The Challenge Index is the oldest high school ranking system in the country, beginning in 1998 in both Newsweek and The Washington Post.


It is the only list that does not rely on test scores, which are more a measure of student family income than school quality. It is also the only list that compares private and public schools. It ranks high schools by a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. Schools ranked no. 220 or above are in the top 1 percent of America’s 22,000 high schools, no. 440 or above are in the top 2 percent and so on.
Participation in college-level AP, IB and Cambridge tests is a unique measure of the depth of learning. Teachers cannot dumb down the exams because they are written and graded by independent experts. Success on the exams has been linked with success in college. The list is designed to recognize schools that challenge average students, so magnet or charter schools that have few or no average students are placed on a separate Public Elites list on this website. The E&E% column shows the percentage of all seniors who passed at least one AP, IB or Cambridge test SOME TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL. The Lunch% column gives the percentage of all students whose family incomes are low enough to qualify for lunch subsidies. The letter “C” after the name means it is a public charter school. The letter “P” means it is a private school.

THE 2022 TOP 300 INDEX


Rank


School Name


City | State


Equity & Excellence


Free or Reduced Lunch


Index Ratio

Use SEARCH field to find by city or school name.
RankSchool NameCityStateE & E %Lunch %Index
1IDEA McAllen - CMcAllenTX967719.904
2Signature - CEvansvilleIN1001717.212
3Carnegie VanguardHoustonTx1003317.012
4Young Woman's Preparatory AcademyMiamiFL936316.5
5IDEA Pharr - CPharrTX869116.469
6IDEA San Juan - CSan JuanTX929616.113
7IDEA Frontier - CBrownsvilleTX888915.345
8BASIS Mesa - CMesaAZ100NA15.25
9BASIS Peoria - CPeoriaAZ100NA15.204
10Stanton College PrepJacksonvilleFL1001614.5
11IDEA Alamo - CAlamoTX1008814.13
12BASIS DC - CWashingtonDC100NA13.615
13AIMS College Prep - COaklandCA646412.979
14Jefferson County IBBirminghamAL1001812.769
15IDEA Weslaco - CWeslacoTX588212.282
16IDEA Toros - CEdinburgTX878212.182
17IDEA Edinburg - CEdinburgTX1007912.016
18Archimedean Upper Conservatory - CMiamiFL1005212
19BASIS Flagstaff - CFlagstaffAZ100NA11.944
20Pine Crest - PFort LauderdaleFL98NA11.854
21Young Women's Leadership AcademySan AntonioTX655311.822
22IDEA Carver - CSan AntonioTX668011.642
23SuncoastRiviera BeachFL953911.575
24EdgewoodMerritt IslandFL961711.149
25Talkington School for Young Women LeadersLubbockTX585011.093
26Rangel Young Women's LeadershipDallasTX957210.96
27Darnell CookmanDuval CountyFL864410.955
28IDEA Quest - CEdinburgTX848410.931
29Uncommon Collegiate - CBrooklynNY758610.922
30BASIS San Antonio - CSan AntonioTX100610.854
31IDEA Donna - CDonnaTX519410.73
32Orlando Science - COrlandoFL773810.59
33Young Women's College PrepHoustonTX976510.531
34BASIS Tucson North - CTucsonAZ100NA10.438
35BASIS Prescott - CPrescottAZ100NA10.382
36Samuel WolfsonDuval CountyFL533110.364
37IDEA Brownsville - CBrownsvilleTX707410.341
38Gwinnett School of Math, Science & TechnologyLawrencevilleGA983410.147
39St. Anselm's Abbey - PWashingtonDC100NA10.098
40BASIS Phoenix - CPhoenixAZ100NA10.044
41Academic MagnetNorth CharlestonSC10089.71
42Westlake Academy - CWestlakeTX9119.652
43School of Business & ManagementDallasTX56799.619
44IDEA Weslaco Pike - CWeslacoTX82819.281
45Pine ViewOspreyFL100109.113
46Paxon School of Advanced StudiesDuval CountyFL69299.087
47West ShoreMelbourneFL98139.007
48Uplift North Hills - CIrvingTX88228.965
49KIPP Denver Collegiate - CDenverCO691008.862
50Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart - PMiamiFL949428.833
51BASIS Oro Valley - COro ValleyAZ100NA8.788
52Middlesex County Science, Math & Engineering TechEdisonNJ9538.7
53Fort LauderdaleFort LauderdaleFL34578.652
54Haas Hall Academy - CFayettevilleAR89208.645
55Somerset Academy - CPembroke PinesFL74378.636
56Klida Utica Academy for International StudiesSterling HeightsMI100118.541
57Keystone - PSan AntonioTX99NA8.5
58Dreyfoos School of the ArtsWest Palm BeachFL76228.468
59KIPP Generations Collegiate - CHoustonTX52758.402
60Uncommon Leadership - CBrooklynNY56858.394
61Young Women's Leadership AcademyFort WorthTX80758.35
62Trinity Prep - PWinter ParkFL9538.32
63Uncommon Prep - CBrooklynNY66798.096
64Harker - PSan JoseCA9608.063
65Challenge Early CollegeHoustonTX78727.872
66JerichoJerichoNY92147.865
67Riverstone International - PBoiseID100NA7.611
68Spanish RiverBoca RatonFL81357.601
69KIPP University Prep - CSan AntonioTX83827.475
70Augusta Prep - PMartinezGA85NA7.414
71Albuquerque Institute for Science & Math at NMM - CAlbuquerqueNM72527.294
72California Academy of Math & ScienceCarsonCA93447.289
73Preuss - CLa JollaCA901007.255
74International Studies Charter - CMiamiFL100967.25
75Communications ArtsSan AntonioTX83177.248
76UniversityTucsonAZ100567.233
77North Star Washington Park - CNewarkNJ74807.164
78Uplift Summit International - CArlingtonTX87697.102
79Corbett - CCorbettOR57257.056
80Cooper - PThe WoodlandsTX85NA7.043
81InternationalBellevueWA9187
82Meadows - PLas VegasNV79NA6.976
83Lane TechChicagoIL51496.918
84Oxford AcademyCypressCA97436.905
85Jose Marti MASTMiamiFL88776.88
86Downingtown STEM AcademyDowningtownPA10046.852
87McBrideLong BeachCA66426.829
88Judge Barefoot Sanders Law MagnetDallasTX83756.819
89PoolesvillePoolesvilleMD7786.767
90Newark Academy - PLivingstonNJ100NA6.745
91Ransom Everglades - PCoconut GroveFL95NA6.661
92DeBakeyHoustonTX83436.651
93Haas Hall Academy - CBentonvilleAZ93156.629
94Union County MagnetScotch PlainsNJ7586.592
95Park Tudor - PIndianapolisIN80NA6.545
96Pacific Collegiate - CSanta CruzCA68126.529
97Uplift Mighty Prep - CFort WorthTX89876.509
98Uncommon Charter - CBrooklynNY60746.5
99Somerset Academy Canyons - CBoynton BeachFL50276.5
100Peak to Peak Charter - CLafayetteCO7586.445
101Doral Performing Arts & Entertainment AcademyDoralFL86446.412
102School Without WallsWashingtonDC9236.411
103North Star Lincoln Park Campus - CNewarkNJ52866.377
104InterlakeBellevueWA63216.357
105Sage Ridge - PRenoNV91NA6.35
106KIPP Nashville Collegiate - CNashvilleTN421006.349
107Washington International - PWashingtonDC100NA6.333
108Cold Spring HarborCold Spring HarborNY7336.313
109Los Angeles Center for Enriched StudiesLos AngelesCA79496.296
110SpeedwaySpeedwayIN55506.281
111Stockton Early College Academy - CStocktonCA71586.278
112Middlesex County Allied Health & Biomedical ScienceWoodbridgeNJ3076.258
113Lake Highland Prep - POrlandoFL90NA6.247
114ColumbusColumbusGA58536.232
115Academy of Information TechnologyScotch PlainsNJ7546.157
116Pembroke Pines - CPembroke PinesFL55306.141
117Indian HillCincinnatiOH7536.126
118Highland ParkDallasTX8406.126
119Baton Rouge MagnetBaton RougeLA61156.116
120HerricksNew Hyde ParkNY73216.104
121Woods Charter - CChapel HillNC82116.089
122WheatleyOld WestburyNY6666.068
123EastsideGainesvilleFL49556.061
124Martin Luther King Jr. Academic MagnetNashvilleTN8086.057
125KIPP Austin Collegiate - CAustinTX74756.035
126North HoustonHoustonTX57876.029
127Middlesex - PConcordMA100NA6.029
128Coral Academy of Science - CRenoNV32226.022
129School for Advanced Studies HomesteadMiamiFL100625.983
130Raleigh Charter - CRaleighNC8555.971
131BrentwoodBrentwoodTN7235.958
132Metro Academic & ClassicalSt. LouisMO601005.926
133School for Advanced Studies NorthMiamiFL98615.917
134Ann Richards School for Young Women LeadersAustinTX93605.887
135Glenbard WestGlen EllynIL64235.847
136Bear Creek - PRedmondWA80NA5.847
137LynbrookSan JoseCA8055.766
138TERRA Environmental Research InstituteMiamiFL73445.757
139Uplift Grand Prep - CGrand PrairieTX87845.739
140Marshall FundamentalPasadenaCA43615.71
141Savannah Country Day - PSavannahGA55NA5.676
142Dr. Ronald McNairJersey CityNJ43505.674
143South Texas ISD Science AcademyMercedesTX72435.667
144LowellSan FranciscoCA90365.656
145Ponte VedraPonte VedraFL7225.645
146Boston LatinBostonMA75265.628
147Forsyth Country Day - PLewisvilleNC85NA5.622
148WyomingWyomingOH7765.609
149Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion - CHadleyMA100235.607
150Stockton Collegiate International - CStocktonCA92505.605
151H-B WoodawnArlingtonVA76165.598
152Uplift Hampton Prep - CDallasTX79815.585
153Uplift Luna Prep - CDallasTX80825.583
154Whitney Young MagnetChicagoIL83365.575
155Walker - PMariettaGA64NA5.571
156Loyola - PLos AngelesCA81NA5.559
157Palo AltoPalo AltoCA75105.554
158BronxvilleBronxvilleNY7015.549
159ManhassetManhassetNY7595.514
160Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas - CHendersonNV71175.505
161Meadows - PLas VegasNV79NA5.5
162Sturgis - CHyannisMA94255.477
163ChurchillPotomacMD7855.454
164KIPP Houston - CHoustonTX58735.413
165Brooklyn TechBrooklynNY98595.405
166Berkeley - PTampaFL90NA5.401
167Monta VistaCupertinoCA7525.387
168Townsend HarrisFlushingNY45515.347
169School for Advanced Studies SouthMiamiFL100405.341
170Canyon Crest AcademySan DiegoCA10035.333
171MeridianFalls Church CityVA8385.315
172Holy Names - PSeattleWA97NA5.296
173IrvingtonIrvingtonNY4895.276
174North Fort MyersNorth Fort MyersFL72NA5.268
175WoottonRockvilleMD7975.263
176School for Advanced Studies WolfsonMiamiFL98545.262
177Doral Academy - CDoralFL74505.253
178International School of BeavertonBeavertonOR92205.23
179WestlakeAustinTX7345.219
180North Star Charter - CEagleID100NA5.182
181SaratogaSaratogaCA8015.158
182South Texas ISD Medical ProfessionsOlmitoTX66725.153
183TroyFullertonCA69255.144
184Uplift Infinity Prep - CIrvingTX84745.143
185Vernon HillsVernon HillsIL71125.129
186Coral ReefMiamiFL66455.123
187Mater Performing Arts - CMiamiFL68765.069
188Chagrin FallsChagrin FallsOH7555.038
189Jones College PrepChicagoIL60395.035
190Design & ArchitectureMiamiFL100385.026
191Adlai StevensonLincolnshireIL6865.017
192Elizabeth High School Frank J. Cicarell AcademyElizabethNJ73675.014
193Garden CityGarden CityNY6034.956
194South SideRockville CentreNY83174.948
195WestmontWestmontIL61364.936
196OasisCape CoralFL81314.935
197BrooksChicagoIL30724.922
198Villa Madonna Academy - PVilla HillsKY82NA4.921
199Achieve Early CollegeMcAllenTX76694.914
200Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early CollegeGilroyCA95454.859
201Uplift Williams Prep - CDallasTX63904.856
202LambertSuwaneeGA6944.852
203Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts-Manhattan - CNew YorkNY76764.837
204CorinthCorinthMS78534.808
205WellingtonWellingtonFL28454.794
206NewportBellevueWA7494.788
207Advanced Technologies AcademyLas VegasNV82544.78
208Bergen County TechTeterboroNJ80124.776
209William A. Shine-Great Neck SouthGreat NeckNY80164.757
210MinnetonkaMinnetonkaMN8074.718
211Washington-LibertyArlingtonVA72304.69
212Richard MontgomeryRockvilleMD61254.664
213Judge Memorial Catholic - PSalt Lake CityUT76124.664
214City HonorsBuffaloNY94334.662
215Mission San JoseFremontCANA874.636
216Bethesda-Chevy ChaseBethesdaMD71164.626
217MadeiraCincinnatiOH6754.625
218St. Croix Preparatory Academy - PStillwaterMN7234.605
219HarrisonHarrisonNY83224.582
220WhitmanBethesdaMD8244.556
221Somerset Arts Conservatory - CPembroke PinesFL91304.555
222Douglas AndersonDuval CountyFL68204.551
223Arizona College PrepChandlerAZ7194.545
224Vladovic Harbor Teachers Preparation AcademyWilmingtonCA89644.528
225Palmer Trinity - PMiamiFL90NA4.519
226BannekerWashingtonDC701004.513
227Savannah Arts AcademySavannahGA50124.484
228GrapevineGrapevineTX49204.481
229McLeanFairfax CountyVA81124.48
230Coral ShoresTavernierFL48374.477
231Pelham MemorialPelhamNY70124.47
232John Paul II - PRidgelandSC42124.469
233Oakland Charter - COaklandCA49804.464
234LamarHoustonTX45494.448
235OaktonFairfax CountyVA70134.444
236duPont ManualLouisvilleKY82244.437
237Achievement First University Prep - CBrooklynNY40984.435
238Charter School of Wilmington - cWilmingtonDE7144.414
239Mater Academy - CHialeah GardensFL66814.367
240BellevueBellevueWA69104.358
241YorktownArlingtonVA75124.347
242International Studies PrepCoral GablesFL50524.347
243SolonSolonOH65124.341
244Walter JohnsonBethesdaMD69114.312
245SyossetSyossetNY7114.312
246Harding Charter Prep - COklahoma CityOK42454.305
247Spruce CreekPort OrangeFL41394.274
248Colleyville HeritageColleyvilleTX54174.267
249CarmelCarmelCA70164.262
250Boca Raton CommunityBoca RatonFL50404.246
251University - CFresnoCA75104.243
252BeachwoodBeachwoodOH58NA4.236
253Gonzaga - PWashingtonDC100NA4.235
254Juan Diego Catholic - PDraperUT6734.217
255LangleyFairfax CountyVA7844.212
256MadisonFairfax CountyVA70114.201
257Georgetown Visitation - PWashingtonDC75NA4.185
258WestwoodAustinTX71194.175
259TroyTroyMI61114.152
260CreeksideSt. Johns CountyFL6184.146
261MAST at FIUMiamiFL71614.124
262Trinity Christian - PFairfaxVA78NA4.121
263Pinewood - PLos Altos HillsCA80NA4.111
264YES Prep White Oak - CHoustonTX70954.091
265RoslynRoslyn HeightsNY70124.086
266Energy InstituteHoustonTX45514.086
267YES Prep Southeast - CHoustonTX74864.078
268Eastwood AcademyHoustonTX66744.054
269Benjamin FranklinNew OrleansLA85374.045
270Harvard Westlake - PStudio CityCA84NA4.036
271Osbourn ParkPrince William CountyVA48344.004
272YES Prep East End - CHoustonTX80903.924
273Achievement First Brooklyn - CBrooklynNY38873.884
274Triangle Math & Science Academy - CCaryNC59183.857
275ChantillyFairfax CountyVA67203.824
276Ottawa HillsOttawa HillsOH6313.821
277Mary Institute & Saint Louis Country Day - PSt. LouisMO87NA3.752
278Northcoast Preparatory & Performing Arts - CArcataCA91283.75
279MidtownAtlantaGA50373.74
280WilsonWashingtonDC63153.73
281RyeRyeNY8513.701
282Gulf CoastNaplesFL84313.667
283Sato AcademyLong BeachCA78323.643
284ClassicalProvidenceRI74673.629
285WoodsonFairfax CountyVA68153.625
286MarshallFairfax CountyVA85213.621
287RobinsonFairfax CountyVA70143.567
288AlpharettaAlpharettaGA65123.555
289LincolnTallahasseeFL47283.548
290South RiverEdgewaterMD57153.524
291High School of Health SciencesWalesWI5373.477
292Quince OrchardGaithersburgMD56313.42
293Mater Academy Lakes - CHialeah GardensFL52803.404
294T.R. RobinsonTampaFLNA473.375
295Uplift Heights Prep - CDallasTX72923.362
296FreedomOrlandoFL45503.317
297WakefieldArlingtonVA49413.299
298CentrevilleFairfax CountyVA59283.257
299Foshay Learning CenterLos AngelesCA42903.2
300HomewoodHomewoodAL59183.17
NA means information not available.
 

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