Newsweek magazine has published its annual list of the top public high schools in the U.S. IUSD was the only Orange County school district with schools in the top 100 nationally. Equally impressive, three IUSD high schools were ranked top three in Orange County. Northwood High School ranked first in the county and No. 25 nationally, University High School was second in the county and No. 57 nationally, and Woodbridge High School was third in the county and No. 69 nationally. Newsweek selected 500 of the nation’s best from more than 20,000 public high schools. The ranking process included indicators such as standardized test scores; counselor staffing; college acceptance and enrollment; SAT and ACT participation and performance; Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) participation and performance; and dual enrollments. Below are the 12 OC high schools on the top 500 list:
- Northwood High School, Irvine Unified School District (25)
- University High School, Irvine Unified School District (57)
- Woodbridge High School, Irvine Unified School District (69)
- Corona del Mar High School, Newport-Mesa Unified School District (100)
- Yorba Linda High School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (172)
- Aliso Niguel High School, Capistrano Unified School District (252)
- Arnold O. Beckman High School, Tustin Unified School District (295)
- Tesoro High School, Capistrano Unified School District (323)
- Trabuco Hills High School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District (335)
- Huntington Beach High School, Huntington Beach Union High School District (346)
- San Clemente High School, Capistrano Unified School District (403)
- Marina High School, Huntington Beach Union High School District (475)
Other publications, including U.S. News & World Report and The Orange County Register, have also curated lists of top-performing high schools over the years, using their own respective formulas. While no ranking system can tell the full story of what goes on inside a school or classroom, each adds something to the discussion of educational success. IUSD schools have been consistently recognized.