High School In Cerritos Named Best In California By U.S. News & World Report

CERRITOS (CBSLA.com) — Whitney High School in Cerritos is the best public high school in California, according to rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

The ABC Unified School District campus ranked 19th nationally. The publication commended the school's 100 percent graduation rate and its variety of honors and Advanced Placement courses, along with a 25-1 student-teacher ratio and a college readiness index of 86.6 percent.

California Academy of Mathematics and Science in Carson ranked 10th in California and 100th nationally, with a college readiness index of 82.5.

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, graduation 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.

As for No. 1? 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.

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