Business First ranks Western New York schools

Business First has completed its annual academic ranking of Western New York public and private elementary, middle and high schools, based on four years of test data from the New York State Education Department. Only schools in WNY’s eight counties that take part in the statewide testing program are include in the rankings.

A list of the top 100 ranked elementary schools was released on Monday, June 11, with Clarence’s Ledgeview Elementary School’s edging out two-time contender, Southern Tier Catholic School of Olean, for first place. St. Aloysius Regional School was Springville’s highest-ranking contributor to this group, coming in at No. 34. This was down from St. Aloysius’ 2011 ranking of No. 21.

Springville-Griffith Institute’s Colden Elementary improved 41 points, up from 122 in 2011, to No. 81 this year. Neither Springville Elementary School, which came in at No. 178 last year, nor West Valley Central School’s elementary school, which was listed at No. 199 last year, made it into the Business First 2012 school rankings’ top 100.

At the middle school level, St. Aloysius Regional School was the only local school that improved, in terms of Business First’s rankings. Listed at No. 62 in 2011, St. Aloysius came in at No. 39 this year, an increase of 23 points. Springville Middle School fell one point, from No. 57 to 58, and West Valley Central School Middle School dipped 36 points, from No. 61 in 2011 to No. 97 this year.

Transit Middle School in Williamsville was ranked in first place in 2011 and in 2012.

This year, Business First analyzed the academic record of 135 high schools in Western New York. Nardin Academy High School in Buffalo again took first place in the rankings. Springville-Griffith Institute fell two spots, to land at No. 49. West Valley’s high school went from No. 49 in 2011 to No. 53, this year.

Business First released the school district overall rankings on Thursday, June 14. Out of the 97 Western New York districts ranked, the Williamsville School District took top place, obtaining the honor roll district distinction along with 18 other districts. Springville-GI took the No. 26 place, West Valley Central School came in at No. 34 and Yorkshire’s Pioneer came in at No. 67.

Further details are available in the “2012-2013 Guide to Western New York Schools” and online at www.bizjournals.com/buffalo.