Homewood-Flossmoor High School has been ranked among the best high schools in America by U.S. News & World Report for its performance on state-required tests, graduation rates and how well H-F prepares students for college.
The rankings were announced by the H-F administration on Sept. 11. The rankings place H-F among the top 40% of high schools in the country. H-F is ranked 213th in Illinois and 173rd in the Chicago area.
Among the areas that qualified H-F for the best high schools list are:
- The school’s graduation rate coming in at 74th in Illinois.
- The breadth of H-F’s college curriculum ranking at 124th.
- Students’ college readiness ranking at 148th.
“This Best High Schools ranking is a testament to the dedication of our staff, students, families and community,” District 233 Superintendent Scott Wakeley said. “Each day Vikings’ commitment to preparing students for life after high school is evident in classrooms, hallways and offices, through athletic and activity arenas, and in the way H-F develops the competencies of the Profile of a Viking in everything we do.”
The majority of H-F graduates — 78% — are pursuing higher education. They far outpace the national average of 63%. And, H-F students are well-prepared when they get there. The most recent college persistence rate of 87% means H-F graduates return for their sophomore year of college. The national average is 75%, according to a National Student Clearinghouse report. This shows that H-F students pursuing higher education are well-prepared for their post-high school plans, Wakeley said.
“Looking toward continuous growth, H-F’s strategic planning efforts include a focus on standards-based learning to finely tune the relationship between content standards, assessments and instruction,” according to Jen Hester, director of curriculum. “This work is expected to increase academic growth as well as increase performance on standardized test measures like the College Board’s SAT.”
Additionally, classroom instruction focuses on building five competencies that will support students in college, career and life, she said. The district is focused on aligning courses to college and career pathways that provide more opportunities for early college learning experiences, industry credentials and work-based learning experiences.
Hester said these efforts are aimed at preparing students for the path they choose after high school, and as a byproduct will help H-F to continue to improve its ranking by outside organizations like U.S. News & World Report.
