U.S. News & World Report Analyzes La Mesa, Spring Valley High Schools

was included in the top 1,800 high schools according to an annual academic survey ranking published this week in U.S. News & World Report. The La Mesa institution was ranked 277 in the state of California and 1,328 nationally. Helix was also ranked 96th among charter schools in the U.S.

None of Spring Valley's high schools were included in the rankings, nor was La Mesa's other public high school, Grossmont. But, an analysis of Grossmont, Mount Miguel, Monte Vista and Steele Canyon statistics can be found on their website.

The report lists and compares student to teacher ratios, college readiness scores based on advanced placement tests, scores on the Academic Performance Index and more.

Helix comes out ahead in the student to teacher ratio at 23:1. and sit at 25:1, and has the largest class sizes with 27:1. Steele Canyon (32.6) has a significantly higher college readiness score than the other schools – Helix (26), Grossmont (15.6), Monte Vista (18.5), Mount Miguel (12.6).

Only one other school in the Grossmont Union High School District was included in the rankings of nation's top 1,800 schools; Valhalla High School at 295. Ten San Diego Unified School District schools were included.

San Marcos High School was ranked third in the state and 11th in the nation in the report.

La Mesa high schools:

Spring Valley high schools:

Other highly ranked San Diego County high schools included:

-- La Jolla, 34th in California and 167th nationally;

-- Westview, 40th and 218th;

-- Canyon Crest Academy, 41st and 220th;

-- University City, 66th and 371st, Patrick Henry, 68th and 383rd;

-- Scripps Ranch, 69th and 390th;

-- San Dieguito Academy, 74th and 402nd;

-- Poway High School, 83rd and 449th; and

-- Coronado, 94th and 484th.

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