By Matt Wiley
New Tampa’s two high schools — Freedom High in Tampa Palms and Paul R. Wharton High on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — are no strangers to accolades, each receiving top marks (“As” and “Bs”) from the State Dept. of Education for the past several years. So, it’s really no surprise that the two schools, along with all of the high schools in the Hillsborough County School District (HCSD), again appear on The Washington Post’s list of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools.”
Released on April 19, the Post’s list (which used to be compiled by “The Daily Beast,” a digital extension of Newsweek magazine) ranks the nation’s public high schools (excluding magnet and charter schools), with the number one spot reserved for the country’s most challenging high school.
The list of 2,381 schools adds up the number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) tests taken by students at each school throughout the year and then divides that number by the total number of seniors who graduate that year. That equation gives each school its “Challenge Index” number. The higher the Index, the more challenging the school is considered to be.
According to the report, Freedom and Wharton are ranked #s 490 and 534, respectively, placing them both in the top 25 percent of the nation’s high schools. Of the 353 schools in Florida that made the list, Freedom was ranked number 90, with Wharton at number 97. An HCSD press release states that all 27 of the District’s traditional high schools not only made the list, but also that Hillsborough High, one of two IB high schools in Hillsborough County (located off Central Ave. in Seminole Heights) was ranked number 55 in the entire nation, the highest among all schools in our District.
“It’s great to see all of our high schools getting this kind of recognition,” said acting superintendent Jeff Eakins in the release. “We’re going to continue challenging our students because we know they’re up to the task, and we want them prepared for life after high school.”
Freedom’s Challenge Index number is 3.335, and the school actually moved six spots up on the list this year. Wharton’s Challenge Index number is 3.229, bumping it up 13 spots this year.
“It’s so wonderful (to be on the Washington Post list again),” said Freedom principal Sharon Morris. “I’m very proud of the work ethic of our teachers and students. It’s nice to get some recognition.”
Morris said that the ranking is indicative of the preparation Freedom’s students go through to get ready for life after high school.
“I think (the ranking) shows the opportunities that our students have to succeed here,” Morris said, citing the tutoring available to students and availability of teachers to assist students with their academic work. “The students are getting the help they need to be successful. I’m very proud.”
Wharton principal Bradley Woods shares Morris’ sentiment.
“(Making the list) continues to solidify the good things we have going on here at Wharton,” Woods says. “I think we have some of the best teachers in the country here and the best and brightest students.”
Woods says that, although he can’t complain about being on the list, the school could always be higher.
“Everybody continues to raise the bar for student expectations inside and outside of the classroom,” Woods says. “This is also due to the support from our students’ parents. We’re going to continue to push kids to challenge themselves with advanced classes.”
For more info about the list, please visit WashingtonPost.com.
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