Downingtown’s 3 high schools rank on national list

STEM Academy, Downingtown West and Downingtown East made the list for the most challenging high school programs

Downingtown’s three high schools STEM Academy, Downingtown West High School and Downingtown East High School - all appear on the Washington Post’s newly released 2017 elite list of America’s Most Challenging High School programs.

Only 35 Pennsylvania high schools achieved this honor with Downingtown Area School District being the only multi-high school Pennsylvania school district to have all of its high schools nationally ranked.

“We are very pleased to have all three of our high schools once again make this Washington Post list of America’s Most Challenging High School Programs,” said Downingtown schools Superintendent Lawrence Mussoline.

According to the Washington Post, the Downingtown STEM Academy, ranked No. 1, is Pennsylvania’s most academically challenging high school for the third straight year, with Downingtown East listed at No. 19 and Downingtown West ranked No. 29 in the commonwealth. Of the 952 public high schools in Pennsylvania, only 35 made this ranking.

“Our teachers, administrators and school board have worked hard to create an innovative and challenging curriculum utilized by and available for all students,” Mussoline said. “We have increased AP course offerings at Downingtown East High School and Downingtown West High School with more students than ever taking these more rigorous courses, and that decision is paying off with accolades like this. Our magnet STEM Academy program is one of the largest International Baccalaureate (IB) high schools in America, now with hundreds of our graduates possessing both a DASD and an IB diploma.”

The report looked at public and private high schools nationwide and ranked based on the academic rigor of the schools’ curriculum as well as the fact that academically rigorous curricula was being utilized by all students, not just academically elite students. The Post filtered the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year. That number was then divided by the number of graduating seniors. Then only schools with a ratio of 1 or higher became eligible for Post’s ranking. Fewer than 7 percent of the approximately 37,000 public and private high schools in America qualified for the prestigious list.

— Downingtown schools Superintendent Lawrence Mussoline “Our teachers, administrators and school board have worked hard to create an innovative and challenging curriculum utilized by and available for all students.”

Nationally, the STEM Academy was ranked No. 119 of the 2,369 schools ranked by the Post, placing the STEM Academy in the top 5 percent of the most academically rigorous high schools in the nation with the most challenging academic programs that are open to all students.

All three Downingtown High School programs improved their national rankings

from last year. Downingtown East is in the top 52 percent, and Downingtown West is in the top 78 percent, of all American high schools with the most challenging academic programs that are open to all students.

“Congratulations to our students and staff on this recognition,” Downingtown school board President Colleen Cranney said. “We are very proud of our elementary, middle and high school principals and teachers since they all played a part in positioning Downingtown as a nationally

recognized school system with high academic standards for all students. We thank them and we thank our community for their continued support of our district mission and vision.”

In addition to Downingtown’s three schools, another five Chester County schools ranked on the Post’s list, more than any other county in Pennsylvania. Those high schools include: Phoenixville ranked No. 5; Conestoga ranked No. 6; Great Valley ranked No. 9; Unionville ranked No. 12; and Kennett ranked No. 23.