Clarkstown High Schools Rank Among State's Top 130

Clarkstown North and South high schools are among New York State's best, according to the 2012 U.S. News and World Report rankings.

The magazine recently released its annual study of high schools from coast to coast—a contentious list that often garners as much chagrin from the educational community as it does attention. About 22,000 public schools were profiled from 49 states.

Clarkstown North is ranked as 111th and Clarkstown South is listed as 126th in the state. Both schools received a "silver rating." Clarkstown South is ranked 937 in the nation and Clarkstown North is listed at 851. Both are reported to have enrollments of 1,513 students.

Clarkstown Superintendent Margaret Keller-Cogan commented on the results.

"I think the challenge of any rankings is when an attempt is made to compare outcomes that may have markedly different inputs," she said. "For example, I do not believe the rankings consider the percent of a population that is classified, the number of second language learners or the percent of students who live in poverty. Students who receive advantaged upbringings, parents who are well educated and value education themselves, are more likely to achieve success in school.  While it is reassuring to know that both of our high schools rank so high nationally, the basis for the rankings do not consider all of the variables that make North and South the excellent schools that they are."

Tappan Zee High School is listed as the 52nd best institution in the state, and 374th in the nation, earning it a "gold" rating. The school serves 1,094 students and employs 84 teachers; 57 percent of students take part in Advanced Placement courses, according to the survey.

Other top performing Rockland schools include Pearl River High, which is ranked 65th in the state and 488th in the nation. The school houses 1,058 students and 78 full-time teachers.

is not ranked.