Top 100 Best High Schools 2013– Biotechnology High School – Newsweek – 24/100

City: Freehold
State: NJ
School Classification:M,S
GRAD RATE(%): 100
AP/IB TESTS: 1.4
COLLEGE BOUND(%): 100
AVG SAT: 2040
AVG ACT: 28.9
SUBS LUNCH(%): 4
AVG AP SCORE: 4.3
NEWSWEEK SCORE: 3.88

Local Map

5000 Kozloski Rd, Freehold, NJ 07728, United States

Biotechnology High School is a comprehensive magnet public high school in Freehold Township, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD). Its curriculum boasts a rigorous science course which consists of eight different science classes over four years, designed to prepare students to pursue further education in biotechnology. Emphasis is placed on research, laboratory skills, critical thinking, problem solving, technology, and teamwork. Over 90% of the 2009 graduates selected college majors in the life sciences.[2] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 2005.[3] As of the 2010-11 school year, the school had an enrollment of 309 students and 24.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.88:1. There were 4 students (1.3% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 1 (0.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1] As of April 2007, it became an official International Baccalaureate Organization school, offering the IB Diploma Programme.[4] Most of the courses taken in the junior and senior years are IB courses, which are comparable to Advanced Placement (AP) courses.[5] In their junior year, students declare for either IB Chemistry or IB Physics concentration which requires two full years of study.

Biotechnology High School was ranked the eighth best high school in the United States and 1st in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report in 2013.[7] In its 2013 report on “America’s Best High Schools”, The Daily Beast ranked the school 24th in the nation among participating public high schools and 2nd among schools in New Jersey.[8] The school was ranked 20th in the nation and first in New Jersey on the list of “America’s Best High Schools 2012” prepared by The Daily Beast / Newsweek, with rankings based 25% each on graduation rate, matriculation rate for college and number of Advanced Placement / International Baccalaureate courses taken per student, with 10% based on average scores on the SAT / ACT, 10% on AP/IB scores and an additional 5% based on the number of AP/IB courses available to students.[9] In 2011, Biotech was ranked 25th out of more than 27,000 U.S. high schools by Newsweek, using a six component rating system: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), AP/IB tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB scores (10%), and AP courses offered per graduate (5%). It was ranked 18th for average SAT scores (2008–2010) and 26th for number of AP/IB tests given per graduate in 2010.[10] In 2010, Biotechnology High School was categorized as a “Public Elite” by Newsweek.[11] In September 2010, Biotechnology High School entered into a partnership with Monmouth University, which allows graduates to enter into the University’s bachelor of science program, in addition to allowing students to participate in research projects with MU faculty.[12] 2009-2010 average SAT scores were 654 reading, 674 math, and 680 writing.[2] Schooldigger.com ranked the school as one of 16 schools tied for first out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (unchanged from the 2010 rank) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the language arts literacy (100.0%) and mathematics (100.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[13] On October 29, 2009, the school was featured in an Asbury Park Press special feature “A Day in the life of Biotechnology High School”, which went into the classroom to examine the day-to-day life of some of the students.