Heather Mace: In education and life, rankings aren’t everything

Chances are, if you name a product or service offered in America, someone has ranked it. Whether trying to determine the number one brand of coffee, the top-seeded basketball team, or the safest car on the road, humans love rankings.

This is especially true in the world of education. As my oldest child prepares to enter high school next year, I’ve noticed that some schools tout their state or national ranking as a selling point. That’s got me wondering, what does a school ranking actually measure? And more broadly, does a high rank — in education or other areas of life — always equal a better product?

To answer the first question, I consulted the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best High Schools rankings. According to their calculations, 30% of a school’s rank is based on how many 12th graders take and pass a college-level Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam. Another 10% is determined by how many students pass more than one of these exams. Fifty percent of the ranking comes from standardized test scores: 20% for proficiency in core subject areas, 20% for how well students score compared to peers, and 10% for how well “underserved” students perform. A final 10% is determined by a school’s graduation rate.

In essence, 90% of the ranking is based on how well students perform on college-level exams and standardized tests. I would argue that these are not the only, or even necessarily the most important, metrics families should consider in a school. A more holistic ranking system would need to include some additional factors.

For starters, it could measure how many courses are offered beyond a college prep focus. Schools could earn points for strong career and technical education programs, with classes in areas like automotives, computer science, or healthcare. They could also rank higher for offering courses that allow students to earn certifications in these vocational fields.

Next, rankings might consider the extra-curricular activities available to students. After all, studies show that participation in sports and after-school activities can increase students’ attendance, grades, and likelihood of attending college. Another factor often ignored by school quality measurements is how convenient attending a school is for a family. Instead of spending hours commuting to a highly ranked school each week, that time might be better spent helping with family responsibilities, working an after-school job, or volunteering in the community.

Finally, a more comprehensive ranking system would recognize schools that serve a diverse student body. While some schools use exclusionary policies or entrance exams to keep their schools homogenous, studies show that schools with diverse student bodies are more likely to reduce racial achievement gaps. When campuses serve a wide variety of students, they should be rewarded accordingly.

Beyond the world of education, skepticism toward rankings in general can be healthy. Studies show that simply adding a ranking to a list of otherwise similar options can lead decision makers to attend disproportionately to the top option and overlook the others. That might lead folks to make decisions that are actually against their best interests. For example, a top ranked restaurant might lure in customers, but the price tag could put the diner into debt for months. Or a publication may rank high status careers, but if someone chooses a job just for the prestige, the work itself may leave them unfulfilled and miserable.

Rankings are alluring because they take a complicated set of factors and appear to simplify them. But what makes a decision “best” for any individual can’t be measured by a single calculation. For those like my son who are trying to navigate a sea of rankings, start by examining your own priorities and goals.

Create a ranking system that reflects the values and experiences that are most important to you. Then you can proceed with the confidence that while your choice may not be best for everyone, for you it’s just right.