High school places on top 500 schools list

Avon Lake High School scored a spot in the top 500 of the national rankings on Newsweek’s America’s Top High Schools list for 2016.

According to a news release from Avon Lake City Schools, the high school is ranked at 261 and is the only Lorain County school in the top 500 and one of 33 from Ohio that made the list.

Newsweek said the rankings are to identify public high schools that have the highest performance on state tests and best prepare students for college.

The news release said the list goes off of a combination of student scores on state tests, SAT and ACT exams, advanced placement tests and other factors including graduation rate and the percentage of students who enroll in college after graduation.

The data is from the National Center for Education Statistics, the release said.

Avon Lake High scored 77.5 percent for college readiness, a 95.8 percent on its graduation rate and 91.5 percent on its number of students attending college.

“I am always proud and pleased when the Avon Lake City School District receives this type of recognition,” Superintendent Bob Scott said.

“It gives me the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the staff, students, parents and community members for their hard work and support.

“I always need to point out that Avon Lake High School is the school being ranked, but this is really a district recognition. The hard work done by the students, staff, parents and community — grades preschool to eighth-grade — in preparing students for the rigors of high school, is instrumental in the success of all our students.”

Staff and students do not often get the accolades that are deserved for the dedication it takes to achieve consistently at a high level academically, in co-curricular activities and in extra-curricular activities, Scott said.

“In a very busy world, being recognized by Newsweek allows us to pause and celebrate our successes,” he said.

Rocky River High School placed 277th on the list and Bay High School landed at 438, the news release said.