By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Business First Thursday released its list of individual rankings for Western New York's public schools. And for the sixth year since the list began, Buffalo City Honors High School topped all local public high schools in the annual school rankings.
City Honors Middle School was also rated number one. Rounding out the list, Harris Hill in Clarence was the top rated elementary school.
The ranking was especially good news for Buffalo -- which Wednesday was ranked the worst overall school district. Not so, however, at City Honors High School which consistently leads the region. And now City Honors Middle School joins them. This is the first year Business First has ranked the middle and elementary schools. Buffalo schools Superintendent Marion Canedo says the progress is contagious.
"Even as many as three years ago, only about 25 percent, or less, of our students even took Regents (exams)," she said. "And now 100 percent are taking Regents in English. And almost 90 percent have passed."
Among other criteria, the Business First formula factors in three years of grades. At City Honors, 60 percent of high school students and 46 percent of middle schoolers pass Regents exams at distinction grade levels of 85 or better. Ninety-six percent of high school students also graduate with Regents diplomas.
The average for the region is only 60 percent. Business First Special Projects Editor Scott Thomas says it's not surprising that both City Honors Middle and High Schools rank number one.
"It's certainly a lot easier to do well in tests if you are in an environment where a majority of students are passing tests," said Thomas. "And when role models and peers really consider passing tests to be an important thing."
And that model of success breeds success is also working in Clarence. The district Wednesday was rated the top district overall. And Thursday, the district captured the number two slot among high schools, as well as the top ranked elementary school.
Williamsville also ranks consistently high, coming in the top five on all three lists. Williamsville's middle schools took all four top spots behind top ranked City Honors.
BUSINESS FIRST'S PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS
Top 25 schools: 1. City Honors (Buffalo) 2. Clarence Senior High (Clarence) 3. Williamsville East High (Williamsville) 4. Orchard Park High (Orchard Park) 5. Sherman Central (Sherman) 6. Iroquois Senior High (Iroquois) 7. Amherst Central High (Amherst) 8. East Aurora High (East Aurora) 9. Hutchinson Central Technical High (Buffalo) 10. Chautauqua Lake High (Chautauqua Lake) 11. LeRoy Junior-Senior High (LeRoy) 12. Akron Junior-Senior High (Akron) 13. Eden Junior-Senior High (Eden) 14. Williamsville North High (Williamsville) 15. Hamburg High (Hamburg) 16. Maple Grove Junior-Senior High (Bemus Point) 17. Williamsville South High (Williamsville) 18. Wilson High (Wilson) 19. Frontier Senior High (Frontier) 20. Griffith Institute High (Springville-Griffith Institute) 21. Kendall Junior-Senior High (Kendall) 22. Allegany-Limestone High (Allegany-Limestone) 23. Alden Senior High (Alden) 24. Letchworth Senior High (Letchworth) 25. Perry High (Perry)
BUSINESS FIRST'S PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL RANKINGS
Top 25 schools: 1. City Honors (Buffalo) 2. Transit Middle (Williamsville) 3. Heim Middle (Williamsville) 4. Mill Middle (Williamsville) 5. Casey Middle (Williamsville) 6. Clarence Middle (Clarence) 6. East Aurora Middle (East Aurora) 8. Amherst Middle (Amherst) 8. Frederick Law Olmsted (Buffalo) 8. Orchard Park Middle (Orchard Park) 11. Alden Middle (Alden) 11. West Valley Central (West Valley) 13. Maple Grove Junior-Senior High (Bemus Point) 14. Iroquois Middle (Iroquois) 15. Kenmore Middle (Kenmore-Tonawanda) 15. Sweet Home Middle (Sweet Home) 17. Hamburg Middle (Hamburg) 17. LeRoy Junior-Senior High (LeRoy) 19. Whitesville Central (Whitesville) 20. Akron Junior-Senior High (Akron) 20. Eden Junior-Senior High (Eden) 20. Fredonia Middle (Fredonia) 23. Holland Middle (Holland) 24. Portville Junior-Senior High (Portville) 25. Elba Junior-Senior High (Elba) 25. Frewsburg Junior-Senior High (Frewsburg) 25. Griffith Institute Middle (Springville-Griffith Institute) 25. Veronica E. Connor Middle (Grand Island)
BUSINESS FIRST'S PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RANKINGS
Top 25 schools: 1. Harris Hill Elementary (Clarence) 2. South Davis Elementary (Orchard Park) 3. Big Tree Elementary (Frontier) 4. Charlotte Avenue Elementary (Hamburg) 4. Maple East Elementary (Williamsville) 6. Como Park Elementary (Lancaster) 7. Forest Elementary (Williamsville) 8. Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary (Kenmore-Tonawanda) 8. Eggert Road Elementary (Orchard Park) 8. Ellicott Road Elementary (Orchard Park) 11. Armor Elementary (Hamburg) 11. Hillview Elementary (Lancaster) 11. Smallwood Drive (Amherst) 14. John A. Sciole Elementary (Lancaster) 15. Ledgeview Elementary (Clarence) 16. Willow Ridge Elementary (Sweet Home) 17. Bemus Elementary (Bemus Point) 17. South Elementary (Lewiston-Porter) 19. Maple West Elementary (Williamsville) 19. Sheridan Hill Elementary (Clarence) 21. Blasdell Elementary (Frontier) 21. Country Parkway Elementary (Williamsville) 21. Dodge Elementary (Williamsville) 24. Brant Elementary (Evans-Brant) 24. Maplemere Elementary (Sweet Home) 24. West Street Elementary (Niagara-Wheatfield)