Top Ten

According to Newsweek, these are the 10 best high schools in the
United States. Contributing editor Jay Mathews devised a straightforward grading system for this list. The magazine divided the total number of Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests taken by students in 2004 by the number of graduating seniors. Here are the top 10 high schools and their locations:

1. Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School Irondale, Ala.
2. International Academy Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
3. Stanton College Prep Jacksonville, Fla.
4. Eastside High School Gainesville, Fla.
5. H-B Woodlawn Arlington, Va.
6. School of Science Engineering (magnet school) Dallas
7. Paxon High School Jacksonville, Fla.
8. Pensacola High School Pensacola, Fla.
9. Raleigh Charter High School Raleigh, N.C.
10. Hillsborough High School Tampa, Fla.

Strange…and embarrassing. Not one school west of the Rockies made it on the list. And only one school west of the Mississippi river is on the list.

And if you're a graduating senior from California...trust me, California is west of the Mississippi and the Rockies.