Anne Arundel County Public Schools continues to be recognized for its work in preparing students for college level exams, with nine of the county’s 12 high schools placing in Maryland’s top 50 on the 2012 High School Challenge.
The nationally recognized index, formerly called The Challenge Index and published by The Washington Post, ranks schools and school systems across the country. It takes into account Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and other college-level exams given to graduating seniors.
The news comes on the heels of rankings by U.S. News and World Report that found two county high schools – Severna Park and Broadneck – listed among the top 20 in the state and top 300 in the nation. Severna Park is eighth on the state list and 211th in the nation, while Broadneck is 16th and 300th.
“I have said many times that we have great people in our schools and school communities who are making great things happen for children, and these rankings are more proof of that,” Superintendent of Schools Kevin Maxwell said. “There is much more work for us to do, but our teachers, administrators, school system personnel, parents, and community and business partners continue to collaborate with our hard-working students to produce brighter futures.”
AACPS administered 11,461 AP exams in the 2010-2011 school year, a record for the system. In the last five years, the number of AP exams taken by AACPS students has increased by more than 50 percent.
South River is the top county school in Maryland, ranking eighth with an index of 3.972, meaning the school administers that many advanced placement exams per graduating senior. Severna Park (3.365) is next at 13th, followed by Arundel (2.921, 18th), Broadneck (2.865, 21st), Annapolis (2.773, 24th), and Southern (2.601, 21st). Old Mill (2.482) is 30th on the Maryland index, followed by Northeast (2.163, 46th), Meade (2.049, 48th), Chesapeake (1.978, 52nd), North County (1.791, 61st), and Glen Burnie (1.594, 72nd).
North County made one of the biggest leaps in the region, moving up 48 spots to 109th on an index that includes schools from the District of Columbia and Virginia. South River leads the county at 21st on the regional list, followed by Severna Park (38th) and Arundel (49th).
All 12 of the county’s comprehensive high schools have rankings that place them in the top 9 percent of high schools nationwide.
