Report Ranks Catonsville, Western Tech High Schools As Top In Nation

Catonsville High School and the Western School of Technology in Catonsville were ranked in the top 7 percent of the nation's high schools, according to the Washington Post.

In Maryland, Western ranks 53rd and Catonsville ranks 57th. In Baltimore County, 13 out of 24 schools were on the list.

The Post ranks 1,900 high schools out of 27,000 in the nation by adding the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccaleaureate or Cambridge tests taken and dividing that by the number of graduates.

In Baltimore County, AP participation has grown steadily since the rankings were compiled for the first time in 1998.

In 1992-1993, the participation rate for Baltimore County  was about 2 percent; last year, the system’s participation rate was 16 percent, which is more than double the national rate of 7 percent.

 “By examining the Advanced Placement tests available and undertaken by students, the High School Challenge reflects the increasing rigor and excellence of our high schools and our students,” said Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston.

“This recognition reinforces the fact that our students are among the best prepared in the nation for the demands of a rapidly changing workplace and world," he said in the release.

You can find the full report here.