Report: Local high schools rank among best in nation

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 30, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- Seven South Bay schools have a lot to brag about today - they're among the top 100 in the nation according to a new survey by U.S. News and World Report.

Lynbrook High School in San Jose ranks #73 out of 100 and that, along with eight other schools in the Bay Area, is a notable accomplishment - considering more than 18,000 high schools were analyzed in the U.S..

The list focuses on broad achievement in the U.S.. The rating is done by U.S. News & World Report. It's the magazine's first-ever ranking of America's best high schools. It measures how well schools educate all of its students and their college readiness - using a formula with a three-step analysis.

First, it looks at students' state testing data, like math and reading results, and factors in poorer-performing students. The analysis also evaluates how well each school's disadvantaged students did. A third factor is availability of college-level coursework and how well students did on A.P., or advanced-placement tests. The top 100 schools earn gold medals. Nine in the Bay Area shot to the top of that list.

Local Gold Medal High Schools from U.S. News & World Report:

#2 Pacific Collegiate Charter, Santa Cruz
#49 Mission San Jose, Fremont
#59 Monta Vista, Cupertino
#66 Henry M. Gunn, Palo Alto
#68 Piedmont High, Piedmont
#69 Lowell High, San Francisco
#72 Saratoga High, Saratoga
#73 Lynbrook High, San Jose
#85 Palo Alto High, Palo Alto

In total, the U.S. News ranking recognizes almost 1,600 high schools that meet its criteria for great learning achievement. Aside from the top-100 gold medal schools, many more can boast silver and bronze status and at least half a dozen of those are also in the Bay Area.

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