Etc.

Crème de la crème high schools begin in Virginia

US News & World Report, which is well known for its college rankings, has turned its attention to the nation's high schools by producing the magazine's first-ever list of best high schools. Altogether, it examined the records of 18,500 schools in 40 states. Quality was based on three major criteria: student performance relative to poverty levels within the school, proficiency rates on state tests by the least advantaged students, and participation in and performance on Advanced Placement tests. The best US high schools and the cities where they're located, according to US News & World Report:

• 1. Thomas Jefferson H.S. (Alexandria, Va.)
• 2. Pacific Collegiate School (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
• 3. International Baccalaureate Program (Bartow, Fla.)
• 4. Oxford Academy (Cypress, Calif.)
• 5. International School (Bellevue, Wash.)
• 6. Pine View School for Gifted (Osprey, Fla.)
• 7. High Technology H.S. (Lincroft, N.J.)
• 8. Design & Architectural Senior High (Miami)
• 9. Stanton College Preparatory (Jacksonville, Fla.)
• 10. Preuss School UCSD (La Jolla, Calif.)