D-B, University School ranked in top 10 of Tennessee's high schools

KINGSPORT — University School in Johnson City and Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport were ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, in Tennessee by a U.S. News & World 2015 report released Tuesday.The magazine's annual high school rankings also placed two Knox County high schools and Morristown West high up on the Tennessee high school education totem pole. They were among 16 Tennessee schools recognized as being in the top 5 percent in the nation. No schools among 52 Virginia high schools that made the top 5 percent ranking nationwide were from Southwest Virginia.D-B ranked third statewide in non-magnet schools, just behind Farragut in Knox County and University School, which is on the East Tennessee State University campus and officially part of the Washington County school system.The complete listing of Tennessee high schools ranked and rated by the magazine is at usnews.com/education/.According to the magazine's website, the magazine did the 2015 Best High Schools rankings with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm.It said high schools were evaluated in three stages:• "First, U.S. News looked at overall student performance on state-required tests. Schools had to perform better than average to pass, but because of a slight change to the methodology this year, more schools qualified for the rankings.• "Then, U.S. News factored in how effectively schools educated their least-advantaged students — those of black, Hispanic and low-income backgrounds.• "Finally, schools were assessed on how well they prepared students for college based on participation in and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams."D-B had a student-teacher ration of 14:1 and a college readiness score of 33.5.In addition to ranking seventh in Tennessee and third among non-magnet Tennessee high schools, D-B ranked 1,336th nationwide.University School got a 1,188th national ranking along with the sixth ranking statewide and second ranking among non-magnet schools."We're very proud of that school," Washington County Assistant Director of Schools William Flanary said. "They are chronic overachievers."Flanary said he is impressed with how students there earn college credit while still in high school, a trend area school systems and the state are pushing.Doyle Branson, director of University School, said he was pleased with theschool's ranking."All of our folks have worked really hard at it, our parents, students and teachers," Branson said.University School had a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, a college readiness score of 36.2, an algebra proficiency score of 3.3 and an English proficiency score of 3.2."The 2015 US News & World Report rankings are again reflective of the high quality education that Kingsport children have available at Dobyns-Bennett," Kingsport Superintendent Lyle Ailshie said Tuesday. "To be considered one of the state's most elite high schools is a tremendous asset to the entire Kingsport community and a reflection of the truly outstanding work done by the students, teachers, and administration at D-B."For 2014, D-B finished 10th overall and sixth among non-magnets."We are especially pleased that this year's ranking places D-B even higher than last year, now being reflected as the number 3 non-magnet high school in Tennessee," Ailshie said."Thanks to our students, your efforts and a supportive community, we were able to make this list once again. This year we come in at our highest state ranking ever (No. 7 overall / No. 3 for non-magnet)," D-B Principal Chris Hampton wrote Tuesday to the faculty and staff of D-B. "This recognition is a celebration of a culture of high expectations, a belief that all students can learn/succeed and commitment for everyone to always go the extra mile. This is a collective recognition as it takes every single one of you and the dedication you put forth every day to provide our students with one of the best educational opportunities in the world."Both D-B and University School got a silver level award from the magazine on a scale of gold, silver and bronze.Morristown West ranked 10th in the state and fifth among non-magnet schools.Hume-Fogg Academic High School in Nashville ranked as the top high school in the state and 48th nationally.For the fourth consecutive year, the magazine ranked the School for the Talented and Gifted, a Dallas magnet school known as TAG, the No. 1 public high school in the country.