Best Schools 2019 by Cincy Magazine

Best Schools 2019 For the sixth year in a row, we’re crunching the numbers and ranking Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky high schools to determine which are the best. Where did your school fall in our rankings?

I N SI DE:

38 Top Schools 40 School Rankings 44 Honorable Mentions 45 Special Programs 47 Outstanding Educators 51 Private School Guide 62 St. Gertrude School 64 Badin High School 65 McNicholas High School 66 Royalmont Academy

OHIO

Walnut Hills High School CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS

After four years of being in the top five, Walnut Hills High School has taken the No. 1 spot in our rankings for the first time. Its overall excellence easily took it to the top—it’s ranked in the 99th percentile of high schools as ranked by the state, has the highest state performance index score in the region (106.129), has the area’s highest graduation rate (98.9%), great test scores and a high average ACT score (25.73). In fact, 17 students scored a perfect 36 on the test. But what pushed the school over the top was its end-of-course improvement indicator percentage. At Walnut Hills, 64.7% of students recorded higher scores on a retake of the same endof-course exam.

2 Indian Hill High School

INDIAN HILL EXEMPTED V ILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT

With its low student-to-teacher ratio (11.26), high percentage of teachers with master’s degrees and great end-of-course proficiency or better pass rates in English, biology, government and history, Indian Hill High School remains one the best high schools in the region. The community continues to invest in education, with the high school having the highest per pupil spending in the region with $15,142. Outside of academics, the school has excelled in athletics (its girls soccer team 38

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won the state’s Division II championship) and in mock trial (with its team going all the way to the state competition).

3 Madeira High School

MADEIR A CITY SCHOOLS DISTRICT

Madeira High School comes in at No. 3 this year thanks to its state score of 104.829, attendance rate of 95.5%, graduation rate of 98.1% and good end-of-course proficiency or better pass rates, including 100% in history. But Madeira students and teachers are using what they’re working on in class to have a positive impact on the community as well. Teacher Jenni-

fer Jordan recently received the Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education for the work she’s done in her entrepreneurship class. In the class, students create products and implement a business plan, with the profits from the products going to local charities. The class has donated to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the Reds Community Fund.

4 Wyoming High School

W YOMING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Wyoming High School continues to be ranked highly in the state, with a state score of 104.617. The school has some of

the best academics in the region and has the Tristate’s highest average ACT score (26.03). Out of the classroom, the school has also excelled athletically, with its football team completing its perfect season at the state championship. The school is looking to keep winning next year, too—the school hired a new men’s soccer coach and brought back a previous basketball coach for the 2019-2020 season.

terests. For example, its marching band won the 2018 Bands of America Northwest Ohio Regional Championship and its theater program won four Cappies (theater awards presented to Tristate high schools) for its performance of Sweeney Todd. William Mason invests in academics as well, with 86% of its teachers having their master’s degrees and an average ACT score of 24.

5 William Mason High School 6 Mariemont High School MASON CIT Y SCHOOLS

William Mason High School has the highest enrollment in the Tristate with 3,465 students, and it works hard to make sure those students have the opportunity to excel in activities that match their in-

MARIEMONT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Mariemont High School remains in the top 10 thanks to its excellent end-ofcourse proficiency or better pass rates and high ACT score average. More than 80% of its teachers have master’s degrees and

its end-of-course improvement score is a high 44.7%. Students and parents aren’t the only ones who’ve noticed Mariemont’s excellent work—in January The Port voted to give the school up to $45 million to repair and update its school building.

7 Turpin High School

FOR EST H I L L S LOC A L SCHOOL DISTRICT

With its good end-of-course proficiency or higher rates and 23.66 ACT score, Turpin High School finishes out the top 7 in our Ohio list. The school is always looking to improve—Turpin added new security measures and a gym at the beginning of the school year and has also hired a new girls’ soccer coach for the coming year.

KENTUCKY

High 1 Beechwood School

BEECHWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Beechwood High School moves to the top spot in Kentucky this year, thanks in large part to having the highest average ACT score in Northern Kentucky (25.3). The school is in the 99th percentile in the state and has the highest end-ofcourse proficiency or better rate in NKY in math, science and reading. Outside of the classroom, the school won the state’s football championship and had its marching band perform at the National Memorial Day Parade.

2 Highlands High School

F OR T T HOM A S I N DE P E N DE N T SCHOOLS

While Highlands High School moved down a spot, the school continued to have a great year. The school has Northern Kentucky’s highest attendance rate and lowest chronic absenteeism rate, is in the 99th percentile in the state and offers the most AP classes in NKY. One student received a perfect 36 on the ACT

and the school’s boys’ soccer team went to the state soccer final.

A. Ryle High 3 Larry School BOONE COUNT Y SCHOOLS

For the first time since Cincy Magazine started ranking high schools, Larry A.

Ryle High School has entered the top 3 in Northern Kentucky. The school has the largest enrollment in Northern Kentucky with 1,866 students, but it also has an average ACT score of 21.9 and good proficiency or higher on its end-of-course exams. Two of its students were honored at the NKEC Excellence in Education Celebration, too.

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Best SCHOOLS

District

Per-Pupil Spending (District)

Number of State Standards Met

School Performance Index Score

State Performance Index Grade

State Percentile (Among High Schools)

WALNUT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

2,905

$10,117

13 out of 14

106.139

95.1%

INDIAN HILL HIGH SCHOOL

Indian Hill Exempted Village

597

$15,142

7 out of 10

103.165

94.9%

MADEIRA HIGH SCHOOL

Madeira City

428

$11,224

9 out of 10

104.829

95.5%

WYOMING HIGH SCHOOL

Wyoming City

635

$11,787

8 out of 10

104.617

93.8%

WILLIAM MASON HIGH SCHOOL

Mason City

3,465

$9,770

9 out of 10

102.59

96.4%

MARIEMONT HIGH SCHOOL

Mariemont City

491

$12,387

7 out of 10

102.111

94.3%

TURPIN HIGH SCHOOL

Forest Hills Local

1,103

$9,939

9 out of 10

101.86

95.4%

LOVELAND HIGH SCHOOL

Loveland City

1,400

$9,425

7 out of 10

96.572

94.6%

Rank

Research by Bill Ferguson, Jr.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57

ROSS HIGH SCHOOL

Ross Local

728

$8,526

6 out of 10

96.978

94.7%

SYCAMORE HIGH SCHOOL

Sycamore Community City

1,623

$11,996

6 out of 10

97.044

94.8% 95.9%

BELLBROOK HIGH SCHOOL

Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local

788

$10,150

7 out of 11

95.551

SPRINGBORO HIGH SCHOOL

Springboro Community City

1,843

$7,619

8 out of 11

99.497

97.1%

ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL

Forest Hills Local

1,257

$9,939

7 out of 11

97.199

94.2%

LAKOTA EAST HIGH SCHOOL

Lakota Local

2,393

$9,803

7 out of 10

96.315

95.1%

WAYNESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Wayne Local

460

$8,661

6 out of 10

95.64

95.4%

LAKOTA WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Lakota Local

2,168

$9,803

7 out of 10

95.919

95.0%

KINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Kings Local

1,191

$9,253

6 out of 10

92.794

94.2%

CARLISLE HIGH SCHOOL

Carlisle Local

420

$9,813

6 out of 10

90.398

95.6%

LITTLE MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL

Little Miami Local

1,198

$8,805

6 out of 10

93.717

94.7%

MILFORD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Milford Exempted Village

1,813

$9,078

5 out of 11

91.4

93.9%

MONROE HIGH SCHOOL

Monroe Local

673

$7,244

7 out of 10

90.589

94.6%

OAK HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Oak Hills Local

2,227

$8,575

4 out of 10

88.414

92.4%

TALAWANDA HIGH SCHOOL

Talawanda City

826

$10,728

4 out of 10

88.079

94.5% 91.7%

GOSHEN HIGH SCHOOL

Goshen Local

702

$8,250

3 out of 10

88.46

EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Edgewood City

975

$8,375

4 out of 10

87.679

92.1%

BLANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL

Blanchester Local

418

$8,806

5 out of 10

86.216

94.1%

CLINTON-MASSIE HIGH SCHOOL

Clinton-Massie Local

549

$7,886

6 out of 10

86.961

95.0%

BETHEL-TATE HIGH SCHOOL

Bethel-Tate Local

417

$7,285

3 out of 10

85.956

94.0% 93.3%

DEER PARK JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Deer Park Community City

532

$10,089

2 out of 15

84.461

NEW RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL

New Richmond Exempted Village

648

$8,824

6 out of 10

85.514

93.4%

SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

1,356

$10,117

7 out of 23

82.509

94.5%

MADISON HIGH SCHOOL

Madison Local

381

$8,581

4 out of 10

82.15

93.9%

LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL

Lebanon City

1,594

$7,953

5 out of 11

84.979

95.8%

FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL

Franklin City

785

$8,700

3 out of 10

84.043

94.1%

WILLIAMSBURG HIGH SCHOOL

Williamsburg Local

522

$7,640

2 out of 17

85.653

94.4%

READING COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

Reading Community City

342

$8,603

3 out of 12

78.705

91.4%

TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL

Three Rivers Local

911

$8,285

4 out of 15

85.383

93.6%

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL

Southwest Local

897

$8,883

3 out of 10

82.503

91.6%

BATAVIA HIGH SCHOOL

Batavia Local

492

$6,747

3 out of 10

80.682

93.3%

WEST CLERMONT HIGH SCHOOL

West Clermont Local

2,280

$7,583

1 out of 10

80.14

91.5%

CLARK MONTESSORI HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

699

$10,117

4 out of 15

73.617

95.9%

FINNEYTOWN SECONDARY CAMPUS

Finneytown Local

750

$10,086

2 out of 17

74.686

93.8%

COLERAIN HIGH SCHOOL

Northwest Local

1,540

$8,416

2 out of 10

77.228

91.8%

NORWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Norwood City

549

$10,662

2 out of 10

74.658

86.9%

WESTERN BROWN HIGH SCHOOL

Western Brown Local

842

$7,701

2 out of 9

75.333

95.9%

NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL

Northwest Local

684

$8,416

1 out of 10

75.676

90.4%

CLERMONT NORTHEASTERN HIGH SCHOOL

Clermont Northeastern Local

421

$9,291

2 out of 10

71.165

91.6%

JAMES N. GAMBLE MONTESSORI HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

499

$10,117

2 out of 13

63.329

94.3%

FAIRFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

Fairfield City

1,948

$7,769

2 out of 10

73.027

90.9%

HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL

Hamilton City

1,742

$8,269

2 out of 10

71.468

88.5%

ST. BERNARD-ELMWOOD PLACE HIGH SCHOOL

St Bernard-Elmwood Place City

377

$9,270

0 out of 14

65.702

90.0%

FELICITY-FRANKLIN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL

Felicity-Franklin Local

216

$9,019

0 out of 10

66.652

91.4%

PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL

Princeton City

1,547

$10,223

0 out of 10

67.365

90.4%

MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL

Middletown City

1,289

$7,657

1 out of 10

65.788

90.5%

NEW MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL

New Miami Local

137

$9,824

0 out of 9

59.704

87.5%

WINTON WOODS HIGH SCHOOL

Winton Woods City

1,030

$10,080

1 out of 10

61.356

89.0%

SHRODER PAIDEIA HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

731

$10,117

2 out of 14

57.062

87.7%

*All school buildings are listed by the state as enrolling 12th-graders. These can be traditional 9-12 schools, such as regular public high schools, or K-12, many of which are community schools. NC — Not calculated or not reported (unranked schools had incomplete data) UR — Unranked

Attendance Rate

High School* (2017-18 data except where noted)

Enrollment

Southwest Ohio Public and Community Charter High Schools

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Teachers With at Least a Master's Degree

Average ACT Score**

High School English I EOC at or above Proficient

High School English II EOC at or above Proficient

High School Algebra I or Math I EOC at or above Proficient

High School Biology EOC at or above Proficient

High School Government EOC at or above Proficient

High School History EOC at or above Proficient

High School End-ofCourse Improvement Indicator

Number of Advanced Placement Classes***

% of Students Taking AP Test***

77.4%

25.73

97.7%

95.2%

88.4%

89.9%

93.5%

98.3%

97.2%

64.7%

94.2%

81.2%

11.26

90.6%

96.5%

91.5%

57.1%

79.8%

94.7%

99.3%

95.9%

55.0%

79.6%

76.5%

% Scoring 3 or Higher on AP Test***

Student / Teacher Ratio 21.36

97.7%

High School Geometry or Math II EOC at or above Proficient

4-Year Graduation Rate (Class of 2017) 98.9% 98.1%

13.81

83.7%

24.50

92.4%

94.2%

86.2%

87.7%

96.5%

87.3%

100.0%

25.4%

80.6%

53.9%

98.2%

14.11

75.7%

26.03

92.8%

65.9%

86.5%

89.9%

96.3%

94.8%

45.0%

88.9%

79.0%

96.4%

21.13

86.0%

24.40

91.4%

87.9%

85.3%

84.1%

95.8%

95.4%

96.3%

55.0%

75.3%

54.1%

94.9%

11.42

82.6%

24.03

95.4%

94.1%

51.4%

75.0%

89.3%

92.4%

94.7%

44.7%

66.9%

42.7%

96.5%

15.99

80.6%

23.66

91.2%

87.7%

83.3%

84.4%

88.2%

96.7%

90.3%

29.0%

66.7%

58.0%

97.4%

16.28

85.4%

22.72

88.9%

83.6%

78.7%

73.0%

95.3%

93.3%

88.0%

43.6%

43.3%

35.8%

96.6%

15.17

78.2%

19.38

85.1%

75.1%

87.4%

71.1%

91.1%

92.9%

91.7%

41.3%

26.6%

22.6%

94.3%

13.87

70.4%

24.11

87.6%

78.3%

79.9%

71.0%

87.1%

95.8%

88.4%

47.5%

60.9%

48.6%

96.4%

16.42

70.5%

22.50

83.8%

80.5%

76.2%

75.8%

92.4%

97.4%

92.7%

42.0%

29.8%

20.5%

96.3%

23.63

71.4%

23.25

91.4%

89.1%

87.5%

72.1%

90.1%

96.2%

94.1%

35.0%

36.4%

15.8%

93.9%

15.91

69.0%

22.43

90.7%

83.9%

75.6%

69.0%

85.7%

89.3%

92.8%

31.1%

56.5%

31.8%

94.5%

20.63

74.7%

21.44

88.6%

85.9%

68.8%

72.9%

91.4%

91.9%

92.4%

42.5%

43.6%

26.9%

98.6%

18.40

71.8%

21.48

84.5%

86.3%

78.8%

71.4%

90.4%

94.4%

95.0%

14.3%

16.4%

26.2%

94.7%

19.36

66.3%

21.29

87.6%

82.1%

73.7%

84.8%

89.8%

90.7%

41.0%

38.8%

22.7%

95.2%

17.01

62.9%

22.40

86.5%

75.6%

74.9%

65.7%

92.5%

92.9%

88.2%

25.7%

12.8%

42.0%

97.6%

15.56

76.1%

18.49

83.8%

79.2%

70.1%

59.7%

81.0%

92.0%

92.4%

30.7%

8.3%

0.8%

97.4%

21.39

71.6%

20.96

81.3%

80.1%

77.0%

64.6%

87.0%

90.9%

88.1%

20.8%

32.0%

23.9%

95.3%

16.79

77.8%

21.30

85.8%

78.8%

64.3%

58.5%

88.4%

81.2%

84.3%

29.8%

54.1%

37.6%

97.2%

17.71

70.1%

19.11

89.2%

81.8%

62.7%

51.9%

83.0%

88.7%

85.3%

37.4%

42.4%

22.7%

94.6%

17.96

70.9%

19.70

70.0%

79.3%

66.4%

59.8%

87.4%

86.3%

92.6%

44.1%

52.8%

32.3%

93.8%

14.24

77.6%

20.20

74.5%

74.7%

71.5%

60.4%

85.1%

78.5%

82.8%

32.9%

29.5%

16.5%

95.5%

17.55

84.9%

19.52

73.2%

70.4%

56.6%

62.2%

84.9%

89.8%

85.1%

17.5%

26.3%

19.4%

90.2%

16.81

74.1%

18.44

79.8%

79.5%

61.9%

56.1%

82.3%

85.8%

84.0%

25.5%

35.7%

14.7%

90.2%

15.48

63.1%

18.62

73.8%

81.3%

64.6%

50.0%

75.5%

93.1%

91.3%

33.0%

0.0%

2.2%

94.4%

18.30

59.6%

20.27

81.2%

74.1%

57.8%

55.2%

84.1%

87.0%

86.6%

36.7%

0.7%

0.0%

97.4%

12.64

72.7%

19.38

79.4%

72.1%

49.0%

50.9%

75.0%

87.5%

71.8%

40.8%

8.9%

2.3%

95.2%

13.30

74.7%

17.36

79.3%

68.1%

60.8%

64.0%

58.9%

85.7%

77.9%

44.2%

33.7%

13.4%

96.2%

17.51

78.3%

19.65

81.3%

78.0%

49.7%

53.9%

83.8%

82.5%

87.0%

31.1%

18.9%

10.7%

99.2%

15.95

75.4%

20.44

83.8%

82.3%

38.3%

36.0%

83.2%

94.2%

89.2%

39.9%

47.2%

26.4%

94.5%

10.03

60.2%

18.15

68.9%

68.0%

56.6%

49.0%

88.4%

91.0%

86.1%

29.7%

11.4%

0.0%

98.4%

22.77

64.0%

20.54

75.5%

66.2%

60.7%

56.5%

81.2%

90.2%

85.1%

40.3%

44.2%

21.9%

94.6%

16.35

66.7%

17.81

75.1%

68.5%

54.6%

54.0%

75.5%

85.4%

88.5%

32.8%

22.0%

2.4%

90.0%

18.00

77.7%

18.87

76.7%

67.6%

60.3%

45.3%

72.8%

84.5%

77.5%

21.1%

16.2%

7.8%

91.5%

11.03

84.1%

17.91

65.6%

72.8%

48.1%

56.3%

84.6%

83.7%

83.5%

19.5%

14.8%

8.1%

94.5%

18.98

45.8%

20.24

71.3%

61.6%

55.7%

49.5%

77.3%

87.0%

82.5%

30.4%

20.4%

24.4%

89.2%

17.59

68.3%

18.68

80.2%

60.1%

47.8%

46.0%

78.2%

79.6%

80.1%

38.1%

46.5%

24.0%

92.6%

16.40

63.3%

19.28

70.0%

68.8%

58.2%

42.5%

70.9%

78.7%

80.3%

25.8%

15.1%

8.4%

91.2%

18.69

75.9%

18.59

70.7%

66.9%

52.6%

45.9%

73.5%

76.7%

82.8%

23.4%

31.2%

8.2%

93.4%

14.27

71.2%

21.83

66.9%

63.2%

44.1%

30.8%

75.2%

97.1%

59.8%

46.2%

43.8%

19.8%

94.4%

15.96

63.3%

18.01

60.7%

65.3%

46.7%

39.7%

88.9%

67.0%

63.3%

41.7%

42.7%

27.7%

88.2%

17.30

51.5%

17.70

63.3%

58.2%

73.6%

35.5%

68.7%

81.4%

74.6%

28.4%

24.7%

17.4%

85.6%

12.77

54.0%

17.25

69.8%

66.2%

36.7%

43.6%

75.9%

89.1%

70.8%

31.1%

22.8%

0.0%

95.3%

20.05

72.3%

17.47

69.7%

60.5%

36.6%

42.3%

64.5%

78.0%

76.8%

32.6%

0.2%

0.0%

89.7%

13.41

72.4%

16.69

58.9%

56.6%

51.7%

39.0%

71.5%

70.0%

66.5%

24.5%

29.5%

10.5%

94.3%

15.59

59.1%

17.40

57.5%

64.9%

26.0%

40.7%

75.2%

84.7%

75.4%

26.3%

16.0%

8.4%

87.5%

11.09

84.6%

58.3%

68.9%

14.3%

25.0%

65.9%

76.7%

34.6%

56.5%

11.8%

92.2%

18.73

69.1%

18.88

40.0%

67.0%

24.1%

29.4%

69.3%

88.7%

54.3%

26.3%

29.8%

11.2%

77.4%

16.28

46.9%

17.24

44.4%

66.8%

11.5%

36.6%

79.0%

85.5%

77.5%

27.5%

19.8%

10.3% 0.7%

82.9%

12.16

58.1%

16.11

57.6%

44.4%

42.0%

22.7%

73.4%

67.6%

77.4%

24.4%

13.1%

87.2%

13.50

68.2%

17.43

61.5%

52.1%

22.0%

16.4%

66.7%

78.3%

68.6%

18.2%

10.7%

1.3%

94.1%

16.82

67.5%

56.6%

54.8%

31.8%

27.7%

71.5%

79.2%

35.0%

23.1%

30.2%

13.6%

85.4%

14.01

55.6%

16.39

53.9%

50.1%

26.3%

24.9%

62.9%

60.9%

52.6%

30.4%

18.8%

2.5%

82.5%

7.61

66.7%

15.13

46.3%

45.5%

25.0%

9.1%

55.1%

73.3%

45.5%

18.1%

0.9%

0.0%

86.9%

14.31

66.7%

15.75

42.7%

44.2%

15.6%

19.5%

51.6%

71.8%

57.6%

32.3%

26.3%

3.9%

91.8%

15.55

63.3%

15.39

59.4%

43.0%

23.4%

13.5%

31.6%

82.4%

75.2%

26.1%

61.7%

2.3%

**About ACT averages: Ohio did not report ACT scores for 2017-18 on the School Report Cards. Through a public-records request, Cincy obtained scores from the Ohio Department of Education; however, the department provided only scores it received from ACT. It said the scores were not for all students and should not be compared with previous yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; scores. Some schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; scores were not provided. ***About Advanced Placement: Some schools have quit offering AP classes, replacing them with other dual-credit options. Data anomalies exist for some districts on Ohio report cards, and the Department of Education says there could be an issue with how the student data-reporting system is flowing the information onto the report cards. w w w.

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District

Number of State Standards Met

School Performance Index Score

State Performance Index Grade

LOCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Lockland Local

162

$9,743

1 out of 8

63.252

91.3%

NORTH COLLEGE HILL HIGH SCHOOL

North College Hill City

372

$7,228

1 out of 9

62.058

88.9%

58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 UR UR UR UR UR UR

Enrollment

Rank

(continued)

Research by Bill Ferguson, Jr.

Attendance Rate

High School* (2017-18 data except where noted)

Per-Pupil Spending (District)

Southwest Ohio Public and Community Charter High Schools

State Percentile (Among High Schools)

Best SCHOOLS

CINCINNATI COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY

Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy

923

$7,076

2 out of 23

62.821

91.8%

SUMMIT ACADEMY SECONDARY SCHOOL-MIDDLETOWN

Summit Academy Secondary School - Middletown

138

$6,205

0 out of 14

52.889

88.2% 91.0%

HUGHES STEM HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

897

$10,117

2 out of 14

51.625

GILBERT A. DATER HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

1,213

$10,117

1 out of 15

54.282

87.1%

MOUNT HEALTHY HIGH SCHOOL

Mount Healthy City

776

$8,806

1 out of 10

53.984

88.9% 90.2%

RIVERVIEW EAST ACADEMY

Cincinnati City

593

$10,117

1 out of 22

58.025

WITHROW UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

1,224

$10,117

1 out of 13

51.589

83.7%

OYLER SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

697

$10,117

0 out of 23

65.491

84.4%

AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

690

$10,117

1 out of 13

51.256

86.7%

SUMMIT ACADEMY TRANSITION HIGH SCHOOL-CINCINNATI

Summit Academy Transition High School-Cincinnati

$6,430

1 out of 9

45.619

90.2% 82.9%

WESTERN HILLS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

1,015

$10,117

1 out of 13

45.015

ROBERT A. TAFT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

593

$10,117

1 out of 13

44.32

79.6%

WOODWARD CAREER TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

914

$10,117

0 out of 13

45.891

82.3%

CINCINNATI LEARNING SCHOOLS

Cincinnati Learning Schools

213

$10,100

1 out of 14

43.937

91.1%

VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL

Cincinnati City

544

$10,117

1 out of 11

51.443

80.8%

CINCINNATI TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY

Cincinnati Technology Academy

218

$6,248

2 out of 21

50.979

89.0%

MIAMI SCHOOL

Hamilton City

$8,269

0 out of 3

84.0%

MOUNT AUBURN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY

Mount Auburn International Academy

452

$8,103

1 out of 23

51.621

89.8%

PHOENIX COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER

Phoenix Community Learning Center

469

$6,422

1 out of 23

54.694

88.0%

RIVERSIDE ACADEMY

Riverside Academy

261

$7,388

N/A

82.9%

SPENCER ACADEMY

Cincinnati City

219

$10,117

13 out of 16

102.598

94.9%

Rank

High School (2017-18 data)

District

Enrollment

Per-Pupil Spending (District)

State Percentile (Among High Schools)

Attendance Rate

4-Year Graduation Rate (Class of 2018)

Student / Teacher Ratio

BEECHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Beechwood Independent

646

$14,248

96.3%

96.4%

17.46

HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL

Fort Thomas Independent

1,009

$14,327

96.9%

95.9%

17.70

LARRY A. RYLE HIGH SCHOOL

Boone County

1,866

$14,769

94.9%

93.6%

16.81

WALTON-VERONA HIGH SCHOOL

Walton-Verona Independent

539

$13,895

95.4%

99.2%

17.97

RANDALL K. COOPER HIGH SCHOOL

Boone County

1,332

$14,769

95.1%

97.3%

16.86

CONNER HIGH SCHOOL

Boone County

1,398

$14,769

94.8%

94.9%

15.36

CAMPBELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

Campbell County

1,402

$14,140

94.9%

97.9%

17.53

SIMON KENTON HIGH SCHOOL

Kenton County

1,832

$13,901

95.2%

96.1%

20.36

DIXIE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL

Kenton County

1,431

$13,901

94.3%

93.6%

20.15

LUDLOW HIGH SCHOOL

Ludlow Independent

365

$15,263

94.1%

94.8%

14.04

BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL

Bellevue Independent

356

$16,045

94.5%

100.0%

16.18

SCOTT HIGH SCHOOL

Kenton County

974

$13,901

94.2%

90.4%

20.72

BOONE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

Boone County

1,337

$14,769

94.3%

94.0%

14.53

DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL

Dayton Independent

360

$14,958

91.9%

81.7%

12.86

LLOYD HIGH SCHOOL

Erlanger-Elsmere Independent

610

$14,561

94.0%

96.5%

15.64

NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL

Newport Independent

610

$19,522

92.8%

98.8%

11.09

HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL

Covington Independent

734

$18,034

93.9%

91.1%

11.65

SILVER GROVE SCHOOL

Silver Grove Independent

163

$19,984

93.6%

71.4%

10.19

Kentucky Public High Schools Research by Bill Ferguson, Jr.

NC — NOT CALCULATED UR — UNR ANKED

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Average ACT Score**

High School English II EOC at or above Proficient

High School Algebra I or Math I EOC at or above Proficient

High School Biology EOC at or above Proficient

High School Government EOC at or above Proficient

High School End-ofCourse Improvement Indicator

Number of Advanced Placement Classes***

% of Students Taking AP Test***

% Scoring 3 or Higher on AP Test***

68.8%

15.40

57.4%

44.4%

18.2%

17.1%

50.0%

63.2%

29.9%

0.0%

15.50

66.9%

15.37

52.0%

36.8%

20.6%

20.3%

44.6%

65.3%

42.4%

29.0%

0.0%

93.2%

20.51

13.3%

14.72

53.8%

32.2%

14.0%

11.8%

75.9%

83.3%

53.8%

30.7%

0.0%

80.0%

6.90

25.0%

16.47

25.0%

50.0%

4.0%

28.6%

63.2%

46.7%

73.7%

22.0%

0.0%

78.6%

13.00

63.5%

15.64

31.9%

39.6%

15.4%

10.8%

26.8%

81.3%

63.9%

32.8%

24.1%

0.4%

80.1%

16.85

63.9%

17.19

40.5%

30.9%

30.3%

9.3%

42.9%

69.7%

51.7%

23.4%

28.2%

8.6%

High School History EOC at or above Proficient

Teachers With at Least a Master's Degree

16.20

High School Geometry or Math II EOC at or above Proficient

Student / Teacher Ratio

High School English I EOC at or above Proficient

4-Year Graduation Rate (Class of 2017) 79.5% 76.7%

79.6%

15.52

51.1%

15.35

28.8%

24.6%

17.8%

15.5%

42.1%

73.3%

52.0%

26.0%

5.7%

0.0%

60.0%

15.21

64.9%

14.91

47.8%

45.0%

17.4%

7.4%

39.2%

42.9%

50.0%

27.4%

23.6%

0.0%

76.2%

15.49

74.7%

14.55

25.3%

28.8%

17.7%

10.6%

31.5%

69.9%

37.2%

29.2%

7.5%

0.0%

57.9%

15.84

61.4%

14.71

23.1%

22.2%

29.2%

11.4%

33.3%

47.4%

41.0%

16.3%

28.7%

0.8%

67.6%

13.53

62.5%

14.77

26.2%

22.3%

22.2%

4.4%

21.8%

69.9%

39.6%

26.9%

40.0%

1.7%

82.6%

7.90

31.6%

14.06

30.4%

33.3%

0.0%

15.4%

31.0%

42.1%

51.9%

12.0%

0.0%

69.9%

13.36

59.2%

14.61

21.8%

23.3%

6.0%

7.9%

28.3%

58.0%

40.7%

26.4%

17.0%

1.7%

68.4%

12.89

54.3%

14.71

18.5%

26.7%

10.2%

6.0%

33.6%

42.7%

38.9%

27.1%

25.0%

0.9%

60.9%

13.06

61.4%

15.12

18.6%

24.1%

8.6%

9.8%

30.4%

37.0%

42.9%

19.4%

13.4%

1.2%

63.6%

16.38

38.5%

13.96

23.8%

8.7%

9.1%

2.2%

12.9%

25.0%

13.8%

22.2%

0.0%

20.2%

34.00

100.0%

17.11

29.4%

23.3%

23.9%

4.3%

21.3%

19.5%

25.5%

26.2%

2.9%

1.1%

N/A

31.14

28.6%

16.08

9.1%

20.0%

0.0%

32.5%

6.3%

0.0%

N/A

20.25

25.0%

15.07

27.3%

24.2%

N/A

15.59

24.6%

14.00

40.0%

26.1%

26.9%

33.3%

39.1%

60.0%

48.3%

31.1%

0.0%

N/A

39.08

8.3%

40.0%

35.7%

16.7%

14.3%

64.3%

73.3%

48.0%

73.0%

N/A

14.50

44.4%

N/A

15.64

48.1%

80.0%

Student / Teacher Ratio

Teachers With at Least a Master's

Average ACT Score

Chronic Absenteeism Rate

End-of-Course Math % Proficient or Better (Grades 9-12)

End-of-Course Reading % Proficient or Better (Grades 9-12)

End-of-Course Science % Proficient or Better (Grades 9-12)

End-of-Course Writing % Proficient or Better (Grades 9-12)

Number of Advanced Placement Classes

Advanced Placement Test Takers

% of AP Exams With a Score of 3 or Above

17.46

56.4%

25.3

7.4%

87.3%

79.4%

68.6%

73.3%

386

58.5%

17.70

50.7%

24.1

6.3%

72.2%

77.3%

62.4%

84.3%

966

62.7%

16.81

56.1%

21.9

15.2%

61.4%

63.3%

52.0%

76.0%

855

60.2%

17.97

60.0%

21.8

12.0%

56.6%

64.5%

52.0%

66.9%

25.0%

16.86

55.4%

20.8

13.9%

56.8%

58.5%

43.8%

70.4%

513

55.9%

15.36

60.4%

20.9

16.5%

54.9%

58.0%

41.0%

62.5%

454

60.4%

17.53

51.1%

20.7

15.6%

55.1%

57.8%

40.4%

66.7%

959

57.7%

20.36

57.0%

20.9

14.0%

54.3%

56.6%

42.0%

57.3%

351

69.5%

20.15

60.9%

20.7

20.9%

55.6%

55.1%

39.1%

59.2%

515

73.0%

14.04

39.3%

19.8

20.9%

35.7%

53.6%

30.4%

83.9%

16.18

48.0%

18.6

18.3%

40.0%

43.1%

22.0%

65.3%

20.72

46.3%

19.5

19.4%

40.4%

44.3%

27.6%

62.7%

52.2%

14.53

60.9%

18.8

18.4%

42.8%

42.2%

27.5%

48.6%

155

61.3%

12.86

39.3%

27.7%

37.5%

44.6%

27.3%

38.6%

15.64

52.1%

18.6

23.1%

28.8%

43.0%

25.6%

43.6%

27.3%

11.09

52.7%

17.3

28.9%

25.8%

30.4%

13.8%

31.5%

11.65

47.5%

16.6

24.2%

18.8%

28.2%

8.8%

35.0%

5.3%

10.19

26.3%

25.0%

0.0%

w w w.

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Best SCHOOLS

Honorable Mentions Enrollment School

We’ve named the overall top seven in Ohio and top three in Kentucky, but that doesn’t mean other local schools aren’t great as well. That’s why we’ve compiled the top lists—from both Ohio and Kentucky—in four other categories: Student/Teacher Ratio, Four-Year Graduation Rate, Attendance Rate and Enrollment. While schools that did well in the following categories tended to do well overall, these top lists also contain plenty of surprises. Bill Ferguson Jr., who also puts together our Rating the Burbs project annually, collected and analyzed the data for this feature.

Enrollment

Attendance rate School

Rate

1 William Mason High School

3,465

1 Springboro High School

97.1%

2 Walnut Hills High School

2,905

2 Highlands High School

96.9%

3 Lakota East High School

2,393

3 William Mason High School

96.4%

4 West Clermont High School

2,280

4 Beechwood High School

96.3%

5 Oak Hills High School

2,227

5 Bellbrook High School

95.9%

6 Lakota West High School

2,168

5 Clark Montessori High School

95.9%

7 Fairfield High School

1,948

5 Western Brown High School

95.9%

8 Larry A. Ryle High School

1,866

8 Lebanon High School

95.8%

9 Springboro High School

1,843

9 Carlisle High School

95.6%

10 Simon Kenton High School

1,832

10 Madeira High School

95.5%

4-year graduation rate School

1 Bellevue High School

Rate

Student/teacher ratio School

Ratio

1 Summit Academy Secondary School-Middletown

6.90

2 School For Creative & Performing Arts High School 99.2%

2 New Miami High School

7.61

2 Walton-Verona High School

99.2%

3 Summit Academy Transition High School-Cincinnati 7.90

4 Walnut Hills High School

98.9%

4 Madison High School

10.03

5 Newport High School

98.8%

5 Silver Grove School

10.19

6 Waynesville High School

98.6%

6 Reading Community High School

11.03

7 Lebanon High School

98.4%

7 James N. Gamble Montessori High School

11.09

8 Wyoming High School

98.2%

7 Newport High School

11.09

9 Madeira High School

97.1%

9 Indian Hill High School

11.26

10 Campbell County High School

97.9%

10 Mariemont High School

11.42

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100.0%

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Programming the

Future

HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL Hamilton Hamilton High School is continuing to develop a sanctuary for special needs students to express themselves by embracing gardenbased learning that promotes collaboration and inclusiveness across the student body. “We wanted to create a learning environment where students can be outside, get messy, use their energy, but still make ties to content,” says Amy Michael, special education teacher and one of the project’s pioneers. The accessible sensory garden, producing everything from eggplants to herbs, is designed with the student’s needs in mind. The beautiful outdoor space, situated just outside the main hallway, consists of two traditional beds and two raised wheelchair beds to accommodate both adult and youthsized wheelchairs, although there are plans to construct a fully operational tiered bed and washing station in the future. Other students utilize adaptive tools allowing them to be involved like any other student. Hamilton’s garden impacts 60 students directly, though the project has drawn interest across various academic departments. In the future, the garden will continue to be used for hands-on science activities, while a new art mural elective plans on creating its first masterpiece on a wall facing the garden. “The unsung hero of this project is the carpentry department and Tim Carpenter,

While our school list gives you great information on the raw numbers of local schools, sometimes greatness can’t be measured. That’s why we looked at four programs offered by schools to find out what they’re doing to help students be prepared for future learning and careers. Read on to learn about what local schools are doing that may not be reflected in test scores, but will certainly help students later in life.

ironically the carpenter teacher, has been a vital member of the team,” says Michael, as she motions toward the tables, specifically designed by students with wheelchair accessibility in mind. “His students build what we need, which is great since we wouldn’t have been able to afford everything.” Jacqueline Nicholson, a special education teacher specializing in sensory learning, believes the garden creates a special environment in which students work together. “This space is accessible for everyone and we all work together as a team,” she says. - Noah Tong

HUGHES STEM HIGH SCHOOL Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Zoo Academy is the only college preparatory program in the U.S. to offer students hands-on work experience with zookeepers and the animals for which they care. Students at Hughes STEM High School take classes that prepare them for leadership roles in conversation and environmental science, as well as plant and animal care. Program participants also have the opportunity to meet on zoo grounds every day to work directly with zookeepers at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. “We’re here to teach them a lot about the natural world, as well as expose them to careers that deal primarily with conservation of animal and plant species,” says Chris Edelen, Zoo Academy pathway instructor. The Zoo Academy has been a part of the Cincinnati public school system for over 40 years. The program accepts 50 students every year—25 juniors and 25 seniors—who hope to gain experience for a job in conservation. The program gives students unique experiences they would never have anywhere else. From bathing elephants to holding baby penguins or swimming with manatees, students gain valuable skills to use in their future professions. “You get to see a lot of really incredible things,” says Edelen. “These experiences when we encounter nature—up close and personal and in our face—stay with us for the rest of our lives.” – Keely Brown w w w.

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Best SCHOOLS

ROGER BACON HIGH SCHOOL Cincinnati

CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS Cincinnati The Cincinnati Public Schools program Men, Organized, Respectful and Educated (M.O.R.E.) is changing lives. African-American males throughout the U.S. historically underperform academically at troubling rates, according to the Council of the Great City Schools. M.O.R.E. was created in 2011 as a districtwide initiative to support Cincinnati’s minority male students and works to improve the lives of these young men through academic achievement and social and community responsibility. The program works with African-American and other at-risk young men in grades four through 12. Each of the 26 M.O.R.E clubs includes after-school programs and enrichment opportunities to help students achieve their dreams. “The M.O.R.E. Program provides a space where its members can be vulnerable and develop into a strong, educated and respectful man,” says William Johnson, the program’s district coordinator and community partnership specialist for CPS. “M.O.R.E. impacts its members in school and throughout the community.” M.O.R.E. strives to save the lives and expand the minds of young men both mentally and socially to become an example for generations to follow. The program achieves this through school-based advi46

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sors—each club’s advisor facilitates club meetings and serves as an ambassador of the M.O.R.E. program at their schools and across the district. “M.O.R.E. advisors are the driving force of the program—they conduct the day to day operation of the program. They have the direct contact and influence of the young men that are in the program,” says Johnson. “Without the advisor the program would fail; the M.O.R.E. advisor is an essential part of the impact that the M.O.R.E. program has created.” – Keely Brown

Home to the country’s only high school underwater hockey team, Roger Bacon High School is teaching students to pursue their passions, even when they derive from the most unexpected sources. Paul Wittekind, social studies department chair and the team’s head coach since 1997, knows even the name is instinctively confusing to those unaware of the sport’s existence. “There’s a certain quirkiness to it,” says Wittekind. “People sometimes roll their eyes at the store when they see my underwater hockey shirt and ask, ‘Is that a real sport?’ but it comes with the territory.” Games begin as six players per team race to the center of the pool to gain possession of a three-pound lead puck before scoring in their opponent’s goal. Athletes wear masks, snorkels and fins and are equipped with a wooden or plastic stick with a banana curve that push the puck in front of them. Players are underwater for 30 seconds at a time on average, ultimately coming to the surface to temporarily watch play unfold at the bottom of the pool through their snorkels, says Wittekind. His teams, usually co-ed, are accustomed to success at a high level. Roger Bacon has won its division at nationals—this year taking place in Orlando, Florida—for four separate years, playing an assortment of college and adult teams. Roger Bacon students have even been chosen to represent Team USA at the youth level, as well as Wittekind himself from a coaching perspective. “I love watching kids grow up,” remarks Wittekind. “It’s rewarding to see kids grow up, graduate, go to their weddings and see them start families to have kids of their own. We, as a Catholic institution, want to educate the mind and body of our students.” - Noah Tong