Top of the class
Which high school offers the best chance to succeed? Baton Rouge Magnet leads, with Episcopal a very close second.
How do you measure the quality of a high school, particularly when a school's students don’t take the same state tests? One former head of Episcopal—admittedly to his own benefit—suggested comparing National Merit Semifinalists as a measure of which schools provide students the greatest opportunity to succeed. By that measure, this year’s winner is Baton Rouge Magnet High School, based, appropriately, on the number of National Merit Semifinalists relative to junior class size—or per capita.
Let the arguments begin.
- East Baton Rouge Parish high schools ranked by the number of National Merit Semifinalists by class size.
- Baton Rouge Magnet High School - .76 per capita
- Episcopal - 0.73
- Catholic High - 0.37
- St. Michael’s 0.18
- LSU Lab School - 0.1
- St. Joseph’s Academy - 0.04
- University View Academy - .005
Totals: Baton Rouge Magnet High School 29, Catholic High 9, Episcopal 7, St. Michael’s 3, University View Academy 2, LSU Lab School 1, St. Joseph’s Academy 1.