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Four Hartford High Schools On U.S. News' List Of The Best

STEVEN GOODE

December 11, 2009

HARTFORD — - Four city high schools have been named to U.S. News & World Report's list of best American high schools.

Capital Preparatory Magnet, Pathways to Technology, the Sport and Medical Sciences Academy and the University High School of Science and Engineering are among 16 high schools in Connecticut to make the list, which was released Wednesday.

For the Sport and Medical Sciences Academy, it's the third consecutive year the school has made the magazine's list.

"It's validating what we're doing and it makes the hard work, commitment and frustration we experience worth it," Principal John Laverty said Thursday. "It means a lot."

Laverty said the academy's success relies on a combination of elements, including a themed, rigorous and challenging curriculum; skilled and dedicated staff; engaged students; and concerned, demanding parents.

Capital Prep made the list for the second consecutive year.

It was the first year for Pathways to Technology and University High School of Science and Engineering.

All four schools were listed in the bronze medal category, meaning that they met two of the magazine's criteria for inclusion. Each school's students performed better on standardized tests than expected for the average student in the state and each school's most disadvantaged students performed better than the average for similar students in the state.

According to district officials, 80 percent of students in the schools are members of minority groups and more than 60 percent are categorized as disadvantaged. Each of the schools reports high graduation rates and high rates of graduates being accepted to colleges.

Superintendent Steven J. Adamowski congratulated the students, teachers and staff of the schools.

"This is an incredible achievement for the district," Adamowski said in a statement. "The recognitions from U.S. News appear to be falling in line with the progress of our reform strategy."

The other high schools in the state are in the silver category, and they are: Canton, Darien, Guilford, Joel Barlow in Redding, Lyme- Old Lyme, New Canaan, Northwestern Regional in Winsted, Ridgefield, Simsbury, Staples in Westport, Weston and Wilton. No state high schools received gold medal recognition.