The Top 10 Public High Schools in Each New England State
By Marc Fortier ••
2017 National Teacher of the Year Sydney Chaffee has a great sense of humor, even when it comes to issues as complicated as race. As a white teacher in one of Boston’s most diverse communities, she embraces diversity and uses it as a teaching tool to open up dialogue with her students.
U.S. News and World Report has released its annual ranking of the nation's top high schools.
Two public schools in New England - Boston Latin in Boston, Massachusetts and Amistad Academy in New Haven, Connecticut - cracked the top 100 on the new list.
Schools were given medals based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.
Here is a look at the top public schools in each New England state, along with their national rankings.
CONNECTICUT
1. Amistad Academy, New Haven (National Rank #55)
2. Connecticut IB Academy, East Hartford (National Rank #125)
3. Achievement First Hartford Academy Inc., Hartford (National Rank #267)
4. Academy of Aerospace and Engineering, Windsor (National Rank #309)
5. Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield (National Rank #332)
6. Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern, Groton (National Rank #352)
7. Greenwich High School, Greenwich (National Rank #373)
8. Staples High School, Westport (National Rank #394)
9. Darien High School, Darien (National Rank #410)
10. Wilton High School, Wilton (National Rank #439)
MAINE
1. Yarmouth High School, Yarmouth (National Rank #209)
2. Cape Elizabeth High School, Cape Elizabeth (National Rank #459)
3. Falmouth High School, Falmouth (National Rank #485)
4. Wells High School, Wells (National Rank #523)
5. Scarborough High School, Scarborough (National Rank #1,126)
6. Greely High School, Cumberland (National Rank #1,539)
7. York High School, York (National Rank #1,551)
8. Winthrop High School, Winthrop (National Rank #1,786)
9. Orono High School, Orono (National Rank #1,916)
10. Bangor High School, Bangor (National Rank #1,999)
Roman Babakin/Getty
Bridgewater State University/Facebook
Bridgewater State University starts off our list of the top schools in Massachusetts in the #10 spot. The university reported that the average cost of books and supplies per student was the lowest of any other school on the list.
Salem State University/Facebook
Salem State University came in at #9 in Massachusetts for its wide range of programs and career services center. The career services office offers guidance to students and helps them connect with alumni in order to secure jobs post-graduation.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts/Facebook
Massachusetts College of Liberal arts earned the #8 spot in the state for its affordability of tuition and fees. The university offers breaks on tuition for out-of-state students, such as those from New York and Vermont who can get an 85 percent reduction on their rate.
Worcester State University/Facebook
Worcester State University ranked #7 on the list of top Massachusetts schools. Students who graduate from the university have a median student debt burden of less than $20,000 due to the affordable cost of the institution.
Getty Images
Coming in at #6 in the Bay State is the University of Massachusetts at Lowell for its amount of on-campus degree programs. The school also offers 50 degree plans that are available online to students.
Framingham State University
Framingham State University took the #5 spot in Massachusetts for its affordability. Students reported that books and supplies were very affordable at the university.
Westfield State University/Facebook
Westfield State University ranked #4 in Massachusetts. Graduates reported leaving the school with a manageable amount of debt due to the affordability of tuition.
Fitchburg State University/Facebook
Fitchburg State came in at #3 in Massachusetts for the number of online courses the university offers. Students paid the lowest average net price in the state in the 2015-2016 academic year.
Roman Babakin/Getty
Harvard University was ranked second in Massachusetts. The school recorded the number 1 graduation rate in Massachusetts and nationwide in 2016.
UMass Amherst
Coming in as the #1 four-year college in Massachusetts is the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Students have a wide range of choices in bachelor's degrees and even have the option to take some subjects like business and psychology online.
Saint Anselm College comes in at #10 in New Hampshire for its high retention rate and graduation rate. The college has the third best graduation rate in the state.
Rivier University/Facebook
Rivier University comes in at #9 in New Hampshire for its amount of programs as well as its affordability. The university ranks high for helping students minimize debt and third in the state for the low median debt of graduates.
Franklin Pierce University/Facebook
Franklin Pierce University takes the #8 spot in New Hampshire for its nearly 55 majors and minors. The school also ranks third in the state for the number of distance education programs it offers.
New England College/Facebook
New England College comes in at #7 in New Hampshire for its high number of distance education programs. The college also offers a wide range of online courses in liberal arts, business administration, and human services.
Southern New Hampshire University/Facebook
Southern New Hampshire University ranks #6 on the list of top New Hampshire schools for its number of online degree programs. The school has about 3,000 students attend classes but 80,000 enrolled in the online programs.
Getty Images/National Geographic Creative
Baker Memorial Library of Dartmouth College, the tower of which is a copy of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Plymouth State University/Facebook
Plymouth State University comes in at #4 in New Hampshire. The university ranks first for its low tuition and fees and wide range of programs.
Keene State College
Liberal arts college Keene State came in at #3 for its affordability. The school ranks second for the price of its tuition and fees and first for the cost of books and supplies. In addition, about 90 percent of students receive some form of financial aid.
University of New Hampshire at Manchester/Facebook
The University of New Hampshire's Manchester campus came in second in the state for its more urban location complete with 33 degree programs. The school has the lowest average net price in the state.
Mike Ross/UNH Photography
Coming in at #1 in the state is the University of New Hampshire's Main Campus. The school offers 11 colleges and more than 200 degree options. It also has the second best graduation rate in New Hampshire and students have the third best three-year repayment rate for student loans.
MASSACHUSETTS
1. Boston Latin School, Boston (National Rank #48)
2. Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School, Marlborough (National Rank #107)
3. Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, Malden (National Rank #193)
4. Lenox Memorial High, Lenox (National Rank #202)
5. Hopkinton High School, Hopkinton (National Rank #237)
6. Boston Latin Academy, Dorchester (National Rank #257)
