Seward High School ranks as the seventh-best high school in Nebraska, according to the most recent U.S. News and World Report rankings. Centennial High in Utica follows in the 13th spot, and Seward Middle School earned a sixth-place nod.
“We’ve been ranked in the top 10 the last couple years, but this is one of our higher rankings,” Seward Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Josh Fields said. “We’re very excited to be ranked among the top in the state.”
Each year, U.S. News collects data on 24,000 public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
SHS outranked all but six of the 264 public high schools in the state. Nebraska’s 38 private high schools were not included in the rankings.
Nationally, SHS ranked No. 4,442 among the 24,000 schools, and Centennial ranked at No. 5,420.
“It looks at a lot of different variables and different factors,” Fields said. “We do feel it’s a great way of how they go through that.”
The report looks at a school’s graduation rate, the number of advanced placement or college credit courses offered and proficiency in core areas of reading, math and science.
According to the report, Seward High serves 527 students with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.
Centennial serves 151 students at the junior and senior high school levels with a 10:1 student-teacher ratio. It tied for first place in the graduation rate category at 100%.
Seward Middle School ranked sixth among 175 middle schools in the state, serving 418 students with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio.
For complete rankings, go to www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/nebraska/districts.
