After immigrating to the United States with children, how to choose a good school for them is a concern for many immigrant parents. Recently, U.S. News & World Report released the rankings of public high schools nationwide and in each state for 2014, which may help parents understand U.S. education. The rankings primarily evaluate several aspects. First, the overall average scores of students in state standardized academic tests in reading and mathematics, as well as the Academic Performance Index (API). Second, the College Readiness Index, which measures the participation and performance of students in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams; it also considers the academic performance of minority students, including Black and Hispanic students, and economically disadvantaged students.
The national high school rankings identified 500 Gold Medal high schools, 1,519 Silver Medal high schools, and 2,688 Bronze Medal high schools. Overall, California has over 22% of its high schools receiving Gold and Silver medals, making it the best-performing state in the nation. Additionally, California public high schools received a total of 105 Gold Medals, ranking first in the country.
Whitney High School ranks fourth among the best STEM high schools in the nation.
U.S. News & World Report also evaluated the teaching strength and performance of schools in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) based on data related to students taking AP Calculus, Computer Science, and Physics courses, among others. Whitney High School in Los Angeles ranks fourth among the best STEM high schools in the nation, followed closely by Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto at fifth, Lynbrook High School in San Jose at seventh, and Monta Vista High School in Cupertino at eighth; Saratoga High School in Saratoga ranks eleventh.
Detailed rankings of the latest high schools in Southern California.
The top-ranked high school in California, Oxford Academy, has an API of 995, and students must take at least five AP exams to graduate. The College Readiness Index reached 100%, up from 91% in 2011. The total enrollment is 1,141 students. Oxford Academy is located in Cypress, a city in the northern suburbs of Orange County, Southern California, with a population of 47,802 according to the 2010 census. The schools in this area belong to the Anaheim Union School District.
The second-ranked Whitney High School in California belongs to the ABC Unified School District and ranks 22nd nationally. It has an API of 995, with 99% passing the AP exams, and a total enrollment of 1,021 students. It is located in Cerritos, California, in Los Angeles County, established on April 21, 1956. The city, along with several others, forms the "Gateway Cities" in the southwest of Los Angeles County. According to the 2010 census, Cerritos has a total population of 49,021, with 61.9% being Asian.
According to California rankings, the Southern California high schools include Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, ranked 19th in California and 112th nationally, with an API of 908, a College Readiness Index of 74.2%, and 87% of students taking AP courses, totaling 1,630 students. The school is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and is located in the Faircrest Heights area of West Los Angeles.
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School ranks 26th in California and 165th nationally, with 75% of students taking AP courses, an API of 906, and a total of 2,540 students. The school is located in Rolling Hills Estates, a city in Los Angeles County, California, with a population of 8,067 according to the 2010 census.
The well-known San Marino High School in San Marino ranks 27th in California and 167th nationally, with an API of 940, 72% of students taking AP courses, and a total of 1,103 students. San Marino is a wealthy and conservative small city in Los Angeles County, California, often referred to as the "Little Beverly Hills." According to the 2010 census, the city has a total population of 13,147, with over half being Asian, predominantly of Chinese descent.
La Canada High School follows closely at 28th in California and 180th nationally, with an API of 946, 70% of students taking AP courses, and a total of 2,117 students. The school is located in La Cañada Flintridge, a small and affluent city in Los Angeles County, with a population of 20,246 according to the 2010 census.
Another high school in Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes High School, ranks 30th in California, with an API of 896, a College Readiness Index of 64.8%, and 73% of students taking AP courses, totaling 1,695 students. The city of Palos Verdes Estates is a coastal city that was officially incorporated as an independent city in 1939, located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County, California. The city covers an area of 12 square kilometers. It was designed by the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and ranks 81st among the wealthiest areas in the United States and 47th among the most expensive real estate areas (Forbes, 2007).
Diamond Bar High School ranks 40th in California, with 68% of students taking AP courses and a total of 3,044 students. Diamond Bar is a city located in the eastern part of Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 18, 1989, and is a newly emerging city with a significant Chinese population. The name "Diamond Bar" originates from the registered steel brand "diamond over a bar" by Frederick E. Lewis.
University High School in Irvine ranks 50th in California, with an API of 908, 61% of students taking AP courses, and a total of 2,477 students. Irvine is located in Orange County, California, established in 1971, covering an area of approximately 170 square kilometers. The total population is 210,000, with nearly 36.5% of residents being Asian. Irvine is a young, emerging medium-sized city that was fully planned at its inception, with the campus of the University of California, Irvine designed to complement the entire city, featuring beautiful environments, wide streets, and well-maintained communities with lush greenery, making it a dream city carefully planned by the renowned Irvine Company.
Orange County High School of the Arts ranks 53rd, with an API of 908, 65% of students taking AP courses, totaling 1,753 students. The school is located in Santa Ana, a city in southern Orange County, California, situated along the southwestern bank of the Santa Ana River, and is one of the major cities in the "Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana" metropolitan area. Santa Ana is also the county seat and the most populous city in Orange County, with a population of approximately 350,000 (2007).
Northwood High School, part of the Irvine School District, ranks 59th, with an API of 910, and 60% of students taking AP courses, totaling 1,953 students.
Troy High School ranks 62nd, belonging to the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, with a high API of 932, 58% of students taking AP courses, and a total of 2,654 students. Fullerton is located in northern Orange County, California, 35 kilometers southeast of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. According to the 2010 U.S. census, the total population of the city is 135,161, with 53.9% being White and 22.8% being Asian.
South Pasadena Senior High School ranks 72nd, with an API of 896, 61% of students taking AP courses, and a total of 1,562 students. South Pasadena is located between the Los Angeles metropolitan area and the city of Pasadena, at the western end of the San Gabriel Valley, less than 16 kilometers from downtown Los Angeles, covering an area of less than 9.1 square kilometers. The population in 2010 was 25,000, with 31.1% being Asian, 54.3% White, and 14% from other ethnicities.
Walnut High School in the Walnut School District ranks 84th, with an API of 894, 53% of students taking AP courses, and a total of 2,975 students. Walnut is located in Los Angeles County, California, established in 1959, covering an area of approximately 23 square kilometers. Its geographical location is very convenient, adjacent to three major highways: 60, 10, and 57. The population is over 30,000, with 64% being Asian and 48% being Chinese. Walnut was selected as one of the top 100 best cities to live in the United States, with only three cities in California making the list, and Walnut ranked first.
Arcadia High School ranks 89th, with an API of 897, 54% of students taking AP courses, and the highest total enrollment of 3,665 students among these high schools. Arcadia is located at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, 21 kilometers northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The total area is 11.1 square miles (approximately 28.8 square kilometers), incorporated in 1903, with a total population of 56,000, of which 45.58% are White and 45.41% are Asian. Arcadia has excellent public schools, and it has a significant Asian immigrant community and a relatively high quality of life compared to surrounding areas, which also attracts other Asian immigrant families from different regions.
The core criterion for high school rankings is that the best schools provide the best services to all students, supported by specific quantifiable academic performance indices. The rankings not only set an example for other high schools to learn from, inspiring educators and educational institutions to improve, but also provide valuable reference information for parents regarding their children's education.