Schools Rank High According to Magazine

Five Northwest Arkansas schools were named among top 10 in the state in U.S. News & World Report's Best High Schools rankings released Tuesday.

Haas Hall Academy ranked first in the state and 115th in the nation in the report. Bentonville High School ranked second in the state. Heritage High School in Rogers ranked third and Rogers High School ranked seventh. Eureka Springs High School ranked eighth. Lincoln High School ranked 18th.

At A Glance

Top High Schools

Top 10 Arkansas High schools as ranked by the U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools

• Haas Hall Academy, Fayetteville

• Bentonville High School

• Heritage High School, Rogers

• KIPP: Delta Collegiate High School, Helena

• Greenbrier High School

• Valley Springs High School

• Rogers High School

• Eureka Springs High School

• Sheridan High School

• Heber Springs High School

Source: Staff Report

Last year, Haas Hall also took the number one slot. Bentonville, Rogers High and Heritage High were third, fourth and fifth last year.

The report analyzed 21,035 public high schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia based on information provided through the U.S. Department of Education; the College Board, which administers Advanced Placement testing; and International Baccalaureate.

Last year’s state test results, a risk-adjusted index based on the number of economically disadvantaged students at the school and participation of last year’s seniors in Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams played into a school’s ranking, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Haas Hall showed 100 percent participation in Advanced Placement courses, according to the report.

Martin Schoppmeyer Jr., Haas Hall founder and superintendent, said he is pleased the school was named number one in Arkansas twice in a row. That ranking is a testament to hard work at the school, he said.

Mike Poore, superintendent of the Bentonville School District, said Bentonville High’s ranking is a tribute not only to the school, but the entire district.

Bentonville High is the largest high school in the state with about 3,900 students. Big schools face challenges because of the diversity in terms of their students’ academic abilities, Poore said.

“I think we’re far from saying we’re satisfied,” Poore said.

Rogers high schools have received ranking in national publications for the past 10 years, said Ashley Kelley Siwiec, spokeswoman.

“We have a strong AP culture with nearly 50 percent of our students taking on the extra challenge of those college level classes, and it makes a difference,” said Janie Darr, superintendent of the Rogers School District.

Some students take as many as eight Advanced Placement courses during their tenure in high school, Darr said.

The award is a testament to dedicated teachers and hard-working students, she said.

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