U.S. News and World Report 4/28/20

As you may be aware, the U.S. News and World Report (USN) just released their annual publication that ranked and “analyzed more than 17,000 high schools across the country.”  Although we improved our ranking significantly over last year’s publication (up 2,036 spots nationally and up 59 spots in MA), we maintain that we are a far better school, and our students perform far better academically, than this subjective analysis suggests.  Of the 345 Massachusetts high schools analyzed by USN in 2020, Hanover High ranked 116 (top 33%) according to the Report’s unique methodology and weighted criteria.  Last year, we ranked 185 (top 53%) in MA using the same criteria.  This year, we ranked 3,045 (top 17%) nationally, and last year, we ranked 5,081 (top 29%). 

Presently, as we manage this pandemic, and implement home learning, this magazine is not our top priority; however, our reputation, and your confidence in our school, is critical to me, to our staff, and to our students.  The six metrics used by US News, along with the data detailing their analysis, are found at the end of this letter.  We strongly believe that the Report’s unique methodology, which relies heavily on the performance of a very small percentage of our students (on grade 10 MCAS only), is not reflective of the overall academic excellence of our students and teachers, and requires a brief clarifying narrative.  It is also important to note that this year’s analysis is using data from the 2017-2018 school year, and our teachers have since implemented many strategies to support our students to improve upon performance on high stakes exams.   

College Curriculum Breadth/College Readiness: Advanced Placement 

• Curriculum Breadth: USA rank:  842/17,792 (top 5%),  MA rank: 49/345 (top 15%)
• College Readiness:  USA rank: 1,241/17,792 (top 7%)   MA rank: 69/345 (top 20%)   

Both of these criteria, accounting for 40% of the ranking, are related to Advanced Placement (AP) exam performance. At Hanover High School, we exclude no student from pushing his or her own comfortable limits in terms of academic advancement and enrichment.  AP enrollment is open to any student who wishes to experience a college curriculum and who seeks an opportunity to earn college credit.   All AP students are required to take the AP exams at Hanover High.  We may eventually make some changes to our practice and procedures around AP course selection and testing requirements, but we won’t change our core belief that every student should be given the opportunity to challenge themselves in a school that is supportive and committed to their success.

Both “College Readiness” and “College Curriculum Breadth” focus less on the number of students enrolled in AP classes, and three times more on the number of students receiving a “passing grade” on the exams.  We, of course, want all students to perform at their highest level; however, enrolling only select students in AP classes to bolster these statistics at the expense of educational opportunities for other students undermines our inclusive approach to education. No subjective “rank” in a magazine is that important and without question, our students are “college ready” and “citizen ready” because of their time in the Hanover Schools – at all levels. 

Math/Reading Proficiency, Math/Reading Performance, Underserved Student Performance

• Proficiency: USA rank:  5,549/17,792 (top 32%),  MA rank: 108/345 (top 31%)
• Performance/Underserved Population: USA rank: 14,466/17,792 (bottom 19%) MA rank: 281/345 (bottom 21%)

The Report’s methodology utilizes three data points, accounting for 50% of the ranking, that draw from MCAS assessments taken in the spring of 2018 (students currently in the class of 2020).  The “Proficiency” criteria incorporates the MCAS results from all students in the class of 2020 (20% weighted), and our students ranked in the top 31% in Massachusetts as an entire class.  The other two MCAS data points focus on a select and very small cohort of students as defined by the publication as “underserved” (30% weighted).  Simply put, this narrow focus on a specific cohort – on one MCAS exam – is unfair to our students and significantly (negatively) impacted our rank in this publication.  We have incorporated strategies to better support all students, and we expect even greater improvement in the future.  

The final data point in the report is “graduation rate” – a perfect 100% (10% weighted).  Tied for # 1 in the nation and in MA.  Our graduation rate is excellent.  Even more impressive, is what our students choose to do after graduation.  Over ninety-one percent of our students attend a four-year college, while others will attend community college, enter a vocational field of study, or join the Armed Services.  

Although we improved significantly over last year, this analysis is not an accurate representation of the overall performance of our high school because of the methodology used.  That stated, we will continue to learn from the data provided to focus support and strategies that will raise up the level of achievement for all of our students.  Our minds remain open, and we will welcome ideas to address each and every area where we can do better.  

That’s it for now.  Be warm.  Be safe. 

Matthew Paquette
Principal