U.S. News And World Report: America's Best High Schools For Math And Science

U.S. News and World Report, known for its annual rankings of America's top colleges and high schools, released today its first-ever list of "Best High Schools for Math and Science."

Topping the list from first to third place: High Technology High School in Lincroft, N.J., BASIS Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va.

Of the schools that made the list, 15 are charter schools and 21 are magnet schools. Nearly a quarter require an application and admit students based on merit. Just 33 states had high schools in the rankings.

This focus on science and math education comes as the U.S. is becoming increasingly concerned over learning among the country's youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). International testing has shown that American students fall behind foreign counterparts in math and science performance, and a 2009 study showed that U.S. students ranked 25th among 34 countries in those areas -- behind nations like China, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Finland.

President Barack Obama has made a call for improving STEM education over the next decade through several partnerships and initiatives, and the U.S. Navy announced in June a plan to invest more than $100 million in science and technology education by 2015. Its aging workforce seeks to bolster a robust generation to replace the 50 percent of its many science and engineering-based workers who will be eligible for retirement by 2020.

A report by the Statistical Research Center at the American Institute of Physics released in July rankings of how states' primary education systems are preparing students for careers in science and engineering. Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Jersey topped that list.

U.S. News' rankings today were derived from its list of top high schools published in 2009 based on participation rates and how students in those schools performed on math and science AP exams.

"The ranking of the top 208 high schools is based on the key principle that students at the Best High Schools for Math and Science must take and pass a robust curriculum of college-level math and science STEM courses," according to U.S. News.

Below, check out the top states with the most high schools in the Best High Schools for Math and Science rankings, then visit U.S. News and World Report for the full list of high schools.

Comments

[LoneTree]

02:33 PM on 11/27/2011

" We already..."

... spend enough subsidizing useless BAs. If we shifted all student aid to subsidizing the degrees that will restore America's competitiveness, it wouldn't cost any more and the payback would be manifold. Anything left over, I guess, could still be used to subsidize humanities, etc.

No student in the US who graduates with a STEM degree should have a single penny of student debt.

[LoneTree]

02:30 PM on 11/27/2011

Now here's an education topic that is worth the pixels.

"...the U.S. Navy announced in June a plan to invest more than $100 million in science and technology education by 2015" - - - Right on.

Every STEM degree should be at no cost to the student graduate. Every single one. We already

[SLivermore]

02:10 PM on 11/27/2011

I wonder how many total students each states' "schools" represent.

[umbrarchist]

03:08 PM on 11/26/2011

Since only a limited number of students can get into these high schools why isn't some system being designed to use cheap computers to expose all kids to STEM. Are the schools still part of maintaining classism.

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[Beth Brungardt]

03:53 PM on 11/22/2011

It's too bad that kids in less populated states don't have access to that good of an education. In my area, the closest thing would be private, catholic schools, and the best of those only accept one of the 2 genders. And those aren't really an option for people who aren't catholic, people who can't afford to send their kids to a high school that costs more than a college education, and/or think that daily theology classes and daily mass are a waste of time and money. I guess all we can do is individually challenge our kids since the schools cannot.

[lilpeg]

09:32 AM on 11/19/2011

What is disheartening is that there were so few in each of the states listed. And of course the fact that there were none from my state. All public schools need to take note of this kind of a list and work v. hard to bring at least 1 school in their district up to this standard. We have a lot of work to do here folks.

[bmitche]

07:08 PM on 11/18/2011

Luckily he was apprehended - nice bracelets !!

[iourepublic]

07:29 PM on 10/28/2011

In New York City, They have this specialized high schools, where over 21,000 take the entrance exam and only 3500 are accepted. Where Acorn has been protesting that it's a racist school, because only 2 % are spanish and 8% are black. Majority are Asians. Bronx Science High School, Brooklyn Technical High School and Stuyvesant. They have nurtured Nobel laureates, Westinghouse Talent Search Winners, The challenge... you have to take the entrance test. But be prepared for homeworks, sleepless nights of studying

[Protocolor]

08:30 PM on 10/27/2011

"the U.S. Navy announced in June a plan to invest more than $100 million in science and technology education by 2015."

Oh! $100 million? So much? That's like, what... enough to build four, or maybe five, Interstate Highway entrance or exit ramps! That's enough to buy almost 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles! They could buy two and a half Predator drones for all that lucre! You could almost buy an F-35 for that much! Why so generous?

[sarcasm: off]

[disgustedwithall]

11:30 AM on 10/24/2011

We can fully expect this story will turn loose all sorts of excuses, stats and other cover up for bad education. The core of any eduction, K1-HS grad to college levels, is the parents involvement and attitudes, end of discussion there.

I submit, "Average of below or dropouts". if parents polled, would NOT ID teachers by class-hours-daily grades", yet up on sports/celebs stats, Mall sales, TV schedules then their kids education. Many will say "Well I did not need education (back then but do now), to succeed (defined as ?)m no qualms about, "my kids will not have it as good as I did". Shockingly, no real issues, "USA 24th in general, 37th in Math-etc" AKA "who needs it"? We elect those to "balance budgets, kids not burdened"! Never ask how when, "To save, education cuts" AKA dumber kids?

Education, way to much emphasis on school sports, more so in states, football-etc first, math-hi tech classes emphasis last.

Media glorifies sports, yet GREATER need for nation, glorify 1/10th as much about 4.0/hi tech students

Amusing, many whine, massive excuses about "education ratings not fair at local/state/regional/national levels", yet drool all over selves about local/state/regional/national "sports champs",

Yep, hypocrisy at it's finest moment, "Our team Nr1 regionally", but unfair to discuss test scores to see how kids really doing at regional/national levels? Bottom line, parents run education, if they'd get of butts.

[Zander Fields]

05:49 PM on 10/06/2011

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[luapmi2]

12:56 AM on 10/04/2011

The NUMBER ONE place for your child to learn is the kitchen table.

Parent(s): Get Involved!

[luapmi2]

12:55 AM on 10/04/2011

I am an engineer with an advanced degree from a top 5 U.S. university. When my son told me he wanted to study engineering I kicked his butt.

If there is an easier job to take overseas, I have no clue what it would be. Data, computer models, etc. are very easily transferred via the internet to Asian Technical Centers. The Asian engineers are quite accomplished, work for $15,000 a year AND will have the work returned to America "by morning."

Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys....or engineers.

[realpragmatist]

02:03 AM on 11/21/2011

A very accomplished person like you seems to have forgotten one most important thing: question is whether you son want to go to engineering because he is interested in engineering. As you are aware, top notch engineers in America do lots of good work, even original work, and are greatly in demand and their work is not being outsourced to the Asian countries. Since you are in the field, you should know this first hand, like I do.
After some 15 to 20 years of work, I realize that the most important criteria for choosing a profession is what people always say: Are you really interested in that field and do not like to go to work everyday for the rest of your life enjoying what you do? Rest of the things take care of itself.

[FOXYROSE]

10:24 AM on 10/03/2011

I will venture a guess that all or most of these schools are in high property tax areas, which would attract the best teachers.

[mikey09]

03:30 PM on 10/02/2011

I know several years ago, my brother sent his son to a Boarding HS in Houston, TX (we live KY), my nephew wanted to be a doctor....he is now third yr medical student at U of Kentucky