Newport High School Ranking for College Admissions

I’ve Read Hundreds of Apps from Newport High—Here’s What Actually Matters

When I worked in admissions, I read applications from the Seattle area, so lots of applications from Newport High School in Bellevue came across my desk, each full of top scorers, heavy AP schedules, and strong extracurriculars.

And yet? Many of those students didn’t stand out.

That’s not because Newport isn’t impressive. It is. But because admissions officers know that Newport is a rigorous school, they read Newport applications differently. When you apply from Newport, your academic and extracurricular achievements are compared to everything Newport has to offer. 

That context is defined by one document: your school profile.

So let’s break down the real story behind Newport’s rankings, and I’ll talk about what selective colleges are actually looking for.

Newport High School Ranking

Newport consistently places at the top of public school rankings in Washington:

• #2 Best Public High School in Washington (Niche)
  
  
• #246 National Rank, #4 in WA, #285 in STEM (US News)
  
  

It’s clear why families in tech-heavy Eastside neighborhoods target Newport: it’s academically rigorous, has an excellent college-going culture, and sits in the heart of a region known for tech and business.

But here’s the thing:

Admissions officers don’t care how high your school ranks on Niche or US News. They care what your grades, course load, and activities look like compared to other students at Newport.

That’s why they use the school profile.

Newport High School Profile

Let’s walk through Newport’s 2024–25 school profile, which your counselor sends to colleeges via the Common App alongside your transcript. 

Size and GPA Context

• Class of 2025 Size: 475
  
  
• Unweighted GPA only: No weighted GPA reported
  
  
• Cumulative Average GPA: 3.49
  
  
• No class rank provided
  
  

Because Newport doesn’t rank students, admissions officers rely heavily on GPA distributions and course rigor to determine where a student stands in their class. The more rigorous your course schedule, and the higher your grades, the higher they’ll place you.

Rigor and Course Load

• 27 APs offered; no cap on how many students can take
  
  
• 93% of students take one or more APs
  
  
• 84% AP participation rate, 75% pass rate (US News)
  
  

The takeaway is that At Newport, taking many APs is normal. So a student applying to a top college with only 2–3 APs will probably be at a disadvantage in the school group.

How AOs Read Students from Newport High School

Let’s walk through what this means from inside the admissions office.

Step 1: The “School Group” Read

Newport students are grouped together. Your AO is likely someone who reads all applications from Bellevue and probably Seattle (maybe even Tacoma or all of Washington too).

They sort students by:

• Unweighted GPA
  
  
• Rigor of coursework (especially APs)
  
  
• Contextual notes (like course caps, average rigor from the profile, etc.)
  
  

Step 2: Year-Over-Year Benchmarking

If a student from Newport got into Dartmouth last year with 10 APs and a 4.0 GPA, and you have a 3.7 and 4 APs, you’re already at a comparative disadvantage.

Step 3: Holistic Evaluation

Selective schools tend to use rigor and GPA to decide who gets a second read, then they look deeper at things like essays, ECs, and recommendations to determine who goes to committee and makes the final round.

If your transcript or ECs don’t stand out within the context of Newport, your application may never get that deeper review.

Strategic Takeaways for Newport Families

For Prospective Families: Who Thrives at Newport?

Newport is a great fit for students who are:

• Ready to take on rigorous coursework early (including APs starting sophomore year)
  
  
• Self-motivated and academically independent
  
  
• Interested in STEM, business, or competitive academic tracks
  
  

For Current Newport Students: What Matters Most?

• Rigor is the norm. Colleges expect to see multiple APs by junior and senior year.
  
  
• Narrative cohesion is key. Newport students can blend in on paper. What sets you apart is your personal story, passions, and community impact.
  
  
• Don’t rely on prestige alone. Being “from Newport” won’t be enough to get you into selective schools.
  
  

Your Strategy Is the Differentiator

If you want to know how your application might read in the Newport school group, that’s what we do every day. Book a free consult with Sierra and we’ll walk through it with you.