The Washington Post recently released its “Most Challenging High Schools” national listing for 2016. Four of five Fayette County public high schools were included in the list of the nation’s 2,300 most challenging, with each improving over their ranking in 2015.
“America’s Most Challenging High Schools” ranks schools through an index formula that’s a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year.
The publication surveyed more than 22,000 public and private high schools nationwide and posted nearly 2,300 top schools in its annual ranking.
Again this year, McIntosh High School led Fayette public schools in the rankings. McIntosh for 2016 was ranked No. 1,044 nationwide, up from No. 1,306 in 2015.
Starr’s Mill High School for 2016 ranked No. 1,293 nationwide, up from No. 1,489 in 2015.
Whitewater High School was ranked No. 1,490 for 2016, up from No. 1,637 last year.
Also posting higher in the ranking for 2016 was Fayette County High School at No. 1,707, up from the No. 2,105 ranking in 2015.
Sandy Creek High School was not included in the top 2,300 ranking.
Fayette high schools also had a higher ranking when compared to schools across Georgia.
McIntosh came in at No. 40 among Georgia high schools in 2016, improving on a score posted at No. 70 last year.
Starr’s Mill was No. 52 in 2016, up from No. 78 last year.
Whitewater posted at No. 62 this year compared to No. 87 in 2015.
Also bettering its standing in 2016, Fayette County High posted at No. 74 among Georgia high schools, up from No. 123 in 2015.
Sandy Creek was not listed in the postings.
