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The Complete List: 1,000 Top U.S. Schools

Public schools are ranked according to a ratio, devised by Jay Mathews, that is the number of Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school in 2005 divided by the number of graduating seniors. All of the schools on the list have an index of at least 1.000; they are in the top 5 percent of public schools measured this way. If you have 2005 data showing that your school should be on this list, please contact Mathews at .

Note: Subs. Lunch % is the percentage of students receiving federally subsidized meals. E and E % stands for equity and excellence percentage: the portion of all graduating seniors at a school that had at least one passing grade on one AP or IB test. For more information on methodology, see our FAQ.

*Gave just IB tests.
**Gave both IB and AP tests. AP and IB participation are indicators of a school’s efforts to get students to excel and prepare for college.

TOP HIGH SCHOOLS

• What Makes a High School Great?

• Why AP Matters

• The Public Elites

• Measuring the List

• FAQ

• Live Talk: Submit Your Questions About the List

• Best High Schools: The Complete List 1-100

• 101-200

• 201-300

• 301-400

• 401-500

• 501-600

• 601-700

• 701-800

• 801-900

• 901-1,000

• 1,001-1,100

• 1,100-1,139

• 2005 List: Compare Ranks

• 2003 List: Compare Ranks