The annual rankings of Greater Boston’s best high schools, as calculated by Boston Magazine, were released this week. The magazine’s The Best Public High Schools in Greater Boston 2022 rankings covered only towns or districts within, or partly within, the I-495 area. Rankings were determined based on an analysis of key statistics, including graduation rates and SAT scores, from the most recent data made available by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Out of 150 high schools analyzed, Ashland High School ranked 21st.

According to the most recent state data from the 2021-22 school year, Ashland High School has 812 enrolled students, an average class size of 15.3 and a 14.5:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Its graduation rate is 97.2 percent, with 79.5 percent of graduates attending college. While not measured within these metrics, these strong results are due to an amplified focus on ensuring all students get additional support and the start of a concerted focus on equity to ensure all students have access to higher-level courses and a rigorous curriculum.

In 2021, Ashland High changed its schedule to include X-block, a 25-minute block built into the school day for students to receive academic support and enrichment, movement breaks, college and career education and social-emotional support. With the mental health of students top of mind, the school also began a partnership with The JED Foundation, a national nonprofit that seeks to support the emotional well-being of young adults ages 13-30, to bring JED High School to Ashland High last spring. It is one of only a handful of schools in Massachusetts to enroll in the expanded 36-month program, which will help evaluate and strengthen its programming and systems related to suicide prevention, mental health and substance misuse prevention.

The magazine also created several “honor roll” lists to differentiate which areas the ranked schools excel in and to showcase how median household income and home prices relate to student achievement. With a median home price of $562,500, Ashland High was one of 11 districts on the “Bang for Your Housing Buck” list, ranking second only to Littleton High School, indicating its “ranking most significantly surpassed the ranking of their respective median home price.”

“What great work our students, faculty and staff are doing to produce such outcomes,” said Superintendent Jim Adams. “While I am not surprised by the results, it still is remarkable to see such high student achievement considering the last two years were spent dealing with the pandemic. These results have been achieved through the hard work of students, faculty and staff, led by Ashland High School Principal Kelley St. Coeur. I could not be more proud of them.”

For more information about Ashland High School, visit www.ashland.k12.ma.us/AHS.

About Ashland Public Schools

Ashland Public Schools is a forward-thinking district located in Ashland, Mass., serving nearly 3,000 pre-K through grade 12 students in five schools. For news, updates and announcements, follow Ashland Public Schools (@AshlandClockers) on Twitter or visit www.ashland.k12.ma.us.