Eden Valley-Watkins Secondary School in Eden Valley has been named one of 2008 U.S. News and World Report America’s Best High Schools.

EV-W received a bronze medal for its its educational system. It was one of 37 Minnesota schools to be ranked among 1,591 schools receiving a gold, silver and medal. The top school was Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Va.

The list is U.S. News first ever ranking of America’s Best High Schools, according to Robert Morse, director of data research for U.S. News & World Report. The publication analyzed 18,790 public high schools in 40 states using data from the 2005-06 school year. Morse said the publication used a three-step process, looking at state proficiency standards and college readiness.

The top 100 schools earned gold medals, none of which were in Minnesota. The next 405 schools were awarded silver medals, and 1,086 schools earned bronze.

The methodology used to evaluate schools was based on the key principle that a great high serves all students well, not just those bound for college. U.S. News partnered with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education data research business run by Standard & Poor's, to evaluate high schools.

The ranking is available of U.S. News Web site at www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools/index.html [2] where visitors can search states. It will be on newsstands Dec. 3 in the weekly magazine issue dated Dec. 10, 2007.