TOP STORY-UPDATED: U.S. News & World Report Ranks Lyme-Old Lyme High School 8th in State, Breaking Top 500 Nationally

The entrance to Lyme-Old Lyme High School. LymeLine file photo.

OLD LYME—Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) is among the Top 10 high schools in Connecticut and the Top 500 in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The school earned eighth place on the Best High Schools list released this week. The rankings are compiled annually based on state-required test scores, graduation rates and how well each school prepares students for college.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School ranked 415 out of nearly 18,000 public high schools across the country.

Superintendent of Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Ian Neviaser on Friday welcomed the news.

“This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, the expertise and commitment of our teachers and staff, and the strong support of our families and community,” he said.

Neviaser added, “We will continue to challenge ourselves to provide an exceptional education for every student while preparing them for success in college, careers, and life beyond Lyme-Old Lyme.”

The Top 10 Best High Schools in Connecticut identified by U.S. News & World Report are:

1. Connecticut IB Academy, East Hartford
2. New Canaan High School
3. Weston High School
4. Darien High School
5. Wilton High School
6. Staples High School, Westport
7. Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut, Groton
8. Lyme-Old Lyme High School
9. Greenwich High School
10. Hall High School, West Hartford

Lyme-Old Lyme High School and Marine Science Magnet High School are the only schools in New London County to break the Top 10.

Here’s how other local area schools stacked up:

17. East Lyme High School
20. Stonington High School
31. Haddam-Killingworth High School
45. Wheeler High School, N. Stonington
49. Valley Regional High School, Deep River
50. Westbrook High School
51. Waterford High School
52. Old Saybrook High School
54. The Morgan School, Clinton
68. Bacon Academy, Colchester
76. Robert E. Fitch High School, Groton
77. Montville High School
88. Ledyard High School
91. Science and Technology Magnet Pathway for High School Grades, New London
102. Lyman Memorial High School, Lebanon
105. Griswold High School
115. Nathan Hale-Ray High School, East Haddam
135. Norwich Free Academy
144. Three Rivers Middle College Magnet School, Norwich
154. Norwich Technical High School
158. Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School, Groton
160. New London High School
171. New London Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School

The 2025 rankings are based on three-year old data described by US News & World Report in a press release as the most recent state and federal figures available.

Data shows 67% of Lyme-Old Lyme’s 392 students at the time took at least one Advanced Placement (AP) exam, with 62% passing. The graduation rate was 98%.

The media company said schools are evaluated on how effectively they serve all students, including underserved populations, with college readiness measured through student participation and performance on AP and International Baccalaureate exams.

Seventeen percent of LOLHS students at the time identified as Black, Hispanic, Asian or biracial, according to the report. About 14% of students were considered economically disadvantaged.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School ranked 13th in the 2024 rankings and 34th the year prior.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated with a quote from Superintendent Neviaser.