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Lynbrook High School in the top 500

Makes Newsweek’s list of best schools in the nation

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Lynbrook High School has been named one of the top 500 public high schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine, which released its annual rankings last week. Lynbrook, which was rated No. 374, was one of only 21 high schools on Long Island to make the list.

Newsweek bases its rankings on students’ scores on state assessments in reading and math, as well as the extent to which their schools prepare them for college. Those indicators include college acceptance and enrollment rates, participation and performance on SAT and ACT college admissions tests, and a school’s number of full-time guidance counselors. Lynbrook, which has a graduation rate of 96.6 percent, scored 75.7 out of 100 on college readiness. More than 95 percent of its students are college-bound.

“It has always been a top priority of our district to prepare our students to be successful in college and careers,” Superintendent Dr. Melissa Burak said. “It is a great honor to have Lynbrook High School receive national recognition for our efforts.”

According to Newsweek’s report, “2016 Top 500 Public High School Rankings,” by Matthew Finster and Shen Lee, schools are given both absolute and relative rankings. The absolute ranking is based on the highest scores on the “college readiness index,” and does not take student background into account. The relative ranking considers students’ socioeconomic status in order to clarify the association between influences outside school and student performance.

It is wonderful that Lynbrook High School has been recognized by Newsweek in such a manner," said school principal, Joseph Rainis. "Our community's continuous support of our endeavors allows our teachers to provide students with rigorous and enriching learning experiences. The Newsweek recognition is something our entire community can take pride in."

“I’m proud to see Lynbrook High School in the Newsweek rankings,” said Andrew Meersand, valedictorian of the class of 2016. “This achievement is a reflection of the district’s goal to offer its students the opportunity to excel in a variety of areas. I’m glad that I was able to go there.”

Meersand was named a semifinalist in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search and a finalist in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. An A.P. Scholar with Honor, a National Merit finalist and a member of the National Honor Society, he is headed to Harvard University in the fall, and plans to study mechanical engineering and management.

Other area schools that made the Newsweek list included John F. Kennedy and Mepham high schools in Bellmore, George W. Hewlett High School in Hewlett and Sanford H. Calhoun High School in Merrick.