“Newsweek has recently identified the best high schools in the nati0n ‘based on how hard school staffs work to challenge students with advanced placement college-level courses and tests.'” according to a press release from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (excerpt continues below).
Peninsula High School is #178 in the nation and Palos Verdes High School is #239. Among California high schools on the list, Peninsula is #18 and Palos Verdes High is #26. According to Newsweek, “just over 1600 schools, only 5% of the public schools in the United States made the list.” The Newsweek list includes many academies, charter schools, and specialized magnet schools.
District success is not accidental. Both Palos Verdes and Peninsula High schools receive high rankings in the Newsweek rating system because of their open door policy to college level courses. Students at both high schools are encouraged to stretch themselves and enroll in high level courses. In 2010, over 3400 AP tests were taken in PVPUSD. 2010 test results will be received in August, but in the past the passage rate was approximately 75%.
The entire Newsweek list can be accessed by clicking here.
Photo courtesy of PVUSD
