California high schools take major dip in new ranking

"The annual list published on Monday by Niche, a data analysis website, is based on data from the U.S. Department of Education, test scores, and surveys from teachers, parents and students. Though Oakland's College Preparatory School clinched the No. 7 slot on last year's list of the country's best private schools, it dropped down to No. 11 this year. Still, the school maintained its spot as the best private high school in the state and earned a position as the eighth-best college prep private high school in the country."

"College Preparatory, which has a yearly tuition of $60,050, enrolls 373 students and has an average SAT score of 1490. It also was listed as the seventh-best high school for STEM in California, one slot down from last year, and the 16th-best STEM school in the nation. The next California schools in the national ranking of private schools were The Bishop's School in La Jolla (No. 20), Cate School in Carpinteria (No. 22) and Oak Crest Academy in Pomona (No. 25)."

"California also fell short of the top 20 on the list of the nation's best public schools. California Academy of Mathematics & Science, a school in Carson with 667 students, ranked highest at No. 24. The school has a 95% graduation rate, with students having an average SAT score of 1360 and 75% of them being enrolled in AP classes. Other schools farther down on the list were Girls Academic Leadership Academy: Dr. Michelle King School for STEM in Los Angeles (No. 43) and California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley in Duarte (No. 48)."

California high schools did not place in the top 10 of the nationwide rankings for best public and private schools. The Niche list used U.S. Department of Education data, test scores, and surveys of teachers, parents and students. Oakland's College Preparatory School fell from No. 7 to No. 11 but remained the highest-ranked private high school in the state and the eighth-best college prep private school nationally. College Preparatory charges $60,050 in tuition, enrolls 373 students, and posts an average SAT of 1490. California Academy of Mathematics & Science led state public schools at No. 24 with a 95% graduation rate and a 1360 average SAT.

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