WASHINGTON – Half of Fairfax County public high schools have been named to a list of the best high schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
Eleven high schools in Montgomery County and four in D.C., including three public schools and one charter school, have also been named to the list.
Once ranked the top school in the nation, Fairfax’s Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was ranked the fourth best high school in the nation.
The rankings were based on assessment test results of the schools’ black, Hispanic or low-income students, along with college readiness, based on advanced placement test. More than 19,000 schools were ranked.
At Thomas Jefferson, all students who took advanced placement exams passed the tests.
The top 10 schools in Virginia are all located in Northern Virginia.
Montgomery County
Seven Montgomery County schools were honored as a gold medal school and are considered among the best 500 schools in the nation. Four other schools received a silver medal, according to Montgomery County Public Schools.
Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda was rated the 61st best school nationwide for its advancement placement test results and its proficiency in Algebra and English compared to other Maryland schools. It was the top-rated school in the state.
Montgomery County Public Schools operates 28 high schools.
Howard County also had several ranked high schools including River Hill in Clarksville. In Prince George’s County, Eleanor Roosevelt High School was ranked the 640th best high school in the country, according to U.S. News.
District of Columbia
School Without Walls High School was ranked the top high school in the District for its college readiness, 63 percent of students passed advanced placement exams, and for achieving above average scores in math and reading. Student to teacher ratios were also considered.
Three other schools in the District were ranked, including one charter school.
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