U.S. News and World Report magazine named International Community School (ICS) in Kirkland number 24 out of the top 100 high schools in the nation and gave the school a gold ranking in their annual America’s Best High Schools rating.

Rankings are based on the College Readiness Index, a measure of the degree to which students master some college-level material (using a weighted average based 25 percent on the Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) participation rates and 75 percent on the quality-adjusted AP and/or IB participation rates). Schools that received a gold rating ranked in the top 100 nationally in the College Readiness Index, and silver-ranked schools had a college readiness index of at least 20, but did not rank in the top 100 nationally. According to this report, ICS had a College Readiness Index of 87.5.

“It’s really hard to determine a national ranking,” said Lake Washington School District spokesperson Kathryn Reith. “This is one way of looking at high schools around the country … But it’s a good indication of how good ICS is.”

This is the second year that ICS has been recognized in the top 100 schools. Last year, it was number 17, and was the highest-rated school in the state of Washington. The International School in Bellevue ranked highest statewide and ranked 14th overall, but had a lower AP exam participation rate.

“It is an honor for our school to be recognized as one of the best in America,” noted ICS Principal Cindy Duenas. “It truly is a reflection on the students and staff at our school that we are once again ranked in the top 100 schools in the country.”

“I am consistently impressed by the hard work of our students, staff and parents in schools throughout the district,” noted Lake Washington School Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball. “It is great to see the hard work of two of our schools recognized in this way.”

Nearby Redmond High School was also recognized with a silver ranking.

“Our students and staff strive to reach high standards every day, and this recognition helps to support those efforts,” said RHS Principal Jane Todd.

ICS was one of only four schools to receive a gold ranking in King County, while RHS was one of only six schools in King County to receive a silver ranking.

ICS is a choice school in Lake Washington School District, meaning that students from throughout the district can apply to attend the school, which serves students in grades seven through 12. While most of the students hail from Kirkland, a large number of students are also from Redmond and Sammammish. There are 377 students enrolled there in grades 7-12 and entry is by lottery. ICS began when parents and educators came together in 1997 to create and support a small, academically rigorous secondary education program with a focus on international awareness.

U.S. News and World Report works with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education data research business run by Standard & Poor’s to rate high schools, based upon data from the 2006-2007 school year. A three-step process is used to determine the best high schools, using both state proficiency standards and assessing the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work.

1 Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria, VA 6.8 100.0

2 Oxford Academy Cypress, CA 4.4 99.5

3 Pacific Collegiate Charter Santa Cruz, CA 4.1 98.8

4 High Technology High School Lincroft, NJ 3.1 98.4

5 Design and Architectural Senior High Miami, FL 2.7 97.8

14 International School Bellevue, WA 2.6 91.8

24 International Community School Kirkland, WA 3.6 87.5