Posted Tuesday, May 2, 2006, The OG, news

As part of its annual ranking of American public high schools, Newsweek has selected Uni High as one of 21 “public elites” in the country.

The category of public elites is different from the magazine's main list of the top 1,000 U.S. public high schools. Newsweek explained its methodology:

“With our Best High Schools list, Newsweek recognizes schools that do the best job of preparing average students for college. By dividing the number of AP [advanced placement] and IB [international baccalaureate] tests taken at a school by the number of graduating seniors, we can measure how committed the school is to helping kids take college-level courses.”

According to the magazine's criteria, Uni and similar schools aren't eligible for the main list: “Newsweek excluded these high performers from the list of Best High Schools because so many of their students score well above average on the SAT and ACT.” (See also the magazine's answer to Question No. 6 in this FAQ.)

Assistant Director Sue Kovacs explained further: “Every year Newsweek puts out a list of top high schools ranked by test scores per number of students, and we don't qualify because we have too high a percentage of students who go to college and do well on tests … there just isn't a spread.

“This year, I talked to one of their guys on the phone, and I told him our average ACT and SAT scores, and he said they were too high. Uni students rarely get below a 4 on their APs, and we have a very low percentage of kids who need financial aid … we're a highly selective public school. So Newsweek thought of adding a new field, and we're in good company. They are similar types of schools.”

Other public elites include the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), located in Aurora; Chicago's Northside College Preparatory H.S.; Hunter College H.S., in New York City; and Stuyvesant H.S., also in New York City.

Uni, IMSA, and Northside are the only Illinois schools on the list. Hunter and Stuyvesant are noteworthy because they were among the schools that several Uni faculty members visited in New York City in late March.

Newsweek didn't rank the public elites; they are listed alphabetically.

“It's terrific to be recognized,” said Director/Principal Kassie Patton.

Added Kovacs: “It's significant that you take the entire United States and we're one of 21 that were listed. It's very significant. I think you should all be very proud of yourselves. And the teachers should be proud too. There's good bones in this school.”

Here are Newsweek's public elites, with the magazine's comments:

• Benjamin Franklin Senior H.S., New Orleans

“A rigorous high school with competitive admission.”
Click here for Web site.

• Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, N.J.

“Seven subschools specializing in everything from finance to visual arts.”
Click here for Web site.

• Gretchen Whitney H.S., Cerritos, Calif.

“A comprehensive school for high performers.”
Click here for Web site.

• High Technology H.S., Lincroft, N.J.

“A pre-engineering academy with topnotch humanities.”
Click here for Web site.

• Hunter College H.S., New York City

“Part of the City University of New York system.”
Click here for Web site.

• Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora

“A residential school near Chicago that enrolls 10th through 12th graders.”
Click here for Web site.

• Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Natchitoches

“A residential high school with competitive admissions.”
Click here for Web site.

• Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies, Richmond, Va.
“Students selected on aptitude and interest in political science.”
Click here for Web site.

• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham

“Students selected from all counties, which mixes rural and urban kids.”
Click here for Web site.

• Northside College Preparatory H.S., Chicago

“Students picked by grades and test scores.”
Click here for Web site.

• Northwood H.S., Irvine, Calif.

“A humanities core program that focuses on English and history.”
Click here for Web site.

• Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Oklahoma City

“Rigorous two-year boarding school that takes many rural kids.”
Click here for Web site.

• Pacific Collegiate School, Santa Cruz, Calif.

“Emphasizes college prep and fine arts.”
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• Pine View School for the Gifted, Osprey, Fla.

“Sarasota County's main school for gifted kids.”
Click here for Web site.

• South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, Hartsville

“Very rigorous school where students do independent research.”
Click here for Web site.

• Stuyvesant H.S., New York City

“Takes students from all over the city; specializes in science.”
Click here for Web site.

• Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Denton

“This highly selective two-year school offers a real college curriculum.”
Click here for Web site.

• Thomas Jefferson H.S. for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Va.

“Draws high-performing students from northern Virginia.”
Click here for Web site.

• Union County Magnet H.S., Scotch Plains, N.J.
“Focus is on science, math and technology.”
Click here for Web site.

• University H.S., Tucson, Ariz.

“A small, autonomous school located within Rincon High School.”
Click here for Web site.

• University Laboratory H.S., Urbana

“A five-year high school partnered with the University of Illinois.”
Click here for Web site.

— Uni interviews by Bianca Zaharescu, Gargoyle staff reporter