Gray Stone Day School

MISENHEIMER — Gray Stone Day School was ranked by U.S. News and World Report magazine as one of the top public high schools in the nation.

The school ranked 236 out of more than 26,000 public high schools in the U.S. and received a gold medal as one of the top 500.

Gray Stone is ranked 11th in North Carolina and 80th among top charter high schools. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the 2018 Best High Schools ranking recognizes the top 5,948 public high schools with gold, silver and bronze medals, indicating their students’ level of college readiness.

Rowan-Salisbury Schools did not receive a national ranking, though Rowan County Early College was awarded a bronze medal as a nationally recognized school.

Schools are ranked based on students’ performance on state-required tests and how well they prepare students for college.

At Gray Stone, students have the opportunity to take multiple advanced-placement courses and exams. Student AP participation is 80 percent with an 85 percent passing rate. The school recently scored a 71.2 on college readiness measures.

According to the U.S. News and World Report, Gray Stone was second in the Charlotte area — falling just behind Lake Norman Charter School, which was 163 on the report. Other area schools in the top 500 include Marvin Ridge High School, 369; Ardrey Kell High School, 384; Providence High School, 436; and Community School of Davidson, 481.

“I am so proud of our high school for reaching this distinction,”said Helen Nance, Gray Stone’s chief administrative officer. “I know that our teachers work very hard to maintain the rigor needed to help students perform at a high level. Our students are willing to take the challenge and work hard to do their best,”

For more information, visit www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools.