Gilbert Classical Academy ranks among nation's top public high schools

Gilbert Classical Academy was ranked No. 79 nationally and No. 2 among Arizona public high schools in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The school, which serves students in grades 7-12, was ranked among approximately 18,000 high schools evaluated nationwide. Gilbert Classical Academy also received the third-highest middle school ranking in Arizona.

"We're thrilled to have GCA recognized as a top 100 school in the nation," Principal Elyse Tobert said in  release. "This ranking continues a long-standing history of academic excellence and a community-wide shared value system that truly celebrates inquiry, exploration, and student ownership over the lifelong journey of learning.

"Our students, their families, our staff, and the Gilbert Public School District all work together to maximize potential, search for new ways to unlock student innovation, and ultimately produce at a top level. A ranking is not an endpoint, but it is a validation of our constant desire to be the best version of ourselves."

According to U.S. News & World Report, rankings are based on measures of academic achievement, college readiness and student performance. Schools receive an overall score from 0 to 100 based on six weighted metrics:

• College readiness (30%): The percentage of 12th-grade students who took and earned a qualifying score on at least one Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam.
• State assessment proficiency (20%): Performance on state-required assessments in math, science and reading.
• State assessment performance (20%): Results on state assessments compared with expectations based on the school's percentage of underserved students.
• Underserved student performance (10%): Performance of Black, Hispanic and low-income students on state assessments compared with non-underserved students statewide.
• College curriculum breadth (10%): The percentage of students earning qualifying scores on AP or IB exams across multiple subject areas.
• Graduation rate (10%): The percentage of students who entered ninth grade during the 2020-21 school year and graduated within four years.

Gilbert Classical Academy received an overall score of 99.56 out of 100. The school earned a perfect score in the college readiness category, with all students participating in and passing at least one AP exam.

U.S. News & World Report said ranking data is compiled from third-party sources, including AP and IB testing organizations, state assessment results and the U.S. Department of Education's Common Core of Data.

Campo Verde High School also appeared in the rankings, placing No. 38 among Arizona high schools.

More information about Gilbert Classical Academy and its academic programs is available at GilbertClassicalAcademy.GilbertSchools.net.