Westview High, Del Norte included in top schools list

(CNS) — Canyon Crest Academy in northern San Diego is the fifth best public high school in the state, according to rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.

The campus in the San Dieguito Union School District ranked 73rd nationally. The publication commended the school for having 93 percent of its nearly 1,900 students participating in Advanced Placement classes, and a college readiness index of 86.6.

Locally, Westview High in Torrey Highlands was ranked 38th in the state and 266th in the country. Del Norte High in 4S Ranch was ranked 50th in the state and 334th in the country.

The rankings were based on language and math proficiency tests; whether black, Hispanic and low-income students performed better than their peers in their states; and, for the first time, grad

uation rates.

“A high school education is imperative for success in both college and a career, and a school’s graduation rate is a key indicator of whether students are being effectively prepared for both paths,” said Anita Narayan, managing editor of education at U.S. News. “The 2016 Best High Schools rankings provide students and parents with data-driven information on public schools to help them make better-informed decisions about their education.’’

The college readiness index was based on the percentage of students who participated in advanced placement or international baccalaureate programs.

U.S. News & World Report ranked the School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas as tops in the U.S. for the fifth year in a row. The best in California was Whitney High of Cerritos, in southeastern Los Angeles County.