Princeton High School Ranked Among Top 10 High Schools in New Jersey

 has been ranked as the number 10 best high school in New Jersey and 196th nationwide, according to the latest ranking of Best High Schools by U.S. News.

PHS was named a gold medal winner - one of 500 given nationally - by the publication for its achievement.

U.S. News evaluated data on nearly 22,000 public high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia, but excluded Nebraska due to lack of data.

Schools were evaluated on several criteria, including college readiness, math proficiency, English proficiency and student to teacher ratio.

Princeton Regional Schools Superintendent Judy Wilson said the district regularly ranks among the top schools in U.S News’ report.

“Of special note is the fact that only three of the top ten schools in N.J. are comprehensive, open enrollment high schools, meaning there is no screening or selection process,” Wilson said on Tuesday.

To determine the best high schools in the U.S., schools were first evaluated by state to determine student performance on state assessments, including the test scores of disadvantaged students (low-income, Hispanic, and black), who tend to score lower on tests, according to U.S. News.

Eligible high schools were then ranked in terms of college readiness.

“Two factors about the ranking formula that I especially appreciate are that attention is paid to how well all pupils do on standardized tests and from that point the emphasis is then shifted to college readiness,” Wilson said. “Princeton Regional Schools serve students from a wide range of cultures and socio-economic groups and serve them all well with the same goal in focus: become confident students who live to learn and learn to live.”

According to the report, PHS' student body is 51 percent male, 49 percent female and has a total minority enrollment of 31 percent. Sixty-three percent of students participate in Advanced Placement courses and exams. The student teacher ratio is 13:1

PHS student math and English proficiency scores well exceed the state standard.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of our students, teachers, administrators and support staff members whose daily work is the basis for this honor," Wilson said.

The top 10 high schools in New Jersey are:

1. High Technology High School, Lincroft
2. Biotechnology High School, Freehold
3. Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, Jersey City
4. Academy for Allied Health Sciences, Scotch Plains
5. Bergen County Academies, Hackensack
6. Elizabeth High School, Elizabeth
7. Chatham High School, Chatham
8. Ridge High School, Basking Ridge
9. Academy of Allied Health and Science, Neptune
10. Princeton High School, Princeton