Horace Mann is one of the top teams in the nation
Which high schools have the best Model UN team in North America? We devised a rankings system that answers this question in order to recognize the top teams on the circuit for their accomplishments.
Please read the methodology article first before jumping into the rankings. We clarify in the article our purpose for doing rankings, our philosophy that drives what we value in the rankings, and our methodology.
With that said, here are the top 6-10 Model UN teams in North America! All of these teams have already won a best delegation award and are among the top teams in the nation this Fall.
Fall 2011 High School Model UN Rankings: North America Top 6-10
6. Horace Mann School (New York)
If we had to pick one team to win one-time competitive, head-to-head matchup, Horace Mann might be it. Horace Mann is one of the best teams in the nation right now after winning Best Large Delegation at the most competitive conference of the Fall according to our methodology, Princeton PMUNC. The team also snapped rival The Dalton School’s multi-year unbeaten streak in the process. Horace Mann places sixth for now as the five teams ranked above it have all won at multiple conferences already while Horace Mann has only been to one, but it will have many more chances to contend for top-rank status when it travels to neighboring Columbia CMUNCE, U.Penn ILMUNC, and Georgetown NAIMUN. The team also hosted HoMMUNC, the largest high school-hosted conference on the East Coast, earlier this Fall.
7. St. Ignatius College Prep (Illinois)
The Midwest doesn’t have many conferences in the Fall (and overall for the year) but St. Ignatius is doing something about it — they started their season by hosting their own conference, SIMUN. The team then competed at the MUNDO-hosted Chicago CIMUN and came away with the Best Large Delegation award ahead of their Chicago-area rivals. We’re unsure if the team will stay in-region or travel like they did last year (where they won Best Large at Columbia CMUNCE) but either way, they will be a team to watch. St. Ignatius is advised by Diane Haleas-Hines.
8. J.P. Stevens High School (New Jersey)
J.P. Stevens also started its season by hosting its own conference, JPSMUN. The team then geared up for an out-of-state conference and traveled to Virginia VAMUN where they defended their Best Large Delegation award in dominating fashion — the team took home 11 of 21 gavels available. This out-of-state trip has paid dividends as J.P. Stevens is currently our highest-ranked team in the competitive New Jersey circuit. The team will contend for higher national recognition when it competes at Harvard HMUN and George Washington WAMUNC. J.P. Stevens is advised by Dr. Eugene Geis and Anthony White.
9. Centennial High School (Georgia)
Centennial continues to be one of the strongest teams from the Southeast. The team won Best Delegation at the Southern United States SUSMUN conference and placed third at an increasingly competitive Georgia Tech GTMUN. The team primarily participates at in-state conferences but teams around the country will recognize them when they travel to participate at Nationals NHSMUN (Centennial won a delegation award there last year). Centennial is advised by Eric Medwed.
10. Gulf Coast High School (Florida)
Gulf Coast is only in its second year traveling out-of-state but it has set itself up nicely with a travel schedule that touches different regions of the United States: East Coast (Columbia CMUNCE), West Coast (UCLA BruinMUN), the Southeast (Georgia Tech GTMUN), and its home state of Florida (Florida GatorMUN and Florida Gulf Coast’s SWFLMUN). Gulf Coast, which features a team of mostly underclassmen, won Best Small Delegation at BruinMUN and placed 4th at GTMUN. Those results enabled it to jump up to the top 10 — Gulf Coast is the highest newcomer in the rankings. Gulf Coast is advised by Susan Soulard and Marsha Layne.
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Check out the top 11-15 and 16-25!
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Congrats to all the teams! Keep in mind that this ranking is intended to measure competitive success during this Fall only. Many teams have not had the chance to participate at multiple conferences, at a large conference, or even at a single conference yet and there are many conferences to come. Good luck with your preparations and enjoy winter break!
