From Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — U.S. News and World Report on Tuesday released the 2022 Best High Schools list ranking high schools across the country. Hewitt-Trussville High School was ranked 16th best in Alabama, moving up from the No. 20 spot in last year’s rankings.
In the Birmingham Metro Area, Hewitt-Trussville ranked No. 7 and ranked No. 1603 in the United States. When excluding magnet programs, HTHS ranked No. 13 among traditional high schools in Alabama.
The report uses data from multiple years to compile the rankings. Among the factors considered were an average proficiency in math, reading, and science in academic years 2016-17 through 2018-19 and the graduation rate for 2019-20.
Also considered were the number of students taking and passing Advanced Placement tests. The percentage and performance of economically disadvantaged students in each school also factored into the rankings.
Across all Alabama high schools, Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School in Montgomery ranked first, New Century Tech Demo High School in Huntsville was second, followed by Mountain Brook High School.
Rounding out the top fifteen were; Vestavia Hills High School, Homewood High School, Bob Jones High School, James Clemens High School, Spain Park High School, Oak Mountain High School, Fairhope High School, Booker T Washington Magnet High School, Arab High School, Ramsay High School, Hartselle High School, and Auburn High School.
Hewitt-Trussville’s sixteenth place ranking showed the school had a math proficiency of 73%, a reading proficiency of 68%, and a science proficiency of 67%. The graduation rate was 97%. Fifty-nine percent took at least one AP test and 41% passed at least one AP test with a qualifying score.
The rankings breakdown showed HTHS with a No. 5 state ranking for College Readiness Index and College Curriculum Breadth Index. The school placed at No. 15 for State Assessment Proficiency and No. 46 for Graduation.
The lowest ranking for Hewitt-Trussville came in the State Assessment Performance ranking at No. 189 in Alabama. The ranking factored performance on state assessment testing while giving consideration that HTHS has the third lowest percentage of economically disadvantaged students in Alabama.