Sumner Academy of Arts and Science has been named the top high school in Kansas and also the No. 6 high school in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report rankings.
Sumner Academy also is the No. 1 high school in the Kansas City metropolitan area in the rankings and is ranked No. 4 of all magnet high schools in the United States, according to Dr. Alicia Miguel, interim superintendent of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools.
“We are incredibly proud of the hard work our teachers and students have done over the past year,” Dr. Miguel said at the KCKPS board meeting Tuesday night. It takes a team effort of teachers, students, staff, parents and the community.
Sumner Academy Principal Rick Malone said at the board meeting that it is the third year Sumner Academy has been ranked No. 1 in the state of Kansas on the U.S. News and World rankings. It also received first place in 2019 and 2020.
“Sumner is built on a history of excellence, beginning since Sumner High School,” Dr. Malone said at the board meeting. “There is no doubt we would not be the school we are today without the legacy before us.”
Dr. Malone said one of his goals has been to be one of the top 10 school districts in the nation, and they’re closer to that goal than ever before.
The U.S. News and World rankings are based on performance on state-required tests, graduation rates, how well prepared students are for college, the number of students in advanced placement and international baccalaureate classes, and performance in those classes, he said.
“I’m really proud of those rankings,” Dr. Malone said. “It’s a huge honor for students, staff and the whole community.”
He said Sumner Academy students continue to be academically focused, resilient, and each day they earn the honor to say they’re graduating from the top school in Kansas and the top school in the nation.
According to the U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools rankings, Blue Valley North is the No. 2 high school in Kansas, and Blue Valley West is the No. 3 high school. Other high schools on the top 10 list for Kansas included Blue Valley Northwest, No. 4; Olathe Northwest, No. 5; Shawnee Mission East, No. 6; Blue Valley, No. 7; Andover Central, No. 8; Mill Valley, No. 9; and Northeast Magnet of Bel Aire, No. 10.
According to the rankings, the No. 1 school in the nation was Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.
For more information on the rankings, visit https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2021-04-27/us-news-announces-2021-best-high-schools-rankings.