McCarthy Middle School, 250 North Rd, Chelmsford, MA 01824, US

Honored in US News & World Report as one of the top 100 High Schools in the United States, Belmont High School has a tradition of educational excellence, providing students with the opportunity of pursuing higher education to their highest potential. The administration, staff and teachers lead students to be responsible citizens, critical thinkers and problem solvers, researchers and effective communicators. Students are expected to meet and exceed specific goals each year. Freshmen are required to participate in History Day while seniors are required to write a senior English thesis. The High School has a strong tradition in the arts with most students participating in choral, instrumental, theater or studio arts. Students are able to participate in interscholastic athletics with some reaching the highest level. Belmont High students excel in state assessment tests, as 58 percent of tenth graders scored 'Advanced' and 'Above Proficient' in English compared to 16 percent statewide and 82 percent in Math compared to 23 percent statewide. Students also scored nearly 275 points higher in the combined SAT test than students nationwide. The work has resulted in a nearly 100 percent graduation rate where 70 percent of graduates are accepted to four-year private colleges while 23 percent go to four-year private colleges. The class of 2009 sent 15 graduates to Ivy League schools, three to MIT, four to BYU and McGill, Oxford and many leading colleges across the country.