West Orange High School Named in Top Schools by Newsweek

West Orange High School has been named one of the top schools in the nation, according to Newsweek's list of America's Best High Schools. Newsweek ranks high schools based on the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests taken by students and how many actually graduate.

West Orange High School ranked in at 1,219 out of nearly 27,000 high schools listed in the United States. Just six percent of all public high schools in the U.S. made the list based on courses and teachers that offer a challenging curriculum involving college-oriented classes. West Orange High School offers extensive, in-depth, college-level Advanced Placement classes that have been known to challenge students and push them further than they've ever gone — and it seems to have paid off.

Within West Orange High School, in 2001, there were only 12 AP scholars, or students who scored a 3 or higher on their respected AP exam. In 2005, the number increased to 17 AP scholars and, in 2009, 27 AP scholars were named with a score of 3 or higher on multiple exams.

West Orange also has boasted a National Scholar, the highest AP title, every year since 2006. The AP program at West Orange High School includes an Advanced Placement Parent Evening, or a confidence seminar built to push students and their parents/guardians into being involved with AP classes. Recruitment for AP classes start early for many students, attracting them through the positive testimonies of past experienced students.

This past school year, 353 students took 728 AP exams at the high school.

"Increasing academic rigor and expectations at the high school is but one part of a larger effort to assist all of the students to reach their fullest potential," said Anthony Cavanna, the school's superintendent. "Everyone should look to West Orange to see how to make students successful."