Pikesville High School among nation's best high schools

Pikesville High School has been named one of the top 9 percent of schools in the United States according to rankings in Newsweek, and was ranked 56 among high schools in Maryland in a recent Washington Post poll featuring America's Most Challenging High Schools.

“We are very excited to learn that the hard work of our students and faculty has been acknowledged. Our mission is to provide increased equity and access to AP level courses for our students while still maintaining our high achievement,” said Mr. Ed Mitzel, Jr, principal of Pikesville High School.

In the Newsweek  survey of the top high schools of 2013, Pikesville High School ranked 1270 in the nation.  This ranking is based on a score assigned by determining the following criteria:  25 percent of the score is based on graduation rate (90 percent); 25 percent is based on acceptance to college (90 percent); 25 percent is based on ratio of AP tests taken per student enrolled in the school (0.2); and the final 25 percent is based on a combination of three scores, average SAT scores (1514), average AP exam score(3.2) and percentage of students enrolled in an AP course (Not listed). 

The Washington Post list measures challenging high schools in Maryland by calculating number of college-level tests given at a school in 2012 divided by the number of graduates that year.  Also taken into consideration is the percentage of graduates who passed at least one college-level test during their high school career, called equity and excellence (30 percent).

“We build from the bottom up.  We challenge our students on all levels and help build their college and career ready skills,” said Will Lancaster, social studies chair and Advanced Placement academic coordinator.        

PHS was recognized in a ceremony on Thursday, May 23 at the historic court house in Towson, Maryland.  Kevin Kamenetz, county executive, and BCPS superintendent Dr. Dallas Dance honored 14 high schools in all, some for their ranking on the Newsweek poll and some for their ranking in the U.S. News and World Report listing of Top High Schools, which uses a different set of criteria than the Newsweek poll.   

“Prerequisite classes help us prepare for these classes and help us want to take the Advanced Placement classes,” said PHS junior Nicole Elover, who took three AP exams in May this year.  As students entered the testing month of May, teachers prepared the students for the tests.  “Teachers went above and beyond by providing additional help before and after school for students who wanted it."