Florida High Schools Dominate Nation
Florida High Schools Dominate Nation's Top 10 List
Tallahassee, Fla., May 7, 2013 - Reflecting the excellence of Florida's public schools statewide, high schools in Bartow, Jacksonville, Miami and Riviera Beach have been recognized as the best in the nation.Newsweek's "America's Best High Schools" highlights the top 2,000 public high schools across the nation in preparing college-ready graduates. All four Florida high schools in the top 10 list boast graduation rates and college-bound graduation rates of 99 percent or more.
"These schools show that our plan to reward teachers and invest in education is working," said Governor Rick Scott. "Newsweek recognizes that our schools are a critical part of what makes Florida the best place in the nation to work, learn and live."
The winning schools include
- Second Place: International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High, Polk County
- Sixth Place: School for Advanced Studies, Miami-Dade County
- Ninth Place: Suncoast Community High School, Palm Beach County
- Tenth Place: Stanton College Preparatory School, Duval County
The International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High had the highest percentage of students in the nation taking college-level course exams and certifications per total school enrollment in the nation. In February, the 9th Annual AP Report to the Nation ranked Florida number one in the nation for having the highest percentage of graduates taking an AP exam while in high school.
"This ranking is a strong indication that Florida's education system is heading in the right direction," said Commissioner of Education Dr. Tony Bennett. "When we raise our expectations, teachers and students rise to meet them. It is clear evidence that all of our teachers and education professionals are fostering a culture of excellence in Florida schools.
More than 115 Florida high schools were included in the total list. The annual ranking of public high schools looks at six components, including graduation rate, college-acceptance rate, advanced placement (AP)/Internal Baccalaureate (IB)/Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) tests taken per student, average SAT/ACT scores, average AP/IB/AICE scores, and percentages of students enrolled in one AP/IB/AICE course.
To view the complete list, visit "America's Best High Schools."