WELLS — Wells High School has been named by U.S. News and World Report as the fifth-ranking high school in the state for 2016.

The magazine teamed up with research firm RTI International to review almost 28,600 public high schools across the country, and then ranked about 6,200 schools as gold, silver or bronze.

Wells High School received silver medal ranking, and ranked 569th nationally. The school has received high ranking from the study several years in a row.

“Our students are our greatest asset,” said WHS Principal Eileen Sheehy, in reaction to the ranking. “A close second to that is our teachers.”

The school, which serves students in Wells and Ogunquit, currently has 449 students, said Sheehy.

In ranking the schools, U.S. News and World Report took into consideration a number of factors, including student performance on state assessment tests and how well schools prepare students for college.

The Advance Placement, known as AP, participation rate at Wells High was 61 percent, according to data from the magazine. The studentto teacher ratio was 11 to 1, according to the report.

This year was the first year the rankings included graduation rates. The graduation rate for 2015 at WHS was 100 percent; Sheehy said it is consistently in the high 90s.

Sheehy said the teachers are committed to make sure all students get what they need to excel.

“We work extra hard to make sure our students receive a personalized approach needed to succeed,” she said. “The teachers go the extra mile to make sure students aren’t falling behind.”

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.