Grand Rapids – U.S. News & World Report has released its high school rankings for 2022, and City High Middle School is rated first in Michigan and 18th in the nation, its highest-ever national ranking.
For Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Leadriane Roby, the news was cause for celebration near the end of the 2021-22 school year.
“I want to congratulate all the City High scholars, families and staff on this remarkable accomplishment,” she said in a prepared statement.
Principal Ryan Huppert was equally enthusiastic.
“We could not be prouder of our scholars, staff, district and community for this achievement,” he said. “These rankings reflect all the hard work that scholars and staff put forth to succeed here. Seeing those efforts translate into such a high level of success and recognition means the world to our school.”
U.S. News & World Report took note of City High Middle’s International Baccalaureate coursework and exams, commending the school’s 100 percent IB participation rate. City High Middle School was the first school in the area to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programme. It also noted the school’s 50 percent minority enrollment and that 48% of the school’s students are considered economically disadvantaged.
City High Middle was also named No. 1 in the state, and 21st in the country, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 rankings.
The magazine partnered with North Carolina-based RTI International on the 2022 rankings, and schools were rated on six measures:
- College readiness (30% of the ranking)
- College curriculum breadth (10%)
- State assessment proficiency (20%)
- State assessment performance (20%)
- Underserved student performance (10%)
- Graduation rate (10%)
The margins for rising and falling in the annual rankings are razor-thin, U.S. News & World Report said in its press release. If a school scored 97 in 2021 and 98 in 2022, it would rise almost 200 spots in the national rankings. Conversely, just a half point drop from 97 in 2021 to 96.5 in 2022 would mean a drop of almost 100 places in the rankings.
