Newsweek again lists Columbus High among 'America's Top High Schools'

Columbus High again is listed on Newsweek's annual ranking of "America's Top High Schools."

Although it dropped significantly from last year when compared nationally, Columbus High actually increased its performance when compared statewide.

Columbus High is No. 311 out of the nation's 500 honored schools in this year's ranking. It fell after rising from No. 171 in 2012 to No. 105 in 2013 and to No. 83 in 2014.

But other Georgia schools also saw their ranking tumble. Last year, the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology was No. 32 and Early College High School at Carver-Atlanta was No. 72 -- and neither is ranked at all now. That means Columbus High rose from third in the state last year to second this year, behind only No. 272 Savannah Arts Academy -- which wasn't ranked in the 2014 top 500 at all.

Maria Bromberg, who manages the high school rankings, explained Friday in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer that only schools that participate in Newsweek's annual survey are included in that year's rankings.

"The variance in the sets of participating schools is a key part of the reason why a school's rank can change from year to year," she said.

For example, Bromberg noted, Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology and Early College High School of Carver-Atlanta didn't submit their data this year.

As for why Columbus High fell 228 spots, Bromberg said, its college enrollment rate "dropped a couple of percentage points from last year. While this is a small change, and the college enrollment rate reported this year is still very high, it makes a difference because college enrollment is our most heavily weighted criterion and because the competition between schools at the top of the list is so close. In the same vein, Avg. AP score was also slightly lower this year."

Other Georgia schools on this year's list are No. 368 DeKalb School of the Arts, No. 421 Lambert High School, No. 431 Milton High School, No. 486 Alpharetta High School and No. 499 Chattahoochee High School.

The Alabama schools on the list are No. 59 Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School in Montgomery and No. 390 Virgil Grissom High School in Huntsville.

Newsweek collaborated with Westat, a research corporation based in Chamblee, Ga., to develop the rankings, based on two steps:

Proficiency -- measured by standardized state-level tests in math, reading and English language arts.

College readiness -- measured by college enrollment rate, graduation rate, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate and dual enrollment, SAT and ACT scores, student retention rate and counselor-to-student ratio.

Newsweek lists the following statistics for Columbus High: 100 percent graduate rate, 97.8 percent college enrollment rate, 20.1 percent poverty rate, 80.3 percent student retention rate, 1:326 counselor-to-student ratio, 1722 average SAT score, 24 average ACT score, 58.0 percent AP/IB/dual enrollment, 3.24 average AP score, and no score for IB and dual enrollment because Columbus High doesn't participate in those programs.

Newsweek and Westat also measured equity at the schools, but the results didn't affect the rankings. They measured how well economically disadvantaged students performed at or above the state average for all students on the standardized state-level tests in math, reading and English language arts.

Columbus High earned an equity gold star. It is ranked No. 286 in Newsweek's "Beating the Odds" listing of America's top 500 high schools "overcoming the obstacles posed by students at an economic disadvantage," although it dropped from No. 112 last year. The DeKalb School of the Arts is the highest-ranked Georgia school on this year's "Beating the Odds" list at No. 234. Columbus High is second, followed by No. 390 Buford High School and No. 496 Crisp County High School. The only Alabama school on the "Beating the Odds: list is New Century Tech Demo High School in Huntsville.

Muscogee County School District superintendent David Lewis said in an email Friday to the Ledger-Enquirer, "My schedule today has not afforded me the opportunity to review the methodology for the list in detail. Regardless, it is always gratifying to have our schools honored, particularly on the state and national levels. Columbus High School's movement from third to second in state rank, being considered one of the top high schools in the country, and doing so while meeting the 'Equity' measure 'for low-income students scoring at or above average on state assessments' is no small feat.

"C.H.S. is rich in tradition and I am very proud of its students and staff for their hard work and commitment to academic excellence. Likewise, it is important to acknowledge that high achievement such as that at Columbus High School begins in our district's elementary and middle schools and is the result of many positive factors afforded by its district-wide Liberal Arts magnet program -- student initiative, ability, and motivation; committed teachers and staff; parental influence; and a positive school environment."

Columbus High principal Marvin Crumbs wasn't reached for comment.

Mark Rice, 706-576-6272. Follow him on Twitter@MarkRiceLE.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Newsweek again lists Columbus High among 'America's Top High Schools' ."