Over 100 Alabama high schools make 2016 ‘best high schools in America’ rankings

An impressive 110 Alabama schools are ranked among the “best high schools in America,” according to a new study.

U.S. News and World Report reviewed 28,561 public, magnet, and charter schools and ranked them based on the data they collected. Schools were awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments, graduation rates, and how well they prepare students for college.

Only 2.5% of reviewed schools in the entire country received gold medals. 11% were given silver, and 17.8% were awarded bronze. Of the 365 schools reviewed in Alabama, two received gold medals from the Report, 27 were awarded silver, and 81 received bronze.

Last year, 118 Alabama schools made the U.S. News and World Report’s list, but the state did not release students’ Advance Placement data. All the Alabama schools ranked last year received bronze medals.

The site shows the combined national list as well as lists for each state. The best school in the country is the School for the Gifted and Talented in Dallas, Texas.

The top ten schools in Alabama are:

1. Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School (Montgomery)
2. Booker T. Washington Magnet High School (Montgomery)
3. Mountain Brook High School (Mountain Brook)
4. Huntsville High School (Huntsville)
5. Homewood High School (Homewood)
6. Bob Jones High School (Madison)
7. Virgil Grissom High School (Huntsville)
8. Spain Park High School (Hoover)
9. Ramsay High School (Birmingham)
10. New Century Tech Demo High School (Huntsville)

Interestingly, the state’s top ten schools all come from areas around Montgomery, Birmingham, and Huntsville.

Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, the state’s top school, ranked 34th in the whole country and received a gold medal. The school scored 94% on college readiness and has a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. The state’s second-ranked school and only other gold medal recipient, Booker T. Washington Magnet High School, came in nationally at 393.

This year’s rankings by the U.S. News and World Report come just a few weeks after Niche.com released its own list of high schools that are best preparing their students for college. The two lists are similar, but not exactly the same. Check out Niche.com’s list here.