U.S. News Best High Schools: Coginchaug High Makes Elite List

DURHAM/MIDDLEFIELD, CT — U.S. News & World Report released its 2019 Best High Schools list this week and Coginchaug High School was ranked both nationally and in the state. Coginchaug High School, Ranked No. 2,804 in the U.S. and No. 57 in CT

Coginchaug High School's overall score was 83.74 and 38 percent of students took at least one AP exam, and 33 percent passed at least one exam. The high school's graduation rate was 95 percent.

Connecticut had two of the top 200 high schools in America as Darien and Weston high schools cracked the list. Eight other high schools in Connecticut cracked the top 500.

These rankings by U.S. News & World Report are its most comprehensive ranking yet of the nation’s high schools. More than 17,000 schools are ranked, an increase from 2,700 last year. U.S. News also ranked the top 163 high schools in Connecticut and also gave each a national ranking too.

Overall, Connecticut’s schools graduate 96.5 percent of students, which is one of the best percentages in the U.S. New Jersey came in at 97 percent and Texas at 97.3 percent.

Anita Narayan, managing editor of education at U.S. News, said the aim of the rankings is to give families more information about the schools in their district.

“By evaluating more schools than ever before, the new edition expands that focus so all communities can see which schools in their area are successfully serving their students — including historically underserved populations,” Narayan said in a news release.

The factors considered in compiling the list include college readiness; reading and math proficiency; reading and math performance; underserved student performance; college curriculum breadth; and graduation rates. College readiness measures participation and performance on advanced placement and international baccalaureate exams.

The data also take into account school enrollment, student diversity, participation in free and reduced-price meal programs, graduation rates and the results of state assessment tests. U.S. News worked with the global research firm RTI International to rank the schools.

In the state-by-state performance, based on the number of high schools in the top 25 percent of national rankings, Massachusetts was the leader. This year, nearly half — 48.8 percent — of the commonwealth’s high schools were ranked in the top 25 percent of high schools. Maryland was second with 43.7 percent, followed by California, with 40 percent, and Connecticut, with 39.8 percent in the top 25 percent of schools ranked nationally.

*Here is U.S. News & World Report's ranking of the top 163 high schools in Connecticut, along with their national ranking. (Click on the hyperlink to read what U.S. News says about the school).

Darien High School, Ranked No. 150 in the U.S. and No. 1 in CT

Weston High School, Ranked No. 160 in the U.S. and No. 2 in CT

Achievement First Hartford Academy, Ranked No. 285 in the U.S. and No. 3 in CT

Ridgefield High School, Ranked No. 317 in the U.S. and No. 4 in CT

Connecticut IB Academy, Ranked No. 321 in the U.S. and No. 5 in CT

New Canaan High School, Ranked No. 342 in the U.S. and No. 6 in CT

Staples High School, Ranked No. 361 in the U.S. and No. 7 in CT

Simsbury High School, Ranked No. 404 in the U.S. and No. 8 in CT

Wilton High School, Ranked No. 424 in the U.S. and No. 9 in CT

Academy of Aerospace and Engineering, Ranked No. 435 in the U.S. and No. 10 in CT

Hall High School, Ranked No. 521 in the U.S. and No. 11 in CT

Amistad Academy, Ranked No. 527 in the U.S. and No. 12 in CT

Conard High School, Ranked No. 545 in the U.S. and No. 13 in CT

Greenwich High School, Ranked No. 548 in the U.S. and No. 14 in CT

Canton High School, Ranked No. 633 in the U.S. and No. 15 in CT

Avon High School, Ranked No. 658 in the U.S. and No. 16 in CT

Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern, Ranked No. 691 in the U.S. and No. 17 in CT

Joel Barlow High School, Ranked No. 726 in the U.S. and No. 18 in CT

Newtown High School, Ranked No. 859 in the U.S. and No. 19 in CT

Farmington High School, Ranked No. 902 in the U.S. and No. 20 in CT

Granby Memorial High School, Ranked No. 911 in the U.S. and No. 21 in CT

Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Ranked No. 958 in the U.S. and No. 22 in CT

Daniel Hand High School, Ranked No. 1,000 in the U.S. and No. 23 in CT

Rham High School, Ranked No. 1,006 in the U.S. and No. 24 in CT

East Lyme High School, Ranked No. 1,027 in the U.S. and No. 25 in CT

Amity High School, Ranked No. 1,043 in the U.S. and No. 26 in CT

Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Ranked No. 1,052 in the U.S. and No. 27 in CT

Glastonbury High School, Ranked No. 1,058 in the U.S. and No. 28 in CT

Fairfield Warde High School, Ranked No. 1,174 in the U.S. and No. 29 in CT

Cheshire High School, Ranked No. 1,284 in the U.S. and No. 30 in CT

East Granby High School, Ranked No. 1,376 in the U.S. and No. 31 in CT

Pomperaug High School, Ranked No. 1,378 in the U.S. and No. 32 in CT

Masuk High School, Ranked No. 1,436 in the U.S. and No. 33 in CT

Shepaug Valley School, Ranked No. 1,450 in the U.S. and No. 34 in CT

Guilford High School, Ranked No. 1,473 in the U.S. and No. 35 in CT

Joseph A. Foran High School, Ranked No. 1,507 in the U.S. and No. 36 in CT

South Windsor High School, Ranked No. 1,563 in the U.S. and No. 37 in CT

Brookfield High School, Ranked No. 1,587 in the U.S. and No. 38 in CT

Coventry High School, Ranked No. 1,749 in the U.S. and No. 39 in CT

Suffield High School, Ranked No. 1,955 in the U.S. and No. 40 in CT

Trumbull High School, Ranked No. 2,029 in the U.S. and No. 41 in CT

The Academy of Information Technology, Ranked No. 2,059 in the U.S. and No. 42 in CT

Valley Regional High School, Ranked No. 2,133 in the U.S. and No. 43 in CT

University High School of Science and Engineering, Ranked No. 2,208 in the U.S. and No. 44 in CT

Bethel High School, Ranked No. 2,219 in the U.S. and No. 45 in CT

Metropolitan Learning Center, Ranked No. 2,286 in the U.S. and No. 46 in CT

Stonington High School, Ranked No. 2,345 in the U.S. and No. 47 in CT

Old Saybrook Senior High School, Ranked No. 2,361 in the U.S. and No. 48 in CT

Lewis S. Mills High School, Ranked No. 2,368 in the U.S. and No. 49 in CT

Southington High School, Ranked No. 2,455 in the U.S. and No. 50 in CT

Wheeler High School, Ranked No. 2,565 in the U.S. and No. 51 in CT

Jonathan Law High School, Ranked No. 2,657 in the U.S. and No. 52 in CT

Bacon Academy, Ranked No. 2,708 in the U.S. and No. 53 in CT

Nonnewaug High School, Ranked No. 2,724 in the U.S. and No. 54 in CT

Haddam-Killingworth High School, Ranked No. 2,784 in the U.S. and No. 55 in CT

Litchfield High School, Ranked No. 2,791 in the U.S. and No. 56 in CT

Coginchaug High School, Ranked No. 2,804 in the U.S. and No. 57 in CT

Cromwell High School, Ranked No. 2,812 in the U.S. and No. 58 in CT

New Fairfield High School, 2,828 in the U.S. and No. 59 in CT

Oxford High School, Ranked No. 2,858 in the U.S. and No. 60 in CT

New Milford High School, Ranked No. 2,906 in the U.S. and No. 61 in CT

Parish Hill High School, Ranked No. 2,924 in the U.S. and No. 62 in CT

Shelton High School, Ranked No. 3,147 in the U.S. and No. 63 in CT

Northwestern Regional High School, Ranked No. 3,261 in the U.S. and No. 64 in CT

Montville High School, Ranked No. 3,271 in the U.S. and No. 65 in CT

Seymour High School, Ranked No. 3,286 in the U.S. and No. 66 in CT

E. O. Smith High School, Ranked No. 3,294 in the U.S. and No. 67 in CT

Bristol Eastern High School, Ranked No. 3,341 in the U.S. and No. 68 in CT

Sports and Medical Sciences Academy, Ranked No. 3,377 in the U.S. and No. 69 in CT

Westhill High School, Ranked No. 3,426 in the U.S. and No. 70 in CT

Ellington High School, Ranked No. 3,511 in the U.S. and No. 71 in CT

Rocky Hill High School, Ranked No. 3,578 in the U.S. and No. 72 in CT

Tolland High School, Ranked No. 3,610 in the U.S. and No. 73 in CT

East Hampton High School, Ranked No. 3,692 in the U.S. and No. 74 in CT

Fitch Senior High School, Ranked No. 3,724 in the U.S. and No. 75 in CT

Engineering — Science University Magnet School, Ranked No. 4,021 in the U.S. and No. 76 in CT

Bolton High School, Ranked No. 4,025 in the U.S. and No. 77 in CT

Windsor High School, Ranked No. 4,026 in the U.S. and No. 78 in CT

Portland High School, Ranked No. 4,086 in the U.S. and No. 79 in CT

Berlin High School, Ranked No. 4,110 in the U.S. and No. 80 in CT

Brien McMahon High School, Ranked No. 4,141 in the U.S. and No. 81 in CT

East Windsor High School, Ranked No. 4,296 in the U.S. and No. 82 in CT

Somers High School, Ranked No. 4,325 in the U.S. and No. 83 in CT

Bristol Central High School, Ranked No. 4,367 in the U.S. and No. 84 in CT

North Haven High School, Ranked No. 4,383 in the U.S. and No. 85 in CT

Wamogo Regional High School, Ranked No. 4,510 in the U.S. and No. 86 in CT

Woodland Regional High School, Ranked No. 4,541 in the U.S. and No. 87 in CT

CREC Medical Prof. and Teacher Prep. Academy, Ranked No. 4,606 in the U.S. and No. 88 in CT

Branford High School, Ranked No. 4,736 in the U.S. and No. 89 in CT

Plainville High School, Ranked No. 4,757 in the U.S. and No. 90 in CT

Stamford High School, Ranked No. 4,827 in the U.S. and No. 91 in CT

Middletown High School, Ranked No. 4,873 in the U.S. and No. 92 in CT

Newington High School, Ranked No. 5,003 in the U.S. and No. 93 in CT

North Branford High School, Ranked No. 5,076 in the U.S. and No. 94 in CT

Lyman Memorial High School, Ranked No. 5,087 in the U.S. and No. 95 in CT

Ledyard High School, Ranked No. 5,090 in the U.S. and No. 96 in CT

Center for Global Studies, Ranked No. 5,103 in the U.S. and No. 97 in CT

Norwalk High School, Ranked No. 5,117 in the U.S. and No. 98 in CT

Waterbury Career Academy, Ranked No. 5,152 in the U.S. and No. 99 in CT

The Gilbert School, Ranked No. 5,203 in the U.S. and No. 100 in CT

Waterford High School, Ranked No. 5,204 in the U.S. and No. 101 in CT

Stafford High School, Ranked No. 5,234 in the U.S. and No. 102 in CT

Wethersfield High School, Ranked No. 5,488 in the U.S. and No. 103 in CT

Wolcott High School, Ranked No. 5,706 in the U.S. and No. 104 in CT

Danbury High School, Ranked No. 5,736 in the U.S. and No. 105 in CT

Enfield High School, Ranked No. 5,907 in the U.S. and No. 106 in CT

Griswold High School, Ranked No. 5,962 in the U.S. and No. 107 in CT

Hamden High School, Ranked No. 6,026 in the U.S. and No. 108 in CT

The Morgan School, Ranked No. 6,115 in the U.S. and No. 109 in CT

Watertown High School, Ranked No. 6,117 in the U.S. and No. 110 in CT

Windsor Locks High School, Ranked No. 6,199 in the U.S. and No. 111 in CT

Lyman Hall High School, Ranked No. 6,268 in the U.S. and No. 112 in CT

Thomaston High School, Ranked No. 6,295 in the U.S. and No. 113 in CT

New London High School, Ranked No. 6,306 in the U.S. and No. 114 in CT

Cooperative High School, Ranked No. 6,329 in the U.S. and No. 115 in CT

Stratford High School, Ranked No. 6,660 in the U.S. and No. 116 in CT

Mark T. Sheehan High School, Ranked No. 6,736 in the U.S. and No. 117 in CT

Norwich Free Academy, Ranked No. 6,836 in the U.S. and No. 118 in CT

Bunnell High School, Ranked No. 6,848 in the U.S. and No. 119 in CT

Waterbury Arts Magnet School, Ranked No. 6,938 in the U.S. and No. 120 in CT

Common Ground High School, Ranked No. 7,103 in the U.S. and No. 121 in CT

East Hartford High School, Ranked No. 7,424 in the U.S. and No. 122 in CT

Science and Technology Magnet School of Southeastern CT, Ranked No. 7,480 in the U.S. and No. 123 in CT

Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Ranked No. 7,689 in the U.S. and No. 124 in CT

Westbrook High School, Ranked No. 8,228 in the U.S. and No. 125 in CT

Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, Ranked No. 8,248 in the U.S. and No. 126 in CT

Elm City College Preparatory School, Ranked No. 8,258 in the U.S. and No. 127 in CT

Ansonia High School, Ranked No. 8,344 in the U.S. and No. 128 in CT

Sound School, Ranked No. 8,504 in the U.S. and No. 129 in CT

Manchester High School, Ranked No. 8,648 in the U.S. and No. 130 in CT

Putnam High School, Ranked No. 8,838 in the U.S. and No. 131 in CT

Derby High School, Ranked No. 9,027 in the U.S. and No. 132 in CT

Terryville High School, Ranked No. 9,045 in the U.S. and No. 133 in CT

Orville H. Platt High School, Ranked No. 9,100 in the U.S. and No. 134 in CT

Pathways Academy of Technology and Design, Ranked No. 9,118 in the U.S. and No. 135 in CT

Hill Regional Career High School, Ranked No. 9,320 in the U.S. and No. 136 in CT

West Haven High School, Ranked No. 9,414 in the U.S. and No. 137 in CT

Francis T. Maloney High School, Ranked No. 9,671 in the U.S. and No. 138 in CT

Nathan Hale-Ray High School, Ranked No. 9,740 in the U.S. and No. 139 in CT

Classic Magnet School, Ranked No. 9,778 in the U.S. and No. 140 in CT

Achievement First Bridgeport Academy, Ranked No. 9,810 in the U.S. and No. 141 in CT

Windham High School, Ranked No. 9,873 in the U.S. and No. 142 in CT

Rockville High School, Ranked No. 9,880 in the U.S. and No. 143 in CT

Plainfield High School, Ranked No. 10,011 in the U.S. and No. 144 in CT

Aerospace/Hydrospace Engineering And Physical Sciences High School, Ranked No. 10,180 in the U.S. and No. 145 in CT

Naugatuck High School, Ranked No. 10,414 in the U.S. and No. 146 in CT

Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Ranked No. 10,543 in the U.S. and No. 147 in CT

Bloomfield High School, Ranked No. 10,590 in the U.S. and No. 148 in CT

East Haven High School, Ranked No. 10,738 in the U.S. and No. 149 in CT

New Britain High School, Ranked No. 10,770 in the U.S. and No. 150 in CT

Wilbur Cross High School, Ranked No. 11,015 in the U.S. and No. 151 in CT

W.F. Kaynor Technical High School, Ranked No. 11,211 in the U.S. and No. 152 in CT

Capital Community College Magnet Academy, Ranked No. 11,273 in the U.S. and No. 153 in CT

Three Rivers Middle College Magnet School, Ranked No. 11,622 in the U.S. and No. 154 in CT

Killingly High School, Ranked No. 11,640 in the U.S. and No. 155 in CT

New Haven Academy, Ranked No. 11,872 in the U.S. and No. 156 in CT

Biotechnology Research & Zoological Sciences at the Fairfield Wheeler, Ranked No. 12,100 in the U.S. and No. 157 in CT

Torrington High School, Ranked No. 12,112 in the U.S. and No. 158 in CT

Metropolitan Business High School, Ranked No. 12,357 in the U.S. and No. 159 in CT

Woodstock Academy, Ranked No. 12,402 in the U.S. and No. 160 in CT

H.C. Wilcox Technical High School, Ranked No. 12,629 in the U.S. and No. 161 in CT

High School in The Community, Ranked No. 12,798 in the U.S. and No. 162 in CT

E. C. Goodwin Technical High School, Ranked No. 12,894 in the U.S. and No. 163 in CT