The first step focused on student performance on state-mandated math and reading tests during 2015-2016. Schools had to perform better than statistically expected on these tests in their state, given their student poverty levels, to make it to the next step.
The second step factored in the testing performance of a school's historically underserved students – those of black, Hispanic and low-income backgrounds – compared with the state average.
The third step took into account a high school's graduation rate. A school needed to boast a rounded graduation rate of at least 80 percent, which is higher than the threshold used for last year's rankings – 75 percent.
The final step determined if a school's national ranking was a gold, silver or bronze medal. In this fourth step, U.S. News looked at how well the remaining schools prepared students for college based on student participation in and performance on AP and IB exams.
