Brandon-area high schools rank in 'Newsweek' national poll

Three East Hillsborough schools made Newsweek's annual list of the 1,300 top public high schools in the nation.

Bloomingdale High School ranked No. 326, Plant City High School is No. 368 and Newsome High School is No. 438.

To obtain each school's score, Newsweek researchers take the number of advanced placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge tests each school gives, and they divide that by the number of graduating seniors.

Critics say the score doesn't take other important factors into account, but officials from each East Hillsborough school said AP courses are important because they help prepare students for college.

"It's a very high level of study," said Newsome principal Rebecca Fitzgerald. "Students have the ability to walk into a college course and know what's expected of them."

Newsome offers 20 AP courses, Plant City offers 19 and Bloomingdale has 22. Each may add more courses in coming years, school officials said.

"I'd love for us to add an AP art history course next year," said Plant City High School's assistant principal for curriculum, Preston Stewart.

The three schools have made Newsweek's list in previous years, but each has improved its ranking substantially.

School officials say they plan to continue to improve — but not solely to move up the list. It's also the school district's goal to increase enrollment in AP classes.

Jessica Vander Velde can be reached at jvandervelde@sptimes.com or (813) 661-2443.