U.S News & World Report ranks top high schools in Tennessee and in nation

Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro, Hume Fogg Magnet High School in Nashville and Merrol Hyde Magnet School in Hendersonville have been named the top three high schools in the state of Tennessee, according to a new study by U.S. News & World Report. 

Central Magnet School was also ranked as the No. 5 best high school in the country.

The report looked at schools where "attendees demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations in math and reading state assessments, passes a diverse array of college-level exams and graduated in high proportions," according to a news release from U.S. News & World Report. 

This year, U.S. News & World Report used a new methodology to include more than 17,200 schools nationwide. The three top-ranked schools in Tennessee were also ranked in the top 100 nationwide. 

Knox County, East Tennessee

Three Knox County high schools have been named among the top 30 public high schools in the state. 

The study names L&N STEM Academy as the No. 11 high school in Tennessee. Farragut High School was named No. 15 and Bearden High School was named No. 29. 

Nationally, L&N STEM Academy was ranked No. 885 out of 17,245 ranked schools. Farragut High School was ranked No. 1,429 and Bearden High School was ranked No. 2,550. 

L&N STEM Academy and Farragut High School received recognition for having a 98% graduation rate, which is "well about state median," according to the report. Bearden High School has a graduation rate of 94%, "around state median."

L&N STEM Academy and Farragut High School both ranked "well above state expectations" for TNReady test results, the statewide end of course testing for students. Bearden High School ranked "somewhat above state expectations" for TNReady testing. 

All three schools had AP Exam pass rates over 50%: L&N STEM Academy has a pass rate of 64%, Farragut High School has a pass rate of 71% and Bearden High School has a pass rate of 54%. 

Schools in neighboring cities also ranked in the top 30: Maryville High School was ranked No. 20 and Oak Ridge High School was ranked No. 22. 

Maryville High School was ranked No. 1,888 nationally and Oak Ridge High School was ranked No. 2,168. Maryville High School's graduation rate is also above state median at 95%. 

Both Maryville High School and Oak Ridge High School were ranked "well above expectations" for TNReady test results. 

Rutherford County

Statewide, Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro remains the top ranked high school in Tennessee.

Central Magnet School received recognition for having a 100% graduation rate, "well above state median," according to the report. They also tied for first place in the national rankings for math and reading proficiency and performance rankings, as well as their graduation rate ranking. 

Central Magnet School also had a 100% rate of students who took an Advanced Placement Exam, with an 82% pass rate. Central Magnet School was also rated "well above expectations" for TNReady testing results.

Williamson County, Nashville

Hume Fogg Magnet High School is ranked No. 60 nationally, and Merrol Hyde Magnet School is ranked No. 64 nationally. 

Both schools also have a 100% graduation rate and were ranked "well above expectations" for TNReady testing results. 

Williamson County had seven schools in the top 30 for the state of Tennessee:

• Brentwood High School (No. 5)
• Ravenwood High School (No. 6)
• Franklin High School (No. 7)
• Fred J. Page High School (No. 13)
• Centennial High School (No. 19)
• Independence High School (No. 26) 
• Summit High School (No. 27)

Brentwood High School and Ravenwood High School both have graduation rates above the school average, at 97% and 98%, respectively. Franklin High School also had a graduation rate of 97%. 

Brentwood High School and Ravenwood High School both had high AP exam pass rates, at 71% and 82% respectively. They were also both rated "well above expectations" for TNReady testing results. 

The Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools district had three schools in the top 30 in Tennessee. In addition to Hume Fogg Magnet High School, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School was ranked No. 4 in the state. 

Memphis, Shelby County schools

Houston High School and White Station High School in Shelby County also ranked in the top 30 for Tennessee. 

Houston High School was ranked No. 10 in the state and No. 769 nationally. Houston High School's graduation rate is around state median at 93%. 

White Station High School ranked No. 14 in the state and No. 1,277 nationally. White Station High School's graduation rate was ranked "well below state median" at 85%.

Both schools were rated "well above expectations" for TNReady testing results. 

Houston High School and White Station High School also had a high number of 12th grade students who passed at least one Advanced Placement exam, at 81%. 

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