America's most challenging high schools

America's Most Challenging High Schools ranks schools through an index formula that's a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. A ratio of 1.000 means the school had as many tests as graduates.

The Science/Engineering Magnet in Dallas is among the top five nationally. (Courtesy of the school)

National Rankings

Get Challenge Index scores for more than 1900 public high schools nationwide, as ranked by The Post's Jay Mathews.

1. American Indian Public Charter

2. Science/Engineering Magnet

3. Talented and Gifted

4. Corbett Charter

5. Rangel Young Women's Leadership School

H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program in Arlington is one of the local leaders. (Lois Raimondo/The Washington Post)

D.C. Area Rankings

See Challenge Index scores for more than 170 Washington-area public high schools, as ranked by The Post's Jay Mathews.

1. Saint Anselm's Abbey (P)

2. Washington International School (P)

3. Poolesville

4. H-B Woodlawn

5. Richard Montgomery

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