MADISON – In their latest honor, both James Clemens and Bob Jones high schools qualified in the top ten Alabama schools in the 2018 “Best U.S. High Schools” by “U.S. News.”

Parents can use the rankings to help in identifying top-notch schools in their area and see how these schools stack up nationally, according to “U.S. News.” The rankings include data on more than 20,500 public high schools in 50 states and District of Columbia.

Bob Jones claimed the no. 4 slot on the list for Alabama. In national ranking, Bob Jones placed at 780. Advanced-placement rate for participating students is 69 percent. Student body makeup is 51 percent male and 49 percent female; total minority enrollment is 37 percent, according to the study. 

“U.S. News” ranked James Clemens as no. 8 in Alabama’s top ten. Nationally, James Clemens rated as 1249. Fifty-six percent of students enroll in AP classes. James Clemens’ student body has 52 percent male and 48 percent female; total minority enrollment is 36 percent. 

In Alabama’s top ten, Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School in Montgomery claimed the no 1 spot. The remaining high schools in the top ten (descending from second place) are Mountain Brook High School, Homewood High School, Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Vestavia Hills High School, Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville, Brewbaker Tech Magnet High School in Montgomery and Auburn High School.

“U.S. News” uses four steps to qualify a school for its “Best U.S. High Schools” list:

* Review state reading and mathematics assessments. Factor in proportion of student body that is economically disadvantaged and projected to score lower.

* Compare reading and mathematics assessment scores to historically underserved students.

* Exclude schools with graduation rates lower than 80 percent.

* Calculate college readiness index, based on percentages of each school’s students who passed AP and International Baccalaureate exams.

For more information, visit usnews.com and click “Education” and then “High Schools.”