"We work so hard here and the teachers work so hard that it's really great that it's paid off," said Kathryn Meyers, a student.
In a survey, done every other year by New Jersey Monthly Magazine, /*New Providence*/ was rated tops in the state.
New Jersey has a long-standing reputation for having a number of really good high schools, so to be rated number one is quite an achievement, and the New Jersey Monthly rankings are based on a lot of information.
"All the data comes from the state, from the Department of Education, and the Department of Education gets the data from the schools and from the testing services," said Ken Schlager, of New Jersey Monthly Magazine.
The rankings for the more than 300 state high schools are determined by graduation rates, school environment, and standardized test scores.
"We teach skills and we want kids to be critical thinkers. If you have that skill, you will do well on any test," said Paul Casarico, Principal of New Providence High School.
Students in advanced placement American History are expected to discuss topics.
"It's not so much about memorizing the people and the places and the dates, but learning how to think like a historian and analyze some really complicated issues in the past," said Stephanie Hornstein, a teacher.
The students also get to be well rounded.
"We are able to participate in sports, in musical activities, in the fine arts and different clubs," said Catherine Canete, a student.
"So I think once you build that culture where students want to be here, then it permeates itself into the classroom," Casarico said.
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