Darien High School Among CT's Best: Niche

DARIEN, CT — Darien High School received high praise recently as it ranked high on Niche's annual best Connecticut public high schools list.

Darien High School was ranked third. Staples High School grabbed the top spot, followed by New Canaan High School at number two.

Additionally, DHS was ranked 40th in the United States for best high schools for athletes.

Darien was given an overall grade of A+. The school scored an A+ grade in the area of academics, sports, clubs & activities and college prep. Teachers were given an A, and administration a B. DHS scored a C+ in diversity.

"We are pleased that the Darien Public Schools is consistently recognized as a top school district for providing an exceptional educational experience to all of our students," said Superintendent of Darien Public Schools Dr. Alan Addley.

Niche said its rankings differ from others that rely almost exclusively on test scores and academic performance in that it also includes input from students, alumni and parents, as well as quantitative data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities.

Niche said its rankings were created to provide families with valuable information — both quantitative and qualitative — on schools in their area or in a neighborhood they’re not familiar with yet.

As in previous years, the Best Schools rankings include categories for boarding, charter and magnet schools as well as schools for STEM and the arts among many others.