Western New York High Schools See Significant Drops in U.S. News Rankings Amidst Data Dispute

Buffalo, NY, September 30, 2026 — Numerous high schools throughout Western New York have reported substantial declines in their 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The primary factor contributing to this widespread drop appears to be a decision by New York State to withhold Advanced Placement (AP) participation and performance data from the U.S. News & World Report rankings methodology.

State officials cited student privacy concerns as the basis for their decision not to authorize the release of this specific data. U.S. News & World Report typically uses a range of metrics, including AP exam participation and success rates, as a significant component in its high school ranking calculations.

The consequence of this data withholding has been particularly pronounced for schools that have historically relied heavily on AP course offerings and student performance in these programs to bolster their national standing. These institutions have seen the most significant decreases in their respective rankings.

In contrast, schools that have cultivated strong International Baccalaureate (IB) programs appear to have been less impacted by the exclusion of AP data. City Honors School, noted for its robust IB program, is cited as an example of an institution that was less affected by the changes. This suggests that a diverse academic program offering, beyond a sole reliance on AP, may serve as a mitigating factor in maintaining or improving rankings when specific data sets are unavailable.

The full extent of the impact and the specific ranking changes for individual schools were not detailed in the provided information. The timeline for any potential future release of such data or changes in New York State’s policy remains undisclosed.

Story summarized from the original created by Michael Wooten on www.wkbw.com, see more information here.