Two capital area high schools made it onto the top 10 this year in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of New Hampshire schools.
Hollis Brookline High School took the top spot, while Hopkinton High School and Bow High School were second and fifth on the list, respectively.
Hopkinton ranked first overall on the same list last year.
Schools are ranked by how well students perform on math and reading tests compared to the rest of the state, how low-income and minority students fare on these tests, graduation rates, and advanced placement participation and passing rates, according to U.S. News.
Hopkinton had a 93 percent graduation rate. Fifty-one percent of its students took an AP test, and of those, 91 percent passed. The school was No. 841 in the national rankings. Bow had a 94 percent graduation rate. Forty-four percent of its students took an AP test, and of those, 77 percent passed. It ranked 1,463 on the national list.
Most of the schools in the top 10 are in relatively affluent communities. Seven out of the top 10 schools had fewer than 10 percent of students eligible for free and reduced lunch. The statewide average for free and reduced lunch eligibility is 27 percent.
But there were some exceptions. Inter-Lakes High School, with 32 percent on free and reduced lunch, placed fourth. Moultonborough Academy, with 22 percent on free and reduced lunch, was sixth in the ranking, and White Mountains Regional High School, with 48 percent on free and reduced lunch, was eighth.
Twenty New Hampshire high schools made it on to the U.S. News’ national rankings in all. Twelve won silver medals from the organization, eight won bronze medals.
(Lola Duffort can be reached at 369-3321 or lduffort@cmonitor.com.)