Verona High Moves Up 57 Spots in Newsweek's Top High Schools

In the most recent Newsweek America's Best High School rankings, Verona High School was rated number 718 and also ranked number 44 of the highest among open enrollment schools in New Jersey. 

Since 2012 the school has moved up 57 spots, having come from 775th nationally in 2012.

"This honor comes as the result of many years of planning and implementation of new curriculum and expanded offerings district-wide," said Verona Superintendent Steven Forte. "This is truly an amazing accomplishment for Verona."

The publication gave the high school an overall score of 3.13. The top school in the country, Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, was given 4.84.

Newsweek ranked the high schools based on six components: 25 percent on graduation rate, 25 percent on college acceptance rate and another 25 percent for AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student; 10 percent on average SAT/ACT and 10 percent for AP/IB/AICE average scores and 5 percent for percent of students enrolled in at least one AP/IB/AICE course.

The rankings listed the high school having a 99 percent graduation rate and percent of students heading to college with an average SAT score of 1549. The high school averaged 3.3 in AP scores with .4 AP/IB tests given per student.

Also in Essex County: Millburn High School was No. 69th; Glen Ridge High School was ranked 836; West Essex Regional School District ranked 944th; Nutley High School ranked 1207; Columbia High School (South Orange-Maplewood School district) ranked 1,286th and West Orange High School was 1,706.

Montclair, Cedar Grove and Caldwell did not participate in the rankings.

The top 10 schools in the country are as follows:

Check out the full ranking list here.