Three Arizona schools are among the top 100 high schools in the country, according to a new ranking by Newsweek magazine, although one local school lost the top spot from last year.
The No. 1 school in the 2008 list was Basis Tucson, a charter school that is now ranked fifth in the nation.
"We're always satisfied to be on the list," said Michael Block, co-founder of Basis Tucson, 3434 E. Broadway.
"No. 1 versus No. 5; it is always nice to be No. 1, but I'm happy to be in the top 10."
The top 10 has become home turf for Basis Tucson, which ranked third and sixth, respectively, in 2006 and 2007.
Last year, Basis was the only Arizona school in Newsweek's top 400. This year, Tucson's University High School ranked 21st. Flagstaff's Northland Preparatory Academy came in 89th. Tucson's Sonoran Science Academy just missed the top 100, coming in 101st.
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The highest-ranking school in Maricopa County — Pinnacle High School — came in at 298th.
The only other Tucson school ranked was Catalina Foothills High School, at No. 472.
The appearance for University High, 421 N. Arcadia Ave., was a first for the Tucson Unified School District campus. In previous years, it made a separate Newsweek list because it requires that students pass an entrance exam.
"Our students, faculty and staff really make this national recognition possible through their hard work and commitment to our school," said University Principal Rosy Beetcher. "It's based on a lot of hard work and I'm really proud of everybody and what they do at the school."
The rankings are determined through tests, graduation rates and — of course — grades, Newsweek says.
"It's not only the rankings that are nice. It also establishes a certain high level of education that's expected of students in high school. And I think it's a positive thing," Block said. "The ratings are nice because they encourage this specification for graduation or attendance of high-level courses, and that's always good."
As for falling from the top spot, he said, "there's going to be a little variation from year to year, but then again, being in the top 10 is good enough for me."
More online
Go to www.newsweek.com/id/201160 to read the Newsweek story and see all the rankings.
