Abington Senior High School Photo by James Short.
The U.S. News & World Report high school rankings have been published and a number of schools in the local area have found their way to the list.
Abington High School earned its spot as the 89th best high school in Pennsylvania, and 2,200th nationally.
U.S. News evaluates schools using several criteria to try to measure overall school quality. Some of the key metrics include:
These rankings are meant to provide a comparative snapshot, showing which schools are doing well on these measures. They do not capture everything, such as morale, extracurriculars, culture, etc., but they are a useful benchmark.
Montgomery County is well represented in these rankings. Aside from Wissahickon and Upper Dublin, several other local high schools also made the top 50 statewide, including Radnor (6), Lower Merion (11), Harriton (12), Wissahickon High School (21), Plymouth Whitemarsh (24), and Lower Moreland (27), and Upper Dublin (40).
Differences in ranking (e.g. being #21 vs #39) can be meaningful, but often reflect smaller margins in some criteria; so improvement efforts in one area (for example increasing AP participation or closing achievement gaps) can move a school significantly.
These rankings may help in evaluating potential school options, especially for those looking to prioritize college preparedness, AP/IB opportunities, or strong performance in state tests. They provide confidence that local high schools are competitive not just in the county, but across the state.
Being ranked high on this list can help with morale, community pride, and may assist in securing funding or resources. It can also shine a spotlight on what works well (successful programs, strong teaching, support for underserved students) and where there might still be room for improvement.
Local real estate values, parent decisions about where to live, and community perceptions are often tied to school quality. Strong rankings can bolster a community’s attractiveness.
