Matawan Regional High School ranks fourth out of public high schools in Monmouth County, according to a list released by New Jersey Monthly.

The magazine solicited an independent firm to analyze data from the Department of Education's NJ School Report Card for the 2010-11 academic year. Leiflin Associates, based in Ringwood, took into account several criteria, including twelfth grade enrollment, average class size, student/faculty ratio, percent of faculty with a masters or doctorate degree, SAT scores, HSPA scores, advanced placement (AP) classes and test scores, and graduation rate.

Matawan's overall rank jumped over thirty spots from 126 in 2011 to 92 this year. Rumson-Fair Haven climbed 24 spots to rank tenth, Holmdel climbed three spots to rank thirteenth, and Red Bank Regional climbed 20 spots to rank forty-first.

A portion of the movement up and down the list by schools can be attributed to a new graduation-rate calculation introduced in New Jersey in 2011, as mandated by federal government, the magazine explained. Additionally, NJ Monthly increased the weighting for data on test results and thegraduation-rate calculation, "to emphasize the importance of student results at a time of budget cutting," the magazine said.

However, across the state, the analysis found that schools' average class size decreased and High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) math scores increased.

"We are heading in the right direction," said Charles Kenny, the board of education president. "I'm confident that the students in the district continue to be well served."

See how MRHS faired in each criteria: