Six area high schools scored in the top 1 percent of schools ranked nationally for challenging average students, in a survey conducted annually by the Washington Post.

American Indian Public Charter in Oakland ranked 30th nationally. Others in the top 1 percent included Pacific Collegiate in Santa Cruz, Lowell in San Francisco, San Francisco University in San Francisco, Menlo School in Atherton, and Gunn High in Palo Alto.

About 25 greater Bay Area schools ranked in the top 4 percent on the “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” list published by the Post. The survey compiles an index based on the number of college level tests given at a school the previous year, divided by the number of graduates that year.

The index identified 2,335 top public and private schools — those that gave at least as many college-level tests in 2014 as they had graduates. It is intended to highlight schools that excel in persuading average students to take college-level courses and tests. The more Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school, in proportion to graduating seniors, the higher the score.

Survey author Jay Mathews of the Washington Post argues that schools that challenge students with college level work, such as the content of AP courses, extend opportunities. He cites research that even low-performing students who score a 2 on the AP test’s 5-point scale do significantly better in college than do similar students who don’t take AP classes.

He began conducting the survey in 1998 for Newsweek magazine.

The Post’s survey also listed an “Equity and Excellence” rating, which shows the percentage of graduating seniors who had at least one score of 3 or above — considered a passing mark on AP tests — on at least one AP test in high school.

The list excluded highly selective schools such as magnet schools or certain charter schools targeting top-performing students. Students at the excluded schools had average scores on the college-entrance SAT or ACT exams that exceeded the highest average scores on those tests in the county.

The schools on the Post list represent 11 percent of U.S. public schools.

Contact Sharon Noguchi at 408-271-3775. Follow her at Twitter.com/noguchionk12.

Most challenging area schools

The schools below are among the top 2 percent of a Washington Post ranking of schools based on college-level tests given. The “Challenge Index” is the number of tests like AP and International Baccalaureate given in 2014 divided by the number of graduates.
Natl. rank State rank School City ‘Challenge Index’
29 2 American Indian Public Charter Oakland 8.469
75 9 Pacific Collegiate School Santa Cruz 6.314
118 13 Lowell San Francisco 5.629
143 16 San Francisco University San Francisco 5.302
161 17 Menlo School Atherton 4.985
216 23 Gunn Palo Alto 4.481
223 24 Monta Vista Cupertino 4.458
229 25 Mission San Jose Fremont 4.426
270 30 Summit Prep Redwood City 4.182
284 34 KIPP King Collegiate San Lorenzo 4.118
293 38 Lynbrook San Jose 4.073
365 42 KIPP San Jose Collegiate San Jose 3.756
380 44 Saratoga Saratoga 3.683