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Why U.S. News Didn’t Include IB Data in 2017 Best High Schools Rankings

By U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report released its rankings of the 2017 Best High Schools on Tuesday, April 25. Since then, U.S. News has received a number of questions about why International Baccalaureate test data were not included in the rankings. Below are answers to these questions.

1. Why weren’t IB data included in the 2017 rankings?

U.S. News depends on the International Baccalaureate Organization to submit results on participation in and performance on IB exams. U.S. News has previously used these data in Step 4 of the four-step methodology to determine a school’s College Readiness Index.

As U.S. News has stated, Step 4 of the methodology this year did not include IB test data because the IBO informed U.S. News in November 2016 that it was unable to supply U.S. News with IB data for 12th-grade students in 2014-2015 as it had in previous years.

2. What impact did a lack of IB data have on the 2017 rankings?

U.S. News recognizes schools with gold, silver and bronze medals, with gold medals indicating the greatest level of college readiness.

High schools that only use IB exams were not eligible for gold or silver medals this year. Like all high schools that pass Steps 1-3 of the methodology, IB schools were still eligible for bronze medals. Schools that offer both IB and Advanced Placement courses and that passed Steps 1-3 were eligible for gold and silver medals based on their AP exam performance.

3. What sources of information does U.S. News use to calculate the 2017 Best High Schools rankings?

U.S. News evaluated more than 28,000 public high schools across the country for the rankings. With this in mind, U.S. News does not collect data directly from high schools.

Rather, a number of data sources are used to produce the rankings, including the Common Core of Data from the U.S. Department of Education, which is the sole source for all U.S. high schools on information such as enrollment, size and the number of students receiving free or reduced-priced lunches. U.S. News also depends on the College Board for AP data and official sources in each state for state assessment data and high school graduation rates.

For more information, see the FAQs about Best High Schools.

More from U.S. News

Why Schools Moved Up or Down in the 2017 Best High Schools Rankings

What to Know About Charter High Schools

U.S. News Data: Who Attends the Best High Schools

Why U.S. News Didn’t Include IB Data in 2017 Best High Schools Rankings originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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