In its analysis of over 21,780 public high schools in America, U.S. News & World Report has named Charleston County School District (CCSD) high schools as three of the country's best. Academic Magnet earned Gold Medal status as the 12th best school nationwide. Charleston County School of the Arts was one of only 461 top-performing schools across the country to be awarded Silver Medal status, and Garrett Academy was one of 1,189 schools to earn Bronze Status.
Academic Magnet was given top state honors by being the only school in South Carolina to earn a Gold Medal ranking. School of the Arts was one of only two South Carolina schools to achieve the Silver ranking and is rated as the second best high school in the state.
'These three high schools are excellent models of what works at the high school level,' said Superintendent Dr. Nancy J. McGinley. 'Every day, they reflect high standards for each student, academically challenging environments, and a focus on college and workforce preparation. We are tremendously proud of these schools and their entire communities.'
In collaboration with Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services, U.S. News & World Report judged schools on state reading and math test scores, in addition to how many students participate and do well in challenging Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate courses.