5-06-2013 12:30pm

Saline High School Ranked Among America's Best

Saline High School was named one of America’s top high schools in the 2013 Newsweek rankings published this week on The Daily Beast website.

Saline ranked 298th, up from 657th in 2012. Saline was ranked 222nd in 2011.

Superintendent Scot Graden said he tries not to read too much into rankings. But, he said, it was still important recognition.

"We're very proud of the students, staff and community. What we do at Saline High School is a team effort," Graden said. "A ranking like this is another reminder that Saline is great place to raise families. So it's great recognition."

At 298, Saline is the fourth highest Michigan school on the list, behind Internation Academy of Bloomfield Hills (30th), Troy High School and Okemos High School. After being ranked behind Huron and Chelsea in 2012, Saline was the top rated school in Washtenaw County in 2013. Community High School of Ann Arbor (633), Chelsea (637), Huron (891), and Pioneer (955) also made the top 1,000. This year’s list grew to include 2,000 high schools. Skyline checked in at 1,019.

Newsweek rated the schools in six areas. Graduation rate, percentage of students accepted to college, and the number of AP/IB/AICE tests taken by students each accounted for 25 percent of the score.

Class of Michigan

Saline’s 99 percent graduation rate is was among the best in the state. Only three open-enrollment public schools boasted a 100 percent rate. Saline also received high marks for the amount of AP tests given per student. The survey also showed that 93 percent of Saline students are accepted by a college. Among Michigan schools in the survey, Saline ranked 33rd in this area and lost ground to the state's top schools.

There were three other areas that accounted for the final 25 percent of the school: Average SAT and/or ACT score, Average AP/IB/AICE exam score, and percentage of students enrolled in at least one AP/IB/AICE course.

The survey did not include any data for Saline in average SAT score. Saline High School ranked fifth in ACT scores of graduates. Saline had the third highest average AP score of any Michigan school in the survey.