U.S. News & World Report recently issued the 2025 rankings for best public high schools. Algonquin Regional had its best year yet, shooting up to #14 for the state. And a neighbor that has previously topped rankings took a little tumble.
Here’s my look at how Algonquin, Assabet, and neighboring high schools compared in this year’s rankings (and looking back over time).
Algonquin’s elevated ranking puts it in the top 4% of public high schools in the state. The magazine also ranked ARHS #1 for the Worcester Metro area. It received a stellar “scorecard” of 98.1.
But I always warn to take these rankings with more than a grain of salt. Ranking methodologies are confusing and vary greatly by organization, and can change year-to-year. And the data used generally means a lag between schools’ performance and rankings. This year’s rankings are mainly based on information from the 2022-2023 school year.
Over the past two years, changes methodology for some other states may have impacted Massachusetts’ prior advantage in national rankings. Compared to 2023, Algonquin’s ranking for “STEM High Schools” in Massachusetts rose from #17 to #8 in for our state. It simultaneously dropped from #111 to #304 in national rankings.
When the blog first covered the magazine’s rankings, ARHS had gone from #25 for the state in 2012 to #23 in 2014. Later, rankings began to decline, with a low of #60 in 2020, then began improving, up to #30 last year. This year’s jump to #14 comes at the same time that AMSA (Advanced Math and Science Academy), the charter school in Marlborough, dropped from #4 to #15. (I’m not clear on why there were such drastic changes.)
Of directly public schools in directly neighboring towns, only Hopkinton High still outranks our district. Below is a chart tracking those rankings since 2017 (click to enlarge):1
It’s worth noting that the magazines’ (and most rankings’) methodologies are clearly geared for determining which schools are best for students to get into a selective college. That means vocational schools (which US News doesn’t give a special category for) rank poorly in comparison. (Yes, many students go on to college from a vocational school. But a higher percent of students that aren’t interested in academics and don’t take AP tests and will naturally attend a school that helps them directly prepare for the workforce.)
You can read about US News’ methodology here. And you can see Algonquin’s details (and links to other rankings) here.
- When I couldn’t find data, I inserted “?”. Since I didn’t cover the rankings last year, I was unable to find 2024 data for Framingham High or verify the rank that Google AI reported for Keefe Tech for that year. The dashes for ARHS and AVRTHS in 2018 reflect that the magazine chose not to rank those schools that year.
Thank you for the U.S. News high school ranking. I think it is something for the town to be proud of. We always have supported the High School and worked hard with other neighbors to keep Southborough and Northborough combined in a strong regional high school. As a nation we are headed to national school vouchers and a strong, well run High School will be able to attract the school vouchers that many schools will be competing for, and keep Algonquin strong and open. Good work to all those who help make Algonquin successful.
If you look at the list of high schools in the U.S. News high school ranking, several of the top schools are CHARTER schools, and some of them science/technology related.
With A.I. and its potential to eliminate jobs, it will be interesting to see how the business courses/majors do in the future, i.e., DECA, which is highlighted by ARHS.
Hi Beth,
I note that you mentioned that the “methodologies are clearly geared for determining which schools are best for students to get into a selective college.” Yes, that is probably true when looking at the technical schools. However, if that were truly the case, Lincoln-Sudbury and other schools would certainly outrank ARHS. I suspect the US News ranking is seriously flawed. For example, ARHS doesn’t even require a World Language! In addition, they added an AP Precalc class 2 years ago for which very many students will not received college credit at selective colleges because it’s really an advanced high school course. Also, many students don’t receive credit for their AP score because the selective colleges often require a 5. (I know of several students who were accepted to very selective colleges who received a 4 on the AP exam(s).
As a parent of a former ARHS graduate, our personal experiences, (along with friends of ours), suggest that ARHS still has to shake-off its “factory-like” mentality and put the focus on its students, not on the statistics that may give a false impression of the school.
Sincerely,
Diane Romm, PhD
PS: An indirect and definitely unscientific way to see what students are going to selective colleges is to look at their Instagram pages:
https://www.instagram.com/ls25decisions/
https://www.instagram.com/gonkfutures.2025/
What percentage of students are going to stereotypical, liberal-arts “selective colleges” that prefer students to have 3 or 4 years of a world language? (Of course, there are equally selective STEM colleges that are more progressive and are less concerned about world languages….)
Speaking only to the World Language requirement. . . Although the school doesn’t require the classes in order to graduate, guidance makes very clear to students and parents that it is something students should do if trying to go on to college. The course of study includes:
My impression from when I looked at this in the past was that the choice not to require it reflects that families of some students with special needs or for whom English is a second language (and their first language isn’t one of the choices the school offers as a world language) may feel it is too difficult for their children.
Oh how I wish that were true, Beth. What ARHS publicizes is that 2 years of a world language are required, and they use the UMass University system to back up their “policy.” As a former UMass adjunct professor for 10 years, I know for a fact that students are admitted who do not have two years of a world language. Moreover, students with a language-related disability can become exempt from the college language requirement. There is no mention of this anywhere at ARHS. Instead, if you look at the course scheduling grids, ARHS puts world language IN THE GRID, thus misleading students into believing that it is a required course, rather than an elective.
If you recall, you had a former student write about how ARHS does not meet Massachusetts’ recommended core standards, and even the writer believed that world language was a requirement!
https://www.mysouthborough.com/2024/04/25/algonquin-underperforms-on-masscore-while-excelling-in-other-state-assessments/
That “mistake” is really not the writer’s fault because ARHS misleads the students.
Look, I wish i could be a cheerleader for our community’s high school, but I can’t. And I’m not afraid of honesty. I am afraid of propaganda, though. Of course, I wish ARHS well, but transparent leadership and citizen involvement are necessary.
Lastly, please understand that we moved here for the school district because 1) we love the rural nature of our neighborhood, and 2) the STUDENTS PERFORMED WELL. (Everyone needs to be cautious regarding any so-called ranking system.)
Assuming you are right, the state schools don’t communicate that well, which may be the reason a guidance dept would have inaccurate info.
I looked at UMAss’ requirements before writing my comment, because I wondered if people who were fluent in another language could test out of the 2 year requirement. I couldn’t find any exemptions listed. (Instead, there is a section stating that “non-native speakers of English must demonstrate English language proficiency” through testing, but not with any language allowing them to test out of a foreign language.) And nothing was mentioned about learning disability exemptions. Based on your comment, I searched for info on disability exemptions and couldn’t find anything (only information on how to apply for disability accommodations but not what those could cover).
Under requirements for anyone applying to be a first year student, Unit Requirements.
Here’s just one example:
https://www.uml.edu/student-services/disability/foreign-language-substitution.aspx
The point I was trying to make, but failed, is that ARHS does exactly what you just did, quote the policy for what the UMass system colleges would like to see in their applicants. If applicants do not fulfill the criteria,they may be provided with an opportunity to take language courses in their first couple of years at college.
I would attach the grid that ARHS uses for the 8th graders in which a world langauge is listed in the grid and the asterisk states “two years of a world language are required for college” but I can’t seem to insert and/or attach a document here.
For parents of kids about to begin 9th grade at ARHS, make sure you make an informed decision whether your student needs to take a world language at ARHS or plans to go to a selective non-liberal arts school OR a community college, or the other options available…..
https://www.mass.edu/foradmin/admissions/admissionsstandards.asp
Specific document here:
https://www.mass.edu/foradmin/admissions/documents/DHEAdmissionsStandardsReferenceGuide_2019.pdf
From pages 8-9:
Exceptions and Allowances For Specific Groups of Students
Applicants who are English Language Learners
Applicants with Learning or Other Disabilities
Applicants Enrolled in Career/Vocational Technical High School Programs
Beth, you are proving my point by challenging me publicly. All i am saying is that this information is NOT provided to the students at ARHS. Instead, beginning in 8th grade at Trottier, ALL the students are led to believe that “2 years of a world language are required for college.” It is a one-size fits-all factory approach. We experienced this as a family when I had to explain the complexities to my own sons after they came home convinced of the necessity of taking 2 years of a language. World language is not a requirement for graduation at ARHS and should be presented as an elective with the exemptions clearly explained.
Is that really too much to ask from our high school?
I am writing for the parents of students, especially those about to begin 9th grade at ARHS.
And, since I researched this topic previously, I’d like to share with you some data may exemplify the expression, “figures don’t lie; liars figure.”
District Tests Score=1 S=2 S=3 S=4 S=5 % S 1-2 % S 3-5 Northboro-Southboro 1,018 50 113 224 311 320 16 84 Lincoln-Sudbury 599 6 12 73 194 314 3 97
My apologies for format issues but what this shows is that ARHS is administering more AP exams but not performing as well as Lincoln Sudbury. It shows Scores of 1 through 5 and the percentage of students scoring either 1-2 or 3-5. (Note: Some schools, like the selective colleges, will not accept a score of 3 so the breakdown probably should be 1-3 and 4-5….. You can look up what score is necessary by either going directly to the college’s website or the College Board website…
Data are from 2023-2024, https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/statereport/ap.aspx
I sincerely hope that this information is helpful to parents who are interested, especially those whose kids may start ARHS in a week or so. The issue is a lot more complicated than it appears!
PS: As was brought to the attention of ARHS two years ago, Westborough Highdoes a nice job of separating out the requirements for the UMass System as they know that that is just once choice for their students:
https://whs-program-of-studies.westboroughk12.org/introduction/umass-state-university-requirements
To continue to brainwash the students at ARHS into believing that 2 years of a world language is a “requirement for college” is misleading and offensive.