Austin, TX—Four Austin Independent School District high schools are among the best in the nation, according to the 2012 U.S. News and World Report Best High School rankings. Liberal Arts Science Academy, Anderson High School, Bowie High School and McCallum High School earned national and state recognition in the annual report.

To be eligible for a state ranking, a school must be awarded a national gold or silver medal. Liberal Arts and Science Academy earned a national gold medal for being ranked 54th in the nation and 7th in the state. Anderson, Bowie and McCallum High Schools earned silver medals for their rankings. Anderson is 676th in the nation and 61st in the state, Bowie is 704th in the nation and 64th in the state and McCallum is 712th in the nation and 66th in the state. Data was analyzed from more than 21,000 schools across the country to determine the rankings.

"We are thrilled four of our high schools are among the best in the nation," Paul Cruz, Austin ISD Chief Schools Officer said. "Our students and staff members have worked diligently throughout the year and we congratulate each of these schools for this prestigious recognition."

The national rankings are determined through a three-step process. The first step determined if students perform better than average in the state. The next step compared the school's math and reading proficiency rates for disadvantaged students to determine if the students performed better than average. The third and final step uses Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test data to measure which schools produced the best college-level achievement for the highest percentages of their students.