The Top Prep Schools in the Nation
When one talks of prep schools, the first thing that comes to mind is a boarding school, usually in New England, with a name that conveys "establishment." Good and expensive as they may be, such well-known schools as Deerfield Academy, Choate Rosemary Hall and the Phillips Exeter and Andover Academies have an acceptance rate of only 20 percent, so it may be worth considering other options. The exact definition of a prep school is open to discussion, since many public high schools have taken to calling themselves prep schools. A prep school is one that prepares its students in such a way that they are equipped for moving on to the best tertiary education possible. Newsweek publishes a list of rankings each year based on how hard teachers at specific schools exert themselves to confront students with advanced-placement university-level courses and tests, and on the percentage of seniors who passed an AP test. Although not boarding schools, these are the top prep schools of their 2010 survey.
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School for the Talented and Gifted
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The School for the Talented and Gifted, or TAG, is located in Dallas, Texas. TAG offers 18 non-sporting extracurricular activities. The school accepts about 60 new freshmen each year, each one of whom must pass a selection committee. In order to be considered for selection, each candidate must submit a portfolio consisting of a handwritten essay, a resume, a school-related project and a working document that verifies semester grades for 7th grade and the first semester of 8th grade. The school is ranked number one by Newsweek and number five by US News. Applicants must provide proof of residence in the Dallas ISD attendance zones.
Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School
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Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School, or JCIB, is located in Irondale, Alabama. The school is on the campus of Shades Valley High School in Jefferson County. The school is ranked second in the Newsweek rankings, and enrolls students from grades 9 to 12. A total of 365 students were enrolled in the school in 2010. In order to be considered for admission to the school, students must submit an application and a handwritten essay as well as meeting the academic requirements. A 2008 graduate of this school states, "The curriculum is hard and challenging, but the stress is well worth it. My graduating class of 77 received over 11 million dollars in scholarships."
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Stanton College Preparatory School
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Stanton College Preparatory School is located in Jacksonville, Florida. It was, in the 1860s, an elementary school for African-American children under the then-segregated education system. Today, the school enrolls 1500 students in Grades 9 to 12, and is ranked number three by Newsweek. Stanton offers 11 extracurricular activities and a number of sports. Although Stanton's mission is primarily academic, the school pursues excellence in all other areas including athletics, technology and the arts.
The School of Science / Engineering Magnet
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The School of Science / Engineering Magnet is located in Dallas, Texas, in the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center, the same complex as the School for the Talented and Gifted. The enrollment in 2010 was 400. In order to be placed in the initial selection group, students must have a GPA of 80 in English, math, science and social studies. They must pass a further test before moving to the final selection group, in which they must pass an on-site English essay, math exam and personal interview. The school is currently ranked number four by Newsweek.
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