WCS High Schools Make Newsweek List

Published June 11, 2009

Five Williamson County high schools are among the best in the nation according to Newsweek magazine.  The magazine's annual report evaluates and ranks the nation's top 1,500 high schools.  According to Newsweek, Brentwood High School was ranked 211 in the nation, followed by Ravenwood High at 395, Fairview High at 750, Franklin High at 813 and Centennial High at 1,469. 

Newsweek began publishing its list of top U.S. high schools in 1998 using a special formula called the Challenge Index.  Here's how it works: researchers take the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests given at a school and divide by the number of seniors who graduate.  The list represents less than six percent of the approximately 27,000 U.S. public high schools.

"The expectations of our parents and community are a huge factor in our schools achieving this recognition," says Williamson County High School Director Dan Hampton.  "I attribute much of this to the educational culture of this community."

Fairview High School Principal Tony Donen says the students deserve much of the credit.  "We are proud of our students for challenging themselves academically at a high level in preparation for college," says Donen.  "Being recognized nationally is a testament to the students, teachers, and community for their support of maximizing rigorous academic opportunities for our school.