https://homes.yahoo.com/news/u-s--news--best-high-schools--2015-230841932.html
Looks like a Dallas school was on top. Big deal. While the list includes schools focused on the exceptional students, I would rather see schools that would take average or kids with below average skills or learning disabilities and do great things.
Its easy to teach a kid that's got chops, try doing it with a kid that has learning issues or demographic challenges.
My Daughter is gifted and has never gotten anything below a 95 in anything ever. She is in 6th grade and is in pre-AP class and breezes through effortlessly. If she wasn't kept busy with piano, violin, soccer and church she would be bored out of her head and prolly get into to trouble. She will most likely excel in her HS and be in the top 1%. That's a given. And yes on her present course she will most likely get into any school she desires. She is that kid. Her HS is great with AP kids. They thrive.
Now my Son. While he is charming and has swagger he has never been a great student. He struggles. He has dyslexia. The HS is a joke for kids like him. I am sure he will be fine when he gets out - he has a survivor instinct and a gift for gab. Its just sad that I don't think his potential was tapped yet, IMO the school has failed him. His courses are a joke. My Daughter can breeze through his geometry homework without struggle. Granted she is gifted but still.