By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green High School is being recognized by U.S. News and World Report as among the 2020 best high schools in the state and nation.
“At a time when everything seems so bleak, it’s great to get good news,” Bowling Green Superintendent Francis Scruci said on Sunday.
The rankings put BGHS as 146 out of Ohio’s 691 high schools, and 4,115 out of the nation’s 17,792 high schools.
“It validates things that we’ve been doing,” Scruci said, crediting the high school teachers, administrators and curriculum director. “It’s paying off and showing results. It’s certainly a great honor.”
Among the 691 high schools in Ohio, ranking at the very top is Ottawa Hills.
The statewide rankings given to high schools in Wood County are as follows:
- Perrysburg – 48
- Bowling Green – 146
- Otsego – 239
- Rossford – 260
- Eastwood – 309
- Elmwood – 365
- Northwood – 415
- Lake – 437
- North Baltimore – 487
These are the six indicators of school quality used to calculate the rankings:
- College readiness, based on the proportions of 12th grade students who took and passed AP and/or IB exams.
- College curriculum breadth, based on proportions of 12th grade students who took and passed AP and/or IB exams in multiple content areas.
- Math and reading proficiency, based on student performance on state-required tests.
- Math and reading performance, based on whether performance on state assessments exceeded expectations given the school’s proportion of underserved students.
- Underserved student performance, based on how black, Hispanic and low-income students performed on state assessments compared with those who are not underserved in the state.
- Graduation rates, based on the proportion of students who entered ninth grade in 2013-2014 and graduated four years later.
The AP participation rate at Bowling Green High School is 29%. The total minority enrollment is 20%, and 33% of students are economically disadvantaged.
Bowling Green High School is ranked 4,115 in the national rankings. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college.
How Bowling Green High School performed nationally and statewide out of 17,792 nationally ranked schools and 691 schools ranked in Ohio:
- College Readiness Index Rank: 5,368 nationally and 163 in Ohio.
- College Curriculum Breadth Index Rank: 5,015 nationally and 146 in Ohio.
- Math and Reading Proficiency Rank: 3,732 nationally and 145 in Ohio.
- Math and Reading Performance Rank: 5,111 nationally and 199 in Ohio.
- Graduation Rate Rank: 9,883 nationally and 508 in Ohio.
BGHS has a total enrollment of 877 students, with 49 full-time teachers, and a graduation rate of 91%.
By earning a national ranking in the top 40%, BGHS will be able to display a U.S. News-trademarked 2020 Best High Schools award badge.
Such recognition could make the district attractive to families checking out area schools, Scruci said.
“It’s great to be named one of the top high schools in the state and nation,” he said.
