Columbus High Magnet School is Ranked as Georgia's Best

Newsweek/The Daily Beast has released the annual rankings of America’s best public high schools. In Georgia, the top spot goes to Columbus High.

Overall Columbus ranked #105 in the U.S.

According to the report the rankings show how well a school is preparing students for college.

The methodology to determine each school’s score consists of six parts.

Four-year, on-time graduation rate (25 percent): Based on the standards set forth by the National Governors Association, this is calculated by dividing the number of graduates in 2012 by the number of ninth graders in 2008, plus transfers in, minus transfers out. Unlike other formulas, this does not count students who took longer than four years to complete high school. We accepted 2011 grad rates from districts that had not yet calculated their 2012 numbers.

Percent of 2011 graduates who were accepted to college (25 percent): This metric reflects the proportion of graduates who were accepted to either a two- or four-year college for matriculation the fall after graduation.

AP/IB/AICE tests per student (25 percent): This metric is designed to measure the degree to which each school is challenging its students with college-level examinations. It consists of the total number of AP, IB, and AICE tests given in 2012, divided by the total enrollment in order to normalize by school size. AP exams taken by students who also took an IB or AICE exam in the same subject area were subtracted from the total.

Average SAT and/or ACT score (10 percent)

Average AP/IB/AICE exam score (10 percent)

Percent of students enrolled in at least one AP/IB/AICE course (5 percent): This metric assesses the number of students who were exposed to advanced curricula.The number of students enrolled in at least one class was divided by the total enrollment.

The top 5 public high schools in Georgia(national raking):

1. Columbus (#105)

2.John Davidson Fine Arts School Augusta (#176)

3.Northview – Johns Creek (#197)

4.Walton – Cobb County (#203)

5.Johns Creek High (#214)