U.S. News and World Report has included more than a dozen Western Pennsylvania high schools as among the best public schools in the nation in its 2010 America’s Best High Schools.

None of the local schools were in the gold award category for the top 100 schools.

Fox Chapel Area, Hampton, North Allegheny and Upper St. Clair were in the silver category. Baldwin, City Charter High School, Pittsburgh CAPA and Pittsburgh Brashear were in the bronze category.

Other bronze winners include Beaver Falls, Monaca, Karns City, Avella Area, Bethlehem-Center and California Area.

Gold medals went to the top 100 schools using a college readiness index computed using Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate data.

Silver medals went to schools that did not make the top 100 but had a college readiness index of at least 20.

Bronze medals are awarded to schools that do not offer AP or IB and do not have a college readiness index of at least 20 but meet other key performance criteria.

The only school to win a gold medal in Pennsylvania is Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia, which was ranked 45th in the nation.

Education writer Eleanor Chute can be reached at echute@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1955.

Posted on: December 10, 2009