By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Business First Thursday released its annual rankings for individual schools throughout Western New York.
Even though there are rarely any surprises, it's become a fairly anticipated list each year. Parents and businesses look to the rankings for guidance on where to live or relocate.
But the ranking system does have its critics. Some say the rankings fail to account for socio-economic factors. Andy Maddigan is spokesman for Buffalo City Schools, home district for top ranked City Honors High School. Buffalo's premier school hand selects the city's top students. He says the district doesn't put much stock in the newspaper's rankings.
For the first time ever, City Honors fell from number one to number two in the middle school category. Transit Middle School in Williamsville took over the top spot. And Williamsville's other three middle schools rounded out the top five. Jill Bartkowski is principal for Transit Middle School. Bartkowski says it was great news. But she says none of the schools are in competition with each other.
Williamsville also did well again in the high school category, with East High School coming in third behind City Honors and Clarence.
The top three ranked elementary schools were divided among the other usually high ranking suburban districts. Harris Hill in Clarence is number one, followed by South Davis in Orchard Park and Smallwood Drive Elementary in Amherst.
The newspaper's ranking of private schools will be released Friday.