A North Charleston school ranks high among some of the top public high schools in the nation.

In the 2009 Newsweek Magazine, the Academic Magnet high ranked the 12th best school in the Challenge Index.

This annual ranking grades the top 1,500 public high schools around the nation based on their rigorous course offerings and the students overall performance.

A total of twenty-two South Carolina schools made the list this year, which is one more than 2008.

The North Charleston school was seventh on the magazine's list in 2008. Seven of the state’s ranked schools moved up this year, while 15 are in lower spots compared to 2008.

Newsweek’s formula ranks schools according to a ratio that looks at the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and similar college-credit tests taken by all students at the school and then divides that by the number of graduating seniors from the previous year.

“The rating is not a measurement of the overall quality of the school,” the news magazine said, “but illuminates one factor that many educators consider important, challenging students with tough course work.”

The system is designed to recognize schools that challenge average students and not magnet or charter schools that draw only the best students in their areas, Newsweek said.

Newsweek surveyed more than 27,000 high schools in the United States and the listed schools represent the nation’s top 5 percent of public high schools.

This year’s index includes the names of 1,480 public high schools.

Greenville County has had the largest number of schools listed each year.

The South Carolina high schools that made the list and their rankings for 2009 are:

 #12   Academic Magnet in North Charleston, SC

#229 Southside in Greenville, SC

#314 Dutch Fork in Irmo, SC

#426 Hilton Head in Hilton Head, SC

#490 Governor's School for Arts & Humanities in Greenville, SC

#718 Wade Hampton in Greenville, SC

#797 Mann in Greenville, SC

#854 A.C. Flora in Columbia, SC

#905 Woodruff in Woodruff, SC

#913 Dreher in Columbia, SC

#947 Greenville in Greenville, SC

#951 Eastside in Greenville, SC

#960 Spring Valley in Columbia, SC

#1016 Mauldin in Greenville, SC

#1027 Spartanburg in Spartenburg, SC

#1041 Irmo in Columbia, SC

#1043 Riverside in Greer, SC

#1092 Socastee in Myrtle Beach, SC

#1138 Richland Northeast in Columbia, SC

#1294 Daniel in Central, SC

#1307 Hillcrest in Simpsonville, SC

#1372 Beaufort in Beaufort, SC

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