2014 Best High Schools Rankings: Information for High School Officials

U.S.News & World Report

1. Is it possible to change directory information published as part of the U.S. News Best High Schools rankings?

There will be very limited ability to change the information. The information presented in the Best High Schools rankings and directory is all for the 2011-2012 academic year.

The basic 2011-2012 academic year data on high school and school district names, enrollment, ethnicity, magnet or charter school status and other profile information came directly from the Common Core of Data on the U.S. Department of Education's website.

College Board was the source of the Advanced Placement test data for each public high school, when applicable, which were used to create calculated values used in the rankings.

International Baccalaureate was the source of the International Baccalaureate test data for each public high school, when applicable, which were used to create calculated values used in the rankings.

Each high school's statewide accountability test results were collected directly from official sources in that state.

Change requests should be submitted by email to official@usnews.com. Your email must include your high school's name and full address, a link to where the incorrect information is published on usnews.com, the incorrect information and the correct information.

Updating the Best High Schools website and directory is time consuming. Corrections normally take about four to eight weeks to implement. We appreciate your patience.

2. I have a question about the data used in the Best High Schools rankings or published as part of the Best High Schools website. Whom should I contact?

Please send your inquiry via email to official@usnews.com. Your email must include your name, title, the high school's name and full address, and a link to where your school's information is published on usnews.com.

3. I have a question about the Best High Schools rankings or the methodologies used to compute these rankings. Whom should I contact?

Please send your inquiry via email to official@usnews.com. Your email must include your name, title, the high school's name and full address, and a link to where your school's information is published on usnews.com.

4. I have a question about if or where my school ranked in the previous two U.S. News Best High Schools rankings published in 2012 and 2013. Whom should I contact?

Please send your inquiry via email to Education-PR@usnews.com.

5. Is there a print guidebook for the Best High Schools rankings?

The Best High Schools rankings do not have an accompanying print guidebook; however, the rankings and data may be used in future U.S. News publications.

6. Our school was ranked in the Best High Schools rankings. How can we publicize our ranking through U.S. News ?

There are many marketing opportunities through U.S. News. The 2014 Best High Schools badges can be downloaded for free for use on your school's website. For additional uses of the badge, such as in print, on plaques or on trophies, contact Wright's Media at usnews@wrightsmedia.com or 877-652-5295 or visit their high schools marketing page for additional information.

You may also visit our school marketing center for additional information.

7. How do I order reprints?

Custom reprints are full-color reproductions of articles specially formatted for your school. Reprints or e-prints of Best High Schools articles and rankings are available from our licensing agent, Wright's Media. For more information, please contact Wright's Media at 877-652-5295 or usnews@wrightsmedia.com or visit their high schools marketing page for additional information.

8. May we use a graphic -- such as the Best High Schools badge -- to promote our Best High Schools ranking status?

The 2014 Best High Schools badges are only available to the high schools that were nationally ranked in the 2014 Best High Schools rankings. The badges can be downloaded easily and for free for use on your school's website.

For additional accolades -- such as state rankings, Best Charter Schools, Best Magnet Schools or Best High Schools for STEM -- and uses of the badge, such as in print, on plaques or on trophies, contact Wright's Media at usnews@wrightsmedia.com or 877-652-5295 or visit their high schools marketing page for additional information.

No other uses of U.S. News graphics, including the U.S. News logo, are available unless you have received the written permission of U.S. News or Wright's Media.

9. May we issue a press release to publicize our school's ranking?

Yes, sending a press release to local news media is a great way to spread the word about your recognition. You may want to send the news to local newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, blogs and other relevant websites.

Don't forget to post it on your school's and school system's websites, and of course, to notify parents, faculty and students. You may include a link to your profile page on the U.S. News website.

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

-- U.S. News & World Report evaluated government and private data for more than 19,400 public high schools across the country. We ranked more than 4,700 schools -- only those that the data indicated were exemplary.

-- Ranked schools were given a badge status of "gold," "silver" or "bronze" depending upon the strength of their national ranking.

-- The content of usnews.com is protected by copyrights, and its badges and other logos are trademarked creations protected under federal and state law. You may link to your school's profile on our website, make accurate references to your school's ranking or badge status and provide accurate descriptions of our Best High Schools rankings and methodology.

But making copies of our Web pages, excerpting content from them or using any of our company or Best High Schools logos or graphics requires our written permission and may require the payment of a licensing fee. Our licensing agent, Wright's Media ( usnews@wrightsmedia.com or 877-652-5295), can provide more information on such licensing options.

-- We ranked schools nationally and within each state. It would be inappropriate to refer to a school as being something such as "#1 in the county," because there is no such ranking. But "top-ranked high school in the county" would be appropriate.

-- The Best High Schools rankings evaluate individual high schools, not entire school systems or localities. For example, there is no such thing as a Best High Schools school system or Best High Schools city.

So that information is as useful as possible to consumers and institutions, U.S. News may from time to time review claims made about its rankings and reserves the right to require changes to inaccurate or otherwise impermissible claims.