AVONDALE - The 2023-24 U.S. News and World Report’s annual listing of the nation’s top high schools was recently released. Once again, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (TJCA) has earned the distinction of being the top-ranked charter school in Western North Carolina.
Overall, TJCA ranked 30th out of more than 700 high schools in North Carolina, posting a score of 95.2 out of 100. That ranking puts TJCA in the top 5% statewide.
The U.S. News & World Report methodology, a set of rules and principles used to determine the ranking, considers six different categories. College readiness, which is how well the school prepares students for college, accounts for 30%. State assessment proficiency, which is how well students perform on state tests, accounts for 20%, and state assessment performance, which is the overall performance of students on state tests, accounts for 20%. The other three categories, which account for the remaining 30%, are underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rate.
TJCA is also ranked among the top 5% nationwide, which earns the school the distinction of being a U.S. News “Best High School.” One of the leading factors in TJCA’s high standing is its college readiness index rank and its College Curriculum Breadth Index Rank, which both rank in the state’s top 4%.
“I’m thrilled we had another excellent year, resulting in a top 5% ranking statewide,” said Executive Director Jason Cole. “As I always like to reiterate, this designation is a testament to our teachers who spend countless hours perfecting their craft to ensure our students have the best educational experience possible.”