Las Lomas, Northgate Among Nation's Top Schools

Las Lomas and Northgate were both named top high schools by U.S. News & World Report today.

The publication released its 2012 list of the nation's best public high schools today, which includes information on nearly 22,000 schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia, according to the publication's website.

In addition to ranking the schools, U.S. News & World Report awarded 4,850 bronze, silver, and gold stars to top performing schools. Of those, 500 were gold stars, with 97 gold stars going to California schools, according to the magazine's website.

The publication awarded Las Lomas High School a gold medal, with a college readiness score of 46.6 out of 100. The school is ranked 457th nationally and 92nd statewide. Fifty-three percent of students at Las Lomas participate in advanced placement classes.

"It's exciting. Las Lomas is fortunate to be part of a community that values and respects education," said Matt Campbell, the school's principal. "Our staff, students, and parents work together so that our students can be successful."

With a college readiness score of 29.4, Northgate High School was ranked number 1,120 nationally and 227th statewide. Thirty-seven percent of Northgate students participate in advanced placement classes. The publication awarded the school a silver medal.

In partnership with the American Institute for Research, U.S. News & World Report analyzed schools on a state level based upon how well each school's students performed on state assessments, according to the website.

High schools that ranked highly on the state level analysis were then eligible to be ranked nationally. National rankings were determined by the degree to which each school had prepared its students for college. This determination involved assessing the number of advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs taken by students at each school, according to the website.