Report: Two Caldwell Area High Schools Rank Among the Nation's 'Most Challenging'

Sometimes “challenging” is a good thing.

According to the Washington Post’s annual ranking of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools,” two Caldwell area high schools placed on the list: West Essex Regional High School (#1,272) and James Caldwell High School (#2,279).

The report ranked 2,300 out of a possible 22,000 high schools around the nation according to a formula based on advanced placement tests and graduating seniors.

According to the Washington Post:

“We take the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year and divide by the number of seniors who graduated in May or June. I call this formula the Challenge Index. With a few exceptions, public schools that achieved a ratio of at least 1.00, meaning they had as many tests in 2014 as they had graduates, were put on the national list.”

Click here to learn more about the methodology used in the rankings.

Other regional schools that placed on the list included:

• • Newark Academy in Livingston – Ranked #115
  • Millburn High School – Ranked #744
  • Verona High School – Ranked #913
  • Science Park High School in Newark – Ranked #940
  • Livingston High School – Ranked #1,286
  • Columbia High School in Maplewood – Ranked #1,532
  • Technology High School in Newark - Ranked #1,884
  • American History High School in Newark – Ranked #1,905
  • Montclair High School – Ranked #2,314