U.S. News high school rankings released for New York and New Jersey

The latest U.S. News & World Report high school rankings have been released, highlighting top-performing schools across various regions. In New York, several schools from the Hudson Valley secured spots on the state's list of best high schools. However, the rankings for New York schools may be impacted by the state's decision not to share AP exam data, which prevents schools from receiving full credit in two categories that account for 40 percent of the total score.

In New Jersey, Columbia High School saw a decline in its state ranking, dropping to 72nd for 2026 from 53rd in 2025. School officials, including Superintendent Jason Bing and Principal Frank Sanchez, noted that the rankings rely on 2023-2024 assessment data. They stated that recent initiatives, such as a new Freshman Academy and increased AP offerings, have since improved graduation rates to 93.2 percent and increased the proportion of students scoring 3 or higher on AP exams to 91 percent.