2010: Newsweek Magazine Ranks Mystic Valley High School in Top 1% in USA

For the second straight year, Newsweek magazine has ranked the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School among the nation’s best public high schools. The news magazine’s June 14th edition recently published its annual list and at number 278 nationally, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School is ranked in the top 1% of the 27,000 schools surveyed.  Mystic Valley is the 5th best public high school in Massachusetts, according to Newsweek.

In acknowledging the ranking, Mystic Valley’s Superintendent/Director, Dr. Joseph McCleary, spoke of the ongoing efforts of the entire school community:  “Newsweek’s continuing recognition of Mystic Valley’s outstanding high school program is something that we can be proud of throughout the school community. Congratulations to the school’s board, families, teachers and staff who work together to provide an exemplary model of public education for all of our students.” 

Being named to the list for the second year in a row is a tremendous accomplishment. Being named once might be considered an anomaly, but it is a true honor and testament to be consistently landing on such lists, particularly for a public school that only graduated its fifth high school class in 2010.  This consistent recognition distinguishes Mystic Valley as a tremendous academic institution. The school’s ranking follows being ranked in the top 8% of high schools nationally by U.S. News & World Report in both 2007 and 2009 and Newsweek’s ranking of Mystic Valley in the top 1% of American  high schools in 2009. 

 “Mystic Valley Regional Charter School is honored and proud to be ranked again this year as one of the nations’ and state’s best high schools,” remarked Mr. George Benzie, the school’s Assistant Director for grades 9-12,  “Congratulations to all our students, parents and teachers for their dedication and commitment to excellence.”

Three of the top five schools in Massachusetts are charter public schools (Sturgis Charter in Hyannis, MATCH Charter in Boston, and Mystic Valley). The non-charter public schools in the Massachusetts top five are the Boston Latin exam school and Belmont High.  

2009: Newsweek Magazine Ranks Mystic Valley High School in Top 100 in USA

In the June 8th issue of Newsweek magazine the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School is ranked the 93rd best high school in the nation. Only 26 schools in Massachusetts were on the list of 1,500 schools receiving distinction as being in the top 5% of high schools in the country. Mystic Valley’s high ranking places the school in the top 1% of high schools in America.

Mystic Valley’s Executive Director, Dr. Joseph McCleary happily stated that “Mystic Valley Regional Charter School is honored by the continuing national recognition of our commitment to providing the opportunity for a world class education to our students. The successes of our high school students show the strong foundation provided throughout the school, beginning in the earliest grades. Congratulations to all of our teachers and staff.”

“It is a great honor to be recognized once again by a national magazine as one of the best high schools in the country.  It is a testament to the unbelievable dedication that all our teachers, staff, and leadership display in striving diligently every day to make the school’s mission a reality.  Furthermore without the support of the families these children come from, such excellent results could never be achieved” exclaimed an obviously proud Neil Kinnon, the Chairman of Mystic Valley’s Board of Trustees and a founding member of the school. The recognition follows the school’s ranking in the top 8% of high schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report in 2007.

Mystic Valley’s Interim Assistant Director for Grades 9-12, George Benzie, added “we are extremely proud of the success of our students and the dedication of our teachers here at Mystic Valley. The high ranking in Newsweek is further affirmation that charter schools are at the forefront of educational reform in Massachusetts.” The top three schools from Massachusetts are all charter schools.