MARTINEZ, Calif. – Alhambra High School has been described as among the best in the country, according to a U.S. News & World Report study that ranked more than 17,0245 schools of the 23,000 reviewed.
The 2019 U.S. News Best High Schools report said Alhambra High School was ranked 4,125th in the country and 602nd among California schools. It achieved that ranking with a 43 percent advanced placement participation rate and a 96 percent graduation rate, the report said.
Mount Diablo High School, in Concord, was ranked 10,071st nationally and 1,107th in California, the report said.
Overall, California’s high schools graduate 94.9 percent of their students, and 395 California schools are ranked in the top 25 percent in graduation rates.
The report took a closer look at Alhambra High School, which had an overall score of 76.08.
In addition to the 96 percent graduation rate and the 43 percent of students who took at least one advance placement examination, the report noted that 30 percent passed at least one of those tests. Reading proficiency was 69 percent and mathematics proficiency was 39 percent.
The school has a 21 to 1 student-teacher ratio and a student body of 1,171.
U.S. News & World Report obtained data from the U.S. Department of Education, especially its Common Core of Data, statewide mathematics and reading level assessment tests and high school graduation rates, the College Board’s advanced placement examination data and the International Baccalaureate examination data.
It looked at seniors’ participation rate and examination scores in Advance Placement or International Baccalaureate, the College Curriculum Breadth Index that records the percentage of examination takers who earned full credit and state standardized tests and other assessments for subject proficiency,
It also factored in the performances of those they defined as “underserved students,” the learning outcomes among African Americans, Hispanic and low-income students, and schools’ graduation rates, which it said is an important indicator of how well a school is succeeding.
Charter and magnet schools were examined for the first time this year, in addition to public schools.
Of states, Massachusetts had the best state ranking, based on the largest proportion of high schools in the top 25 percent of the 2019 Best High School rankings, and 48.8 percent of its eligible schools achieved that ranking.
Maryland was second with 43.7 percent. California was third with 40 percent and Connecticut was fourth with 39.8 percent.
