The 100 Best High Schools

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These 100 best high schools were chosen and ranked based on the number of AP (advanced placement) or IB (international baccalaureate) tests taken by all students in the school during 2005.

1. Talented and Gifted- Dallas, Texas
2. Jefferson County- Irondale, Alabama
3. BASICS Charter- Tucson, Arizona
4. City Honors- Buffalo, New York
...
10. Academic Magnet- North Charleston, South Carolina
...
45. Los Angles Center for Enriched Studies- California
...
99. Wyoming High School- Ohio
100. Walter Johnson- Bethesda, Maryland

Some of the schools on the list have over 50% of children who qualify for the free or reduced lunch plan.

24. Wilson Magnet: Rochester, New York  66%
36. Southside: Greenville, South Carolina  53%
95. Diamond Hill-Jarvis: Ft. Worth, Texas  79%

Some of the different techniques these schools practice:

Single sex classrooms
Required AP classes
Internships
Interest based curriculum

Do you think any of these would work to improve your school?
I know at my school, the single sex one would probably help the girls learn better at least. Nine out of the 10 boys I have to interact with in any given day are generally immature, rude, aggresive, and force the teacher to pay attention to them by mouthing off or something.

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I would so go for these things in schools

pmccorkle's picture

seperated sexes in classes and schools has always been a debate but I'm not sure about that. In my school, the obnoxious boys would always take a nap during class so it really didn't affect me or my grade. AP Classes, I think that depends on your students. Some kids aren't AP ready so why mandate it?

http://www.progressiveu.org/111931-the-search-for-a-superstar

Where is the complete list posted? My high school has just become an all IB and I want to see where we rank.

~Christine Morgan~

Actually I got this out of the May 8th Newsweek. It might be posted on their site, but I'm not sure.
Thats cool about your school.

Wow that's great that kids with low incomes are able to go to such good schools. As for the techniques I agree with pmccorkle that some people arent ready for AP classes, but the rest of the techniques are great! I wish internships were offered at my school. It might save some money with major changing and such in college.

Yeah I agree with all of that.
I just figure, with the AP testing, that if you are going to a school where you are supposed to be "gifted" and "talented" that you can handle an AP class.

I agree for single sex schools, it would allow for more focus on education and the future, rather than opposite sex!

I agree for single sex schools, it would allow for more focus on education and the future, rather than opposite sex!

Nah. My school doesn't have any of that and it's still among the best.

Your school is on this list?

caroline_east23's picture

My school was on the list last year and we don't have any of those things. The only problem with our school is that AP classes are pushed so rapidly on incoming freshman that by the time you make it to senior year, 75% of the kids don't belong in AP-level classes and just distract others who do belong there. 90% of my AP-English class sleep or mouth off during class and fail, yet still take the test.

I personally think that the list should be ranked not on how many kids took the AP test, but how many actually did well on it and made a 3, 4, or 5...

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