SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego's Preuss School has once again been named San Diego County's top high school by U.S. News and World Report.
The school in La Jolla also ranked sixth among California high schools, based on performance on state assessments, graduation rates and college preparation.
Preuss is a charter middle and high school for low-income students who strive to become the first in their families to graduate from college.
“The Preuss School is a great source of pride for UC San Diego and we are honored that it has been ranked, once again, as the top high school in the region,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Preuss offers a transformational pathway to college for local students from underserved communities.”
PHOTO GALLERY: 10 best public high schools in San Diego County in 2018
The school was also recognized as one of the top 100 high schools in the U.S., coming in at No. 76. It was ranked the 25th best charter school in the U.S.
Graduates of Preuss are accepted to four-year colleges at a rate of more than 90 percent.
“We are honored to be named as the top school in San Diego and among the top 10 schools in California,” said Preuss School Principal Scott Barton. “This prestigious recognition is a credit to our education model and the dedication of our teachers and staff.”
The school says part of their success is due to longer learning time. Students at the school are in class longer each day and for 18 more days a year than other California students. Throughout middle and high school, the school says the extra time adds up to almost an entire extra year.
Preuss is chartered by the San Diego Unified School District and operated by UC San Diego. The school was also nationally recognized in 2017 and 2009.
Several San Diego-area schools among state's best
Numerous San Diego County schools were ranked high in U.S. News and World Report’s listing of Best High Schools in California.
San Diego-area schools that made the top 200 in the state:
- The Preuss School UCSD, La Jolla - San Diego Unified School District (California rank No. 6, National rank No. 76)
- Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego - San Dieguito Union High School District (California rank No. 14, National rank No. 132)
- Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, Chula Vista - Chula Vista Elementary School District (California rank No. 38, National rank No. 245)
- Del Norte High School, San Diego - Poway Unified School District (California rank No. 41, National rank No. 356)
- Torrey Pines High School, San Diego - San Dieguito Union High School District (California rank No. 48, National rank No. 300)
- Westview High School, San Diego - Poway Unified School District (California rank No. 69, National rank No. 425)
- La Jolla High School, La Jolla - San Diego Unified School District (California rank No. 80, National rank No. 476)
- Mt. Everest Academy, San Diego - San Diego Unified School District (California rank No. 88, National rank No. 511)
- San Dieguito High School Academy, Encinitas - San Dieguito Union High School District (California rank No. 110, National rank No. 631)
- Scripps Ranch High School, San Diego - San Diego Unified School District (California rank No. 116, National rank No. 667)
- University City High School, San Diego - San Diego Unified School District (California rank No. 131, National rank No. 788)
- Mt. Carmel High School, Rancho Penasquitos - Poway Unified School District (California rank No. 135, National rank No. 812)
- The O’Farrell Charter, San Diego - San Diego Unified School District (California rank No. 143, National rank No. 849)
- Rancho Bernardo High School, Rancho Bernardo - Poway Unified School District (California rank No. 162, National rank No. 957)
- Eastlake High School, Chula Vista - Sweetwater Union High School District (California rank No. 167, National rank No. 973)
- Junipero Serra High School, San Diego - San Diego Unified School District (California rank No. 170, National rank No. 980)
- Patrick Henry High School, San Diego - San Diego Unified School District (California rank No. 175, National rank 997)
- Classical Academy High School, Escondido (California rank No. 179, National rank No. 1,015)
- Mission Vista High School, Oceanside - Vista Unified School District (California rank No. 196, National rank No. 1,079)
Click here to view the complete list of Best High Schools in California
How California compares to the rest of the U.S.
When it comes to the best high schools by state, California is second-best in the nation.
U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best High School rankings by state are based on states with most gold- or silver-medal high schools.
1. Massachusetts
2. California
3. Maryland
4. Florida
5. Maine
6. Vermont
7 (tie). Connecticut and Kansas
9. New Hampshire
10. Delaware
