U.S. News and World Report Ranks Murray High School One of Best High Schools in Kentucky and Nation
Murray, Ky., April 30------ In the newly released 2021 U.S. News & World Report, Murray High School is ranked eighth out of Kentucky’s 382 high schools, and recognizes MHS as one of the best high schools in the nation with a 95.72/100 score. U.S. News and World Report, the global authority in education rankings, ranks Murray High School nationally at #765, after 23,000 U.S. and District of Columbia high schools assessed. Only 226 Kentucky high schools made the national-ranked cut.
Murray High School’s eighth state ranking stacked up against the following public Kentucky high schools: Dupont Manual, Kentucky's number one ranked high school, is in Louisville, in the Jefferson County School District, roughly 50 miles from Frankfort, the state capital. Following, DuPont, Beechwood High School, J. Graham Brown School, Highlands High school, South Oldham High School, Atherton High School, North Oldham High School, (Murray High School), Louisville Male High School, and Glasgow High School.
Coy Samons, MISD superintendent, stated “Murray Independent Schools are honored to have our tradition, pride and excellence recognized by U.S. News and World Report and to be named as one of Kentucky’s best high schools. This ranking reflects a PS-12 districtwide commitment to academic excellence.”
The U.S. and News World Report methodology is based on state assessments and how well students are prepared for college. U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Methodology: College Readiness (30%), Math and Reading Proficiency (20%), Math and Reading Performance (20%) Underserved Student Performance (10%) College Curriculum Breadth (10%) and Graduation Rate (10%). Kentucky assesses high school students with end-of-course exams in English II, Algebra II and biology. It added U.S. history as of 2019. High school graduation requirements in Kentucky call for a minimum of 22 credits earned, including the completion of a course on the history and appreciation of visual and performing arts.
One area of focus for the U.S. News & World Report was the Advanced Placement (AP) opportunities provided at each high school. MHS Students have the opportunity to take course work and exams in AP, a College Board program that offers college-level courses at high schools across the country. The AP® participation rate at Murray High School is fifty-six percent for seniors.
Tony Jarvis, MHS principal, said Murray High has traditionally been a top high school in the state and MHS is pleased to see that designation has continued. “We strive to be the very best public school in Kentucky every day and this honor is a testament to the efforts of our outstanding staff, teachers, students and parents who make Murray High great along with our fantastic feeder schools, central office staff and school board. It takes a focus from all those stakeholders to achieve great things within a school district and this honor speaks to everyone's commitment."
The Best High Schools rankings are available exclusively on usnews.com and include data on a variety of factors, such as enrollment, student diversity, participation in free and reduced-price lunch programs, graduation rates and the results of state assessments. U.S. News worked with RTI International, a global research firm, to implement the comprehensive ranking methodology.