2024 Best U.S. High Schools Report: St. Joseph-Ogden and Heritage Analysis

The latest rankings from the U.S. News Best High Schools have been released, providing insights into nearly 25,000 public high schools across the United States. This extensive study, in collaboration with RTI International, highlights how well schools are preparing students for college, based on a comprehensive analysis of state assessments and other important factors.

The data used was derived from the 2021-2022 school year.

St. Joseph-Ogden High School ranked #3,701 nationally and holds the 136th spot in Illinois. This represents a change from last year, when the school was ranked #107. Heritage High School ranked #4,557 nationally and holds the 162nd spot in Illinois. Oakwood High School ranked #4,557 nationally and holds the 162nd spot in Illinois.

St. Joseph-Ogden High School

Key Metrics for St. Joseph-Ogden High School:

• National Ranking: #3,701
• State Ranking (Illinois): #136
• Metro Area Ranking (Champaign, IL): #5
• Scorecard Performance (based on 2021-2022 data):
  • AP® Exam Participation: 31%
  • AP® Exam Passing Rate: 21%
  • Mathematics Proficiency: 47%
  • Reading Proficiency: 32%
  • Science Proficiency: 69%
  • Graduation Rate: 96%

Heritage High School

Key Metrics for Heritage High School:

• National Ranking: #4,557
• State Ranking (Illinois): #162
• Metro Area Ranking (Champaign, IL): #6
• Scorecard Performance (based on 2021-2022 data):
  • AP® Exam Participation: 57%
  • AP® Exam Passing Rate: 19%
  • Mathematics Proficiency: 25%
  • Reading Proficiency: 25%
  • Science Proficiency: 64%
  • Graduation Rate: 83%

The criteria used for the 2024 rankings included six key factors:

1. College Readiness (30%): Focuses on the proportion of 12th graders who took and passed at least one AP or IB exam.
2. State Assessment Proficiency (20%): Measures aggregated scores on state-mandated assessments.
3. State Assessment Performance (20%): Compares school performance to expectations based on demographic factors.
4. Underserved Student Performance (10%): Evaluates how well students who are Black, Hispanic, and from low-income households perform compared to state averages.
5. College Curriculum Breadth (10%): Assesses the range of AP and IB exams taken and passed by students.
6. Graduation Rate (10%): The percentage of students who graduate in four years.