Hooch, Johns Creek, Northview Make Top High Schools List

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JOHNS CREEK, GA -- Three schools in Johns Creek have been ranked among the top high schools across the state.

The 2016 edition of the prestigious U.S. News and World Report was released Tuesday. So, how do area schools stack up compared to their counterparts in the Peach State?

Alpharetta ranks No. 6, and is followed by Milton High School at No. 7, Chattahoochee High School at No. 9, Northview High School at No. 11, Johns Creek High School at No. 12, Roswell High School at No. 15, Cambridge High School at No. 17 and Fulton Science Academy High School at No. 27.

“What’s notable about our schools’ rankings is that none are magnet or theme schools with specialized admission processes, which is the case of many other schools on the national list,” said Kenneth Zeff, interim Fulton schools superintendent. “These high schools have attendance boundaries that reflect their unique communities and demonstrate the true value of our educational programs. Although all of Fulton County Schools has shown progress over the past few years, it is wonderful that so many of high schools are considered the best in the nation.”

The statewide top 10 list, which can be viewed here, included several metro Atlanta high schools and is the first year that the rankings include graduation rates.

The report also recognized schools with gold, silver and bronze medal awards. Gold medal high schools are the top 500 high schools meeting the magazine’s performance criteria. Schools ranked 501 through 2,673 are named silver medal schools, with the bronze award given to those that are high achieving, but didn’t provide as many advanced offerings as others.

Of the 15 Georgia schools that were awarded gold medals, six are in Fulton County – the highest number of any school system in the state. One Fulton school received a silver medal.

U.S. News researched more than 21,500 public high schools across the nation, considering enrollment, diversity, participation in the free and reduced meals program as well as the results of state assessments, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests. Rankings were based on the 2013-2014 school year data.

Out of the 50 states, Georgia ranked 21st nationally according to the percentage of medals earned by public high schools.

Read the full methodology. To see a complete list of the 2016 Georgia high school rankings, click here.

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