These Are The 'Most Challenging' High Schools In Pennsylvania, According To The Washington Post

Many students can skate by in high school with good grades when they choose less challenging courses. But more challenging courses, such as Advanced Placement classes, are what really help teens grow and learn and even earn college credits. With that in mind, the Washington Post recently released its 2017 list of the Most Challenging High Schools in the U.S.

The Washington Post ranks schools through an index formula that’s a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year, according to the Washington Post.

A ratio of 1.000 means the school had as many tests as graduates.

Here is a look at the top 25 most challenging schools in Pennsylvania and their national ranking, according to the Washington Post. You can click here to see all of the schools listed in Pennsylvania and get more information about individual statistics.

1. Julia Reynolds Masterman, Philadelphia (265)
2. Harriton High School, Rosemont (492)
3. Radnor High School, Wayne (524)
4. Phoenixville Area High School, Phoenixville (562)
5. Conestoga High School, Berwyn (636)
6. Wyomissing Area Jr./Sr. High School, Wyomissing (778)
7. Wissahickon High School, Ambler (811)
8. Great Valley High School, Malvern (844)
9. Perkiomen Valley High School, Collegeville (859)
10. Quaker Valley High School, Leetsdale (896)
11. Unionville High School, Kennett Square (969)
12. Pine-Richland High School, Gibsonia (977)
13. Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, Erie (1,036)
14. Delaware Valley High School, Milford (1,044)
15. Lower Merion High School, Ardmore (1,095)
16. Chartiers Valley, Bridgeville (1,118)
17. Penncrest High School, Media (1,192)
18. Souderton Area High School, Souderton (1,270)
19. Pittsburgh Taylor Allderdice, Pittsburgh (1,291)
20. Springfield High School, Springfield (1,325)
21. Kennett High School, Kennett Square (1,390)
22. Fox Chapel Area High School, Pittsburgh (1,512)
23. Spring-Ford, Royersford (1,675)
24. North Penn, Lansdale (1,678)
25. Council Rock North, Newtown (1,692)

With reporting by Amie Rowland

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