Archive

25 Best High Schools in the South

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We used six indicators culled from school surveys to compare public high schools in the U.S., with graduation and college acceptance rates weighed most heavily. Other criteria included college-level courses and exams, as well as SAT and ACT scores. Here are the top schools in the South. See full results here.

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Bowling Green, Kentucky


Overall Rank: 1

FINAL SCORE: 9.6627

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.25

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.98

SAT: 2040

ACT: 31.7


Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky
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Dallas, Texas


Overall Rank: 3

FINAL SCORE: 9.4330

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 4.08

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.73

SAT: 1903

ACT: 28

School for the Talented and Gifted
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Bartow, Florida


Overall Rank: 4

FINAL SCORE: 9.3079

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.81

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.67

SAT: 1840

ACT: 28.8


Iternational Baccalaureate School at Bartow High
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Dallas, Texas


Overall Rank: 7

FINAL SCORE: 8.9816

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.90

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.55

SAT: 1746

ACT: 25.9

School of Science/Engineering Magnet High School
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Hot Springs, Arkansas


Overall Rank: 8

FINAL SCORE: 8.9674

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.92

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.79

SAT: 1853

ACT: 28.8

Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
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Miami, Florida


Overall Rank: 9

FINAL SCORE: 8.8707

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 2.46

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.62

SAT: 1785

ACT: 28

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Richmond, Virginia


Overall Rank: 10

FINAL SCORE: 8.8350

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 99%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 65%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.54

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.98

SAT: 2095

ACT: 31

Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government & International Studies
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Irondale, Alabama


Overall Rank: 11

FINAL SCORE: 8.8237

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 69%

AP/IB Tests per student: 2.61

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74

SAT: 1908

ACT: 29.6

The Daily Beast
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Durham, North Carolina


Overall Rank: 12

FINAL SCORE: 8.7263

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 99.7%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 76%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.06

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.90

SAT: 2059

ACT: 31

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
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Jacksonville, Florida


Overall Rank: 18

FINAL SCORE: 8.5427

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.39

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.27

SAT: 1758

ACT: 28

Lifetouch Photography
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North Charleston, South Carolina


Overall Rank: 21

FINAL SCORE: 8.4817

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 58%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.48

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.83

SAT: 1918

ACT: 28.1

Academic Magnet High School
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Fayetteville, Arkansas


Overall Rank: 22

FINAL SCORE: 8.3806

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.90

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.95

SAT: 2010

ACT: 28

Haas Hall Academy
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Greenville, South Carolina


Overall Rank: 23

FINAL SCORE: 8.3686

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 76%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.28

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.79

SAT: 1688

ACT: 24.8

SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities
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Wilmington, Delaware


Overall Rank: 26

FINAL SCORE: 8.3206

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.16

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.91

SAT: 1888

ACT: N/A


The Charter School of Wilmington
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Raleigh, North Carolina


Overall Rank: 29

FINAL SCORE: 8.2579

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 98.4%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 64%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.55

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.94

SAT: 1914

ACT: 28.1

Raleigh Charter High School
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Merritt Island, Florida


Overall Rank: 31

FINAL SCORE: 8.1754

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 68%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.31

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.62

SAT: 1732

ACT: 25.8

Edgewood Junior Senior High School
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Nashville, Tennessee


Overall Rank: 32

FINAL SCORE: 8.1431

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 99%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 65%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.56

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.68

SAT: 1904

ACT: 27.4

Hume-Fogg Academic High School
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Irving, Texas


Overall Rank: 36

FINAL SCORE: 8.0594

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 40%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.97

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.63

SAT: 1758

ACT: 25


Uplift North Hills Preparatory
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Columbus, Georgia


Overall Rank: 38

FINAL SCORE: 8.0254

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 63%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.96

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74

SAT: 1722

ACT: 25

Columbus High School Liberal Arts Magnet
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Mobile, Alabama


Overall Rank: 39

FINAL SCORE: 8.0214

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 87%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.61

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.56

SAT: 1280

ACT: 28.6

Alabama School of Mathematics and Science
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Avondale, Louisiana


Overall Rank: 46

FINAL SCORE: 7.9233

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 34%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.49

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74

SAT: N/A

ACT: 28

Patrick Taylor Science and Technology Academy
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Poolesville, Maryland


Overall Rank: 50

FINAL SCORE: 7.8413

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 98.0%

College Bound: 93%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 62%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.55

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.86

SAT: 1911

ACT: 27

Poolesville High School
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Columbus, Mississippi


Overall Rank: 57

FINAL SCORE: 7.7822

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 24%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.21

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.83

SAT: 1857

ACT: 27.5

The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
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Franklin, Tennessee


Overall Rank: 59

FINAL SCORE: 7.7637

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.3%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 74%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.60

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.72

SAT: 1949

ACT: 23.2

Fred J. Page High
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Lucas, Texas


Overall Rank: 62

FINAL SCORE: 7.7339

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 97%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 47%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.15

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.61

SAT: 1650

ACT: 25.4

Lovejoy High School

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