index,” a key metric in the rankings.
To focus on student outcomes, U.S. News has included graduation rates as a major factor in its methodology. The 6,218 high schools that receive national recognition from U.S. News graduate their students at rates that are 15 percent higher, on average, than other schools across the country.
“Our continued appearance in the rankings of the nation’s best high schools reflects the hard work our community does for students every year,” Principal Finy Prak said. “The partnership between the District, our community and Contra Costa College gives our students the opportunities and resources they need to be successful.”
MCHS serves about 285 students in grades 9-12 on the Contra Costa College campus. In order to attend, students must fill out an application and be accepted by a panel of college instructors and high school teachers. The application period for the 2018-19 school year will open in January 2018.