The education platform, Niche, recently ranked Cranston High School West as one of the top 25 public schools within the state. Coming in at 24 out of 56 public schools, the school was noted for being 10 out of 75 for best high schools for athletes and 37 out of 61 for most diverse. Cranston Public Schools shared the news via its family newsletter Friday afternoon.

Niche has been ranking schools for the past nine years and bases its statistics on public data sources and opinions from students and parents. The company has provided data for 92,743 public schools, 30,112 private schools and 11,820 school districts across the country. The company helps individuals find the school, school district that is right for them.

“We are proud that Niche has put a spotlight on all of the great things going on at Cranston High School West. Their rating system is uniquely their own, but we are always proud when a positive light is shone on one of our Cranston Public Schools. We have wonderful things happening in all of our schools, including Cranston West,” said Superintendant Jeannine Nota-Masse Monday.

Niche posted Cranston West’s SAT and ACT scores – noting that the average SAT score was 1,160 out of 1,600 points (580 math, 580 verbal). The school’s average ACT score came to an average of 28 out of 36 (27 math, 29 reading, 28 English, 28 science). 15 percent of students were involved with AP enrollment according to Niche and state testing shows that 63 percent of students are proficient or above in reading and 30 percent of students are proficient or above in math.

The school has a 90 percent graduation rate and received an overall B grade from Niche. West was given a B for academics, B+ for diversity and B- for teachers. The school was also noted for its wide range of student activities.

Where did East rank?

Niche ranked Cranston High School East as 29 out of 56 top public schools within the state. The school came in first out of 61 public high schools for being the most diverse public high school in Rhode Island. The school was also ranked 31 of 75 for best high schools for athletes in the state.

The school’s average graduation rate came to 87 percent with an average SAT score of 1,120 out of 1,600 (560 math, 560 verbal) and an average of 27 out of 36 on the ACT (26 math, 29 reading, 29 English, and 26 science). Nine percent of students are in AP enrollment and the state testing scores showed 42 percent of students were proficient in reading and 22 percent were proficient in math.

Cranston East received an overall B grade from Niche with a B- for academics, an A+ for diversity and a B- for teachers.

How did the district rank?

Niche noted that Cranston Public Schools is an above average public school district and gave them a B. The report ranked the district’s diversity and sports as an A, followed by clubs/activities as a B+, academics and teachers as a B-, resources/facilities as a C+ and food as a C-.

Niche listed Cranston Public Schools as the fourth diverse out of 39 districts – coming in after Newport, Woonsocket and Pawtucket. Additionally, the school system was ranked eighth best school district for athletics and 19 out of 36 for best school districts in Rhode Island.