Best High Schools 2012

10. High Technology High School (Lincroft, NJ) High Technology High School partners with Rochester Institute of Technology, Georgian Court University, and Brookland Community College so students can earn college credit for courses such as computer-assisted design, civil engineering and architecture, and digital electronics.

9. International School (Bellevue, Wash.)

Students at the International School venture outside of the classroom for learning during “focus weeks.” Activities can range from cooking classes to disaster preparedness courses or even environmental trips to the Cascade Mountains.

8. Pacific Collegiate School (Santa Cruz, Calif.)

Pacific Collegiate School students and their parents give back to the community through volunteering and service projects. To promote cultural awareness, all students are required to be proficient in at least one foreign language prior to graduation.

7. Oxford Academy (Cypress, Calif.)

Oxford Academy boasts a culturally diverse student body, with many students from homes in which English is the second language. Students choose between business or health/science tracks to supplement core honors and Advanced Placement courses.

6. BASIS Tucson (Tucson, Ariz.)

Student at BASIS Tucson can graduate in three years due to the school’s accelerated curriculum. Those who choose to stay on for a fourth year complete a capstone study in subjects such as quantum mechanics or can tackle an independent senior project.

5. International Academy (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)

Students at the International Academy can earn up to a year of college credit before finishing high school. The International Baccalaureate school also offers enrichment opportunities such as career mentorships and cultural trips to destinations including the Galapagos Islands.

4. University High School (Tucson, Ariz.)

University High School offers concurrent enrollment in select courses through the University of Arizona. The school also offers a variety of honors and Advanced Placement courses, and students can take electives such as dance or software development.

3. School of Science and Engineering Magnet (Dallas)

Students at the School of Science and Engineering Magnet can earn college credit through dual enrollment partnerships with several area community colleges and universities. The school shares a campus with five other magnet schools, and students begin Advanced Placement coursework their freshman year.

2. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria, Va.)

Students at this STEM-focused high school have access to more than a dozen specialized research labs ranging from astrophysics to oceanography. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology also offers cultural groups, such as the Persian club, and several athletic teams.

1. School for the Talented and Gifted (Dallas)

Students at the School for the Talented and Gifted can conduct field research through local colleges and take mini-courses between school terms, such as glass blowing. The school follows the state's Distinguished Achievement Program, and students complete a minimum number of Advanced Placement courses for graduation.

Source: http://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/slideshows/best-high-schools-2012/2