Middle Tennessee is now home to the best high school in the country. New rankings from U.S. News and World Report show that Central Magnet High School in Rutherford County has been named No. 1 in the U.S. The ranking is based on state assessment performance and college-readiness.
Rutherford County’s Central Magnet students and staff celebrated climbing to the top of the Aug. 17 national high school rankings from U.S. News & World Report. “It really reflects Central’s motto of ‘always my best,'” Student Body President Kayla Markwei told The Daily News Journal.
Rutherford County Schools said that Central Magnet has consistently been among the top in the nation since it opened in 2010. Last year, it ranked as No. 3. “We’re very proud to be the home of the best high school in the nation, and the employees, parents, and students of Central Magnet School should be commended for their long history of unmatched performance,” Jimmy Sullivan, director of schools in Rutherford County, said.
Dr. Clark Blair, the latest principal at Central Magnet, said that being named the No. 1 school is an achievement and that the school is “honored to carry this torch for everyone who has ever walked the halls at Central.” “This recognition just confirms what our students and staff do each and every day,” Blair said. “Central is such a unique place filled with students who love to learn in the classroom, compete in a variety of activities and sports, and build a future where they can make a difference in their community.”
Of the 440 high schools in Tennessee, eight schools in the top 25% are located in Rutherford County. Aside from Central, those include Blackman, Rockvale, Eagleville, Siegel, Stewarts Creek, Oakland and the Rutherford County Virtual School.
