The US News and World Report high school rankings are out — here are the schools that topped the list
While I always assumed that William McKinley High School for the Arts from Glee would be considered the best high school ever, US News and World Report decided that only non-fictional high schools can be considered for their annual rankings. Go figure.
The publication released their list of Best High Schools last night after considering over 21,000 public schools around the country. 6,517 of those schools received either gold, silver, or bronze medals, indicating “college readiness” based on testing participation and scores. Maryland had the highest percentage of gold and silver medal schools: 30 percent of the state’s public high schools took home first and second place medals. That’s awesome!
California came in second place with 27 percent, and Connecticut came in third with 25 percent. However, in a surprising twist, the top three schools in the country were in none of these states! Based on student to teacher ratios and standardized testing, the top three public high schools in America are … (drumroll please)
1. The School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas, Texas
2. BASIS Scottsdale in Arizona
3. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia
This is the fourth year in a row that Dallas’ School for the Talented won first place. That’s like winning the gold medal at four different Olympic games. Or being the Gretchen Weiners of you friend group. Dang!
Besides the Best High Schools list, US News compiled tons of data about enrollment, diversity, free and reduced-price lunch programs, state assessments, AP exams, IB test results. The information is fascinating and a really good reminder that high schoolers all over the country are slogging through scantrons and blue books, just like you. You can peruse the full US News ranking here.
