Imlay City High School receives top recognition

IMLAY CITY — Imlay City High School has secured a spot among the top high schools regionally and nationally in the 2026–2027 U.S. News & World Report rankings, marking the fifth time since 2007 the school has earned the honor.

The U.S. News evaluation system ranks schools based on five weighted metrics:

• College Readiness (30%): Measures 12th-grade participation and passing rates on Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
• State Assessment Proficiency (20%): Evaluates overall student scores on mandatory state math, reading, and science assessments.
• State Assessment Performance (20%): Compares student test results against statistical expectations based on school demographics, such as low-income and minority student populations.
• College Curriculum Breadth (10%): Tracks the percentage of students who take and pass multiple AP exams.
• Underserved Student Performance (10%): Compares the academic outcomes of minority and low-income students against state benchmarks for non-underserved peers.

District leadership noted that the demographic evaluation model does not factor in performance metrics for migrant or English Language Learner populations — groups district officials believe would further boost their standing if included.

“Imlay City High School achieved status as a U.S. News Best High School based on the programming offered at our school, the performance of our students, and the staff’s ability to exceed statistical models for what is expected, given our demographics,” Superintendent Stu Cameron said. “Essentially, we continue to exceed performance expectations.”

Cameron added that the recognition reflects a district-wide effort across all grade levels. While U.S. News does not rank elementary schools, Imlay City Middle School has previously earned national recognition from the publication twice.