Whitefish, Glacier make top 10 best high schools in the state

Whitefish and Glacier high schools are among Montana’s top 10 high schools, according to a U.S. News & World report.

Eighty-three Montana public high schools were ranked in the 2020 Best High Schools report.

Whitefish came in at No. 7 statewide and Glacier at No. 10. Flathead High School was not far behind, at No. 12.

Other area high schools fell in the state’s top 50. Polson High School came in at No. 23, followed by Columbia Falls High School at No. 24 and Libby High School at No. 25. Bigfork High School ranked at No. 29. Ronan was No. 42.

Nationally, 17,792 high schools were ranked.

In the national rankings, Whitefish came in at No. 3,177. Glacier came in at No. 3,562. Flathead was ranked at No. 3,875.

Top-ranked public schools had students who demonstrated outstanding scores and achievement in state math and reading state assessments, passed and participated in college-level exams in addition to graduating in high proportions according to usnews.com.

In its methodology, schools were evaluated on six factors that were weighted as follows: college readiness, 30%; reading and math proficiency, 20%; reading and math performance, 20%; underserved student performance, 10%; college curriculum breadth. 10% and graduation, 10%.

The report used Common Core, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exam data to calculate rankings.

In a state-by-state comparison, Montana tied with Arizona and Oregon for the 33rd spot. The state-by-state performance comparison was “solely based on which states had the largest proportion of its high schools in the top 25% of the 2020 Best High Schools rankings.”

To view a complete list of ranked schools visit https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings.

Montana’s top 10 schools

1. Bozeman High School (enrollment 2,157)

2. Hamilton High School (enrollment 486)

3. Sentinel High School (enrollment 1,243)

4. Choteau High School (enrollment 123)

5. Capital High School (enrollment 1,357)

6. Hellgate High School (enrollment 1,183)

7. Whitefish High School (enrollment 484)

8. Fairfield High School (enrollment 104)

9. Park High School (enrollment 447)

10. Glacier High School (enrollment 1,367)

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.