These 10 public high schools were named the best in Kentucky, and 3 are in Lexington
Three high schools in Lexington ranked among the top 10 public high schools in Kentucky, according to Niche, a site offering data on schools and colleges.
Niche creates ratings based on reviews and data. Sources include the U.S. Department of Education, Common Core Data, Civil Rights Data Collection and others.
The Best Public High Schools ranking uses the following methodology:
Academics grade: Based on state assessments, SAT and ACT scores and survey responses from students and parents (Weight: 60% of overall grade)
The culture and diversity grade is based on “racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents,” Niche says. (Weight: 12.5% of overall grade)
The teachers grade is based on teacher salary, teacher abstenteeism, state test results and surveys from students and parents (Weight: 10% of overall grade)
The sports grade considers the number of sports, participation and survey results (Weight: 2.5% of overall grade)
Other categories making up the overall rating include the Club & Activities grade (2.5%), Resources & Facilities grade (2.5%) and Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience (10%).
Two of the Lexington schools in the top 10 received “A+” scores from Niche, and one received an ‘A.’
Here’s how the institutions compared:
10. North Oldham High School
Grades: A overall, A in academics, A- for teachers, B+ for sports, C+ for diversity
Location: Goshen, Ky.
North Oldham High School has 1,070 students, Niche reports, and more than 70% receive proficient scores on state tests in reading and math.
9. Murray High School
Grades: A for overall, teachers, academics and sports; B+ for diversity
Location: Murray, Ky.
Murray High School has 484 students, according to Niche. State test scores show 72% of students are proficient in math and 67% in reading.
8. Bowling Green High School
Grades: A for overall, sports and diversity; A- in academics and teachers
Location: Bowling Green, Ky.
More than 1,000 students attend Bowling Green High School, Niche’s ranking says, and 46% are proficient in math and 56% are proficient in reading.
7. Highlands High School
Grades: A overall and academics, A- for teachers, A+ for sports and C for diversity
Location: Fort Thomas, Ky.
Highlands High School has 1,036 students, Niche reports. Math proficiency is at 71% and reading is at 76%.
6. Henry Clay High School
Grades: A overall, academics, teachers and diversity; B sports
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Henry Clay High School has more than 2,000 students, Niche says, and 50% of students are at least proficient in math and 58% are in reading.
5. Lafayette High School
Grades: A overall, academics, diversity, A+ teachers, C+ sports
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Lafayette High School is home to 2,363 students, with a 55% proficiency rate in math and 62% in reading.
4. Beechwood High School
Grades: A overall, academics, teachers, B- diversity, A+ sports
Location: Fort Mitchell, Ky.
Beechwood High School has 730 students, according to Niche, and 72% of students are proficient in math and 78% are in reading.
3. Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Grades: A+ overall, A+ diversity, A academics, B sports, B+ teachers
Location: Lexington, Ky.
More than 2,000 students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, and 54% of students are proficient in math while 62% are proficient in reading.
2. The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science
Grades: A+ overall, academics, teachers, C- sports, grade unavailable for diversity
Location: Bowling Green, Ky.
This institution offers a two-year program for high school juniors and seniors, and 190 students currently attend. Students are enrolled in Western Kentucky University, and the school is currently ranked first in the state for science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.
1. duPont Manual High School
Grades: A+ overall, academics; A sports, teachers, diversity
Location: Louisville, Ky.
duPont Manual High School has more than 1,900 students, and the institution has high test scores in core subjects. Niche reports 85% of duPont Manual High School students are proficient in math while 88% are proficient in reading.
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