Top 100 Best STEM High Schools – Darien High School – US News & World Report – 18/100

Top 100 Best STEM High Schools – Darien High School – US News & World Report – 18/100


Top 100 Best STEM Schools – US News & World Report – 18/100

800px-DarienCTHighSchEntrance07252007

Darien High School

Darien High School
80 HIGH SCHOOL LN
DARIEN, CT 06820

Phone: (203) 655-3981

District: Darien School District

Location
Darien, Connecticut, United States
Information
Type Public
Established 1927
Principal Arlene Gottesman
Grades 9-12
Number of students 1,149 (October 1, 2006)
Mascot Blue Wave
Colors Blue and White
Website http://www.darienps.org/dhs/

Overview

Darien High School is ranked 1st within Connecticut. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® course work and exams. The AP® participation rate at Darien High School is 61 percent. The student body makeup is 50 percent male and 50 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 7 percent. Darien High School is the only high school in the Darien School District.

Local Map

map-18

Rankings / Awards

This details how this school compares to others based on U.S. News ranking criteria.

Medal Awarded Gold
National Rank
#217
State Rank
#1
STEM Rank
#18
See Best High Schools in Connecticut

Students / Teachers

These counts and percentages of students and teachers are from data reported by schools to the government.

Total Enrollment 1,313
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 7%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total) 2%
Full-Time Teachers 120
More About Student Body

Test Scores

U.S. News calculates these values based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work (AP®/IB exams).

Proficient in Reading 100%
Proficient in Math 98%
College Readiness Index 59.2
More About Test Scores

School Data

School profile information is based on government data.

Grades Served 09 – 12
Setting Large Suburb
Charter School No
Magnet School No
Receives Title I Funding No
District

This information relates to high schools run by this school’s state operating agency. Many districts contain only one high school.

Total Schools 1
Total Students 1,313
Proficient in Reading (district average) 100%
Proficient in Math (district average) 98%
College Readiness (district average) 59.2

Total Enrollment 1,313
9th Grade 353 Students
10th Grade 331 Students
11th Grade 310 Students
12th Grade 319 Students
Student Diversity

This is the breakdown of ethnicity and gender of a school’s student body, based on data reported to the government.

Ethnicity/Race

Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 7%
American Indian/Alaskan Native Enrollment (% of total) 0.2%
Asian Enrollment (% of total) 3%
Black Enrollment (% of total) 1%
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander (% of total) 0%
Hispanic Enrollment (% of total) 3%
White Enrollment (% of total) 93%
Two or More Races Enrollment (% of total) 0%
Gender

Male (% of total) 50%
Female (% of total) 50%
Economically Disadvantaged Students

These are the percentages of the school’s students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, based on data reported to the government.

Free Lunch Program (% of total) 1%
Reduced-Price Lunch Program (% of total) 1%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total) 2%

Reading Proficiency Distribution

Reading proficiency is determined by student results on the school’s Connecticut Academic Performance Test.

Total Students Tested 319
Below Basic 0%
Basic 0.3%
Proficient 16%
Goal 37%
Advanced 46%
Math Proficiency Distribution

Math proficiency is determined by student results on the school’s Connecticut Academic Performance Test.

Total Students Tested 319
Below Basic 1%
Basic 1%
Proficient 10%
Goal 30%
Advanced 59%
Overall Student Performance

This measures overall student performance on state exams. The calculations by U.S. News were the first of two steps in determining which schools received at least a bronze medal.

State Test Performance Index 168.4
Risk-Adjusted Performance Index 21.9
Disadvantaged Student Performance

This measures the proficiency on state exams among typically underperforming subgroups. The calculations by U.S. News were the second of two steps in determining which schools received at least a bronze medal.

Percentage of Disadvantaged Students Who Are Proficient N/A
Percentage of Non-Disadvantaged Students Who Are Proficient 99.0
Gap Between Disadvantaged and Non-Disadvantaged Students N/A
Gap Between School and State Among Disadvantaged Students N/A
College-Ready Student Performance

High school students take AP® and IB exams to earn college credit and demonstrate success at college-level course work. U.S. News calculated a College Readiness Index based on exam participation rates and percentages of students passing at least one exam. The Index determined which types of medals (gold, silver or bronze) were awarded to top-performing schools.

College Readiness Index 59.2
Exam Used for Index AP®
Advanced Placement® (AP®) Student Performance

Many U.S. higher educational institutions grant credits or advanced placement based on student performance on AP® exams. This shows this school’s student participation and performance on these exams if data were available. (N/A means no students participated.)

Participation Rate 61%
Participant Passing Rate 96%
Exams Per Test Taker 3.1
Exam Pass Rate 95%
Quality-Adjusted Participation Rate 59%
Quality-Adjusted Exams Per Test Taker 3.1

Darien High School is the single public high school serving the town of Darien, Connecticut, in the United States.

The Latin motto on the school seal (Veritas vos liberabit) means “The truth will set you free” or “The truth will make you free.” The motto is shared by other institutions, includingJohns Hopkins University.[1]

In the 2004-2005 school year, Darien had the highest SAT math score in the state, the second highest CAPT score in the state and the highest Advanced Placement scores in the schools history, with a 100-percent pass rate on AP math exams and more than 85 percent of students getting the top score of “5”. About one out of every three students in the high school takes an AP math course.[2]

Of the 200 graduating seniors in June 2005, 24 won national recognition in the National Merit Scholarship program, with 20 as “commended scholars” and four as National Merit Scholars.[3]

For the purpose of comparison with the achievement levels of similar schools, the state Department of Education classifies schools and communities in “District Reference Groups”, defined as “districts whose students’ families are similar in education, income, occupation and need, and that have roughly similar enrollment”.[4] Darien is one of eight school districts in District Reference Group A (others are Easton, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton).[5]

The school’s sports teams have won numerous state championships in their class or division. Darien is known for their competitive lacrosse, football and volleyball teams.

A tradition at the school’s graduation ceremonies is to present honorary diplomas to school teachers or administrators who are retiring. In 2007, for instance, they were presented to a guidance counselor and school librarian.

Comment/s
“Best STEM school in CT indeed” – Ilyas Khan · University of Ghana