To better align statewide requirements with the new Common Core State Standards, the governor recently signed legislation that ended the California High School Exit Exam, which had been a graduation requirement since 2006.

California jettisoned its high school exit exam but has not revised course requirements.

The state encourages local districts to set their own requirements but requires them to include these courses. The California Education Code specifies minimum course requirements for the state’s public school system: three years of instruction in both English and history/social science, two years in both math and science, and one year of either visual or performing arts, a foreign language, or career technical education.

The state sets minimum high school graduation requirements.

NOTE: Data restricted to years where cohort graduation rates are available. The School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas was named the best magnet school and High Technology High School in Lincroft, N.J., ranked as the best STEM high school.SOURCE: Cohort graduation rates, California Department of Education, 2009–2015.

William Howard Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills (1340th)ĭespite the high number of Los Angeles-area campuses making the list, including a handful in the Glendale and Burbank districts, schools in Arizona, New Jersey and Texas were deemed the very best in the United States.īASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz., where 100 percent of students take Advanced Placement classes, was named both the best high school and the best charter school in the nation.

Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Pacoima (1686th).

Sylmar Charter High School (formerly Sylmar High School) (2375th).Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (493rd).PUC Triumph Charter High School in Sylmar (478th).PUC Lakeview Charter High School in Sylmar (1228th).Northridge Academy High School (1472nd).Magnolia Science Academy 2 in Lake Balboa (1293rd).

Magnolia Science Academy in Reseda (136th).Grover Cleveland Charter High School in Reseda (1403rd).Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley (1991st) High Tech Los Angeles in Lake Balboa (n/a).Daniel Pearl Magnet High School in Lake Balboa, which specializes in journalism (849th).CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts – Multimedia and Performing in Van Nuys (1897th).

United states top high schools 2017