Kearney High School Earns Elite Rank

Kearney High School is among the best high schools in the region, state and nation, according to 2021 rankings released today by U.S. News and World Report.

I’m so proud of our students and staff for achieving these results - Principal Andy Gustafson

The publication placed KHS 2,077th out of 17,857 in the nation, which puts the school in the top 12 percent. That elite rank earned KHS a “U.S. News Best High School Award.”

“This rank is a recognition of the extraordinary effort by students, staff, family members and partners in Kearney High School, our district and the entire Kearney community,” Superintendent Matthew Miller said. “We all strive every day to be the best, and it’s good to have that result affirmed by outside experts.”

KHS ranked fourth in the Northland, behind much bigger high schools. It earned 16th place out of 136 high schools in the Kansas City metropolitan region on both sides of the state line. KHS also garnered 26th place out of 603 high schools in Missouri, which is in the top four percent.

The publication’s rankings are based on state-mandated standardized exam results, graduation rates and how well each high school prepares its graduates to succeed in college. KHS achieved excellence in all three areas:

 Graduation rate: 97 percent

 Reading proficiency: 80 percent (state average is 60 percent)

 Students who took at least one Advanced Placement exam: 39 percent

“I’m so proud of our students and staff for achieving these results! This has been a tough year with the pandemic and they’ve earned this,” Principal Andy Gustafson said. “It’s been a team lift by everyone in Kearney School District. We wouldn’t be here without a focus on excellence from preschool through 12th grade.”

Kearney School District contributed to this story