PORTLAND, Ore. -- Corbett High School in east Multnomah County has been ranked fifth best in the country by Newsweek magazine for students who pass college prep classes.
Newsweek compiles the list mainly using what it calls a Challenge Index by dividing the total number of Advanced Placement or International Baccaleuate exams taken, by the number of graduating seniors that spring.
Corbett ranked fifth with an index of 11.391. Always an academic powerhouse, the district created a charter school within the high school to allow easier transfers to the school for out-of-district students.
The next best ranking in Oregon was Sheldon High School at 665th, with an index of 2.025. After that the differences in the index become marginal and the remaining top five high schools, in order, are Aloha, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville and Beaverton.
Noteworthy about Aloha is that roughly half the students are poor and qualify for lunch subsidies.
In Washington state, Union High School in Camas was 572nd best in the country with an index of 2.172. Mountain View High School was 680th with an index of 2.
The annual list includes all schools with an index ratio of 1.0 or above. The 2010 list of Americas Best High Schools is actually based on May 2009 data.
MORE: See entire Newsweek list