U.S. News and World Report Ranks Farmington High School No. 5 in Connecticut

The annual ranking of public high schools was announced Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report, and Farmington High School has moved up in the rankings from 10th last year to 5th this year. It was also nationally ranked at No. 258, moving up from No. 334 last year. 

More than 21,000 public high schools throughout the country were reviewed. Criteria include student-teacher ratio, a college readiness index (determined by percentage of students taking and passing Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate exams), and students' proficiency on standardized tests.

A total of 68 percent of Farmington High students took one or more Advanced Placement (AP) exams and 53 percent received a passing grade in the 2010-2011 school year, the data used to determine the 2013 rankings.

Darien High School earned the spot as the state's top-ranking public high school. The top-ranked school nationally was School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas, TX.

The methodology used in the rankings is a multi-step process, where information from nearly 22,000 public high schools throughout the country is reviewed to determine national and statewide rankings. The top 500 schools nationwide earn gold medal status.

Nearby schools districts that were also included in this year's top Connecticut rankings include: Granby Memorial High School (#13), Avon High School (#14), Simsbury High School (#16), and the two West Hartford high schools (Conard #2 and Hall #8).