Every year the U.S. News Best High Schools rankings offer us a snapshot of the top-performing public high schools in the country. In the 2021 report, nearly 18,000 schools were ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. The 2021 rankings were based on data from the 2018-2019 school year and does not reflect issue arising from Covid-19 disruptions.

Darien took the top Connecticut honors and placed at #201 in the country. Overall, Fairfield County had stellar results with Weston High School placing #3 in CT and #354 nationally, Staples High School in Westport ranking #4 and #380 respectively, New Canaan High School #5 and #387, Greenwich High School #7 and #454; and Ridgefield High School #8 an #469.

U.S. News does not collect any information directly from high schools. The data used to produce the Best High Schools rankings and published on usnews.com came entirely from the following third-party sources:

1. The Common Core of Data is the U.S. Department of Education website, updated annually, that contains basic data on enrollment, student ethnicity and other profile information on all public high schools in the U.S. The department collects the data directly from the schools, school districts or state departments of education, which is reflected on usnews.com.

2. Statewide math and reading level assessment tests and high school graduation rates data used in the 2021 rankings in almost all cases is from the 2018-2019 school year. This data in most cases is from each state’s education agency website or directly from state education agencies.

3. The College Board was the source of the Advanced Placement examination data for each public high school, when applicable, that was used in rankings calculations. The AP exam data used in the analysis is for 12th grade students in the 2018-2019 school year.

4. International Baccalaureate was the source of the IB examination data for each public high school, when applicable, that was used to create calculated values. The IB exam data used in the analysis is for 12th grade students in the 2018-2019 school year.

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