Western Albemarle Makes List of America's Best High Schools

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Updated: 10:43 AM Jun 22, 2011 Western Albemarle Makes List of America's Best High Schools Western Albemarle High School in Crozet was the only school in Central Virginia to make the NEWSWEEK list of America's Best High Schools. Posted: 10:43 AM Jun 22, 2011 Email Address: news@newsplex.com

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June 22, 2011

Western Albemarle High School in Crozet was the only school in Central Virginia to make the NEWSWEEK list of America's Best High Schools.

WAHS, which came in at No. 247 nationally on the Top 500 list, joins seven other Commonwealth schools in the rankings: Stone Bridge (127-Ashburn), Centreville (177-Clifton), Freedom (183-South Riding), Briar Woods (198-Ashburn), Princess Anne (263-Virginia Beach), Cosby (282-Midlothian) and Blacksburg (384-Blacksburg).

Each school’s score is comprised of six components: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), AP tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10%), and AP courses offered (5%). Click here for the full methodology.

WAHS had a student-teacher ratio of 12.0, the lowest of any Virginia school on the list. It also had a graduation rate of 95% and an average SAT of 1752, the highest of the eight Virginia schools.

Two Dallas, TX high schools topped the list, School of Science and Engineering Magnet and School for the Talented and Gifted Magnet were No.1 and 2 respectively.

New York has the most schools recognized, 63, followed by California with 53 and Florida with 43.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Patricia on Jun 23, 2011 at 07:56 AM

I am proud that my grandson is a student @ Western Albemarle. This is a POSITIVE story!

Posted by: democracy Location: charlottesville on Jun 23, 2011 at 05:24 AM

The Newsweek "best" high schools list is a badly flawed one. Its main drivers are graduation rate, college matriculation, AP tests given, and SAT scores. All of these criteria favor schools that have students from high-income families. The Newsweek list reflects that, and Western is in the priciest part of Albemarle County, which is also the most expensive locality in Central Virginia. Worse, while AP is a major factor in the Newsweek rankings, the research on AP courses and tests finds them to be grossly over-rated. And, as Disillusioned Parent noted, the current county schools "leadership" seems determined to destroy those things that once made Western a very good school.

Posted by: mike creel Location: crozet on Jun 23, 2011 at 12:18 AM

WAHS was awesome i hated all schoold but fell in love with western and even though it's fallen from graces and social norms have taken a hold of it. i can firmly say that WAHS has one of the best "vibes" in a school. laid-back but expects excellence. as a grad. i am pleased to confirm Western's dominance!! Warriors all day n night!!!

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