Washington Post Ranks RBR A Most Challenging High School

According to the Washington Post, Red Bank Regional (RBR) has been ranked as one of the most challenging high schools in the nation. Of the 1900 schools that made the eminent publication’s list (out of 22,000 public and private high schools in the country) RBR ranked number 889 or within the top half of the most challenging schools.  RBR also ranked number 19 of 93 in the state of New Jersey and number one in Monmouth County, ahead of such schools as Rumson Fair Haven and Holmdel. (Monmouth County’s magnet schools were featured in a separate “Elite School” list.)

            The Washington Post’s list was compiled by creating a “challenge index” based on the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificates of Education tests to the total number of graduates for the year. Only 9% of the nation’s high schools made the list, putting RBR within the top 5% of high schools in the nation by this measure.

            RBR Superintendent Dr. Jim Stefankiewicz comments, “Over the past several years, RBR made a concerted effort to increase the rigor of its programs and encourage all students to take more challenging classes.  This effort was enhanced through the elimination of lower level courses thus requiring all students to at least take college prep courses. Currently, one-third of all RBR 11th and 12th grade students take a minimum of one AP and/or IB course.”

Over time, RBR increased the number of AP classes offered and introduced the renowned International Baccalaureate program where students can seek an IB diploma or take certificate courses. The RBR Board of Education also stipulated that any students enrolled in the most rigorous courses take the tests required for attaining credit. The Board supports this requirement by substantially subsidizing the cost for AP tests, IB and dual credit courses.

Students who aspire to higher level classes can enroll in summer programs to better prepare for these courses.  The highly effective AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) college prep program was introduced and expanded over the past four years. In this program students are exposed to the Socratic Method for critical thinking and instructed in taking Cornell Notes which helps students better organize their work and improve their study skills.

            Additionally, the district decided to build upon the success of its award-winning academies such as Visual & Performing Arts and Information Technology. With the help of a major federal grant for smaller learning communities, RBR was reorganized so that all students now choose an academy for academic concentration, creating a school within a school concept. A Freshman Academy and summer freshman transition program help students succeed in their first year of high school which is crucial to a student’s overall high school outcome.

            The results have been evident, as year-after year RBR consistently ranks as one of the top schools in New Jersey (by New Jersey Monthly,) in the nation (by Newsweek,) and now by the Washington Post. For more information on the Washington Post’s list of America’s Most Challenging High Schools visit http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/.