America's best public high school is revealed, as judges of prestige survey hail students' college

An Arizona charter school has topped the 2024 table for America's best high school.

US News and World Report, the global authority in education rankings, has announced the nation's top 100 schools from nearly 18,000 eligible institutions. 

BASIS Peoria on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, is ranked first place this year, rising from 12th place in last year's rankings. 

It serves fifth through to 12th graders who are majority Asian - with 70 percent of students from this ethnicity, followed by 15 percent white and six percent Hispanic. Fifty-three percent of students are male and 47 percent female. 

BASIS Peoria was closely followed in the rankings by Signature School in Evansville, Indiana, and Tesla STEM High School in Redmond, Washington. 

BASIS Peoria on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, is ranked first place this year, rising from 12th place in last year's rankings

Schools are ranked based on five categories of various weightings - including the college readiness of students, curriculum breadth and state assessment proficiency.

The highest-ranked schools are those found to have the most students who achieved exceptional scores on state assessments for math, reading and science. 

'College readiness' is based on participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams. 

Melissa Rankin, principal of BasisEd school in Peoria AZ

Another category which contributes to a school's ranking, 'underserved student performance', is based on the grades of students who are Black, Hispanic or from low income households. 

'The 2024 Best High Schools rankings offer a starting point for parents to understand a school's academic performance, whether it's a prospective school or one that their child is already attending,' said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor of education at U.S. News.

BASIS Peoria, which offers college counseling workshops and is led by Head Melissa Rankin, scored 100/100 for the college readiness of its students.

Students at the suburban institution can take part in a lengthy roster of extra-curricular activities including sports teams, Model UN and a robotics club.

The school is part of a network called BASIS which has been operating since 1998. 

Campuses follow 'a STEM-infused, liberal arts program' designed to propel students 'farther than they ever thought possible,' according to the website.  

Charter high schools are public high schools that operate under charters and which have been released from some of the regulations governing traditional public schools.

Signature School in Evansville, Indiana, was ranked second in the nation with a college readiness score of 99.5/100

In third place, TESLA Stem High School was ranked 100/100 for college readiness but, as a specialist school, it lagged behind in curriculum breadth

The top 100 high schools are located across 26 states and the District of Columbia, according to the 2024 U.S. News Best High Schools national rankings, with 62% concentrated in Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas. https://t.co/SThLGAifkY

— U.S. News Education (@USNewsEducation) April 23, 2024

Another charter school, Signature School in Evansville, Indiana, was a close second with a college readiness score of 99.5/100. 

Its demographics differ from BASIS Peoria, with a majority of white students at 64.6 percent, 18.3 percent Asian, 5.9 percent black and 5.3 percent Hispanic. Fifty-nine percent are female and 41 percent male. 

In third place, TESLA Stem High School was ranked 100/100 for college readiness but, as a specialist school, it lagged behind in curriculum breadth. 

The Lake Washington district school comprises 72.7 percent Asian students, 19 percent white, 2.8 percent Hispanic and 0.2 percent black. Fifty-six percent are male and 44 percent female. 

Julia R. Masterman Secondary School in Philadelphia and Payton College Preparatory High School in Illinois were ranked fourth and fifth respectively. 

US News Education said the top 100 high schools are located in just 26 states and the District of Columbia.  

Some 62 percent are concentrated in Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas. 

National Ranking: the top 10 

BASIS Peoria (AZ)

Signature School (IN)

Tesla STEM High School (WA)

Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (PA)

Payton College Preparatory High School (IL)

The School for the Talented and Gifted (TX)

Academic Magnet High School (SC)

International Academy of Oakland (MI)

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (GA)

Riverside Stem Academy (CA)