AUSTIN, Texas--Austin ISD's Liberal Arts Science Academy is ranked eighth in the nation and the highest ranked school in Texas, according to Newsweek's America's Top High School rankings for 2014.

The national rankings are determined based on graduation rates, the number of graduates accepted into college, the number of advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses and SAT and ACT scores.

"We are proud of the hard work of the students and teachers at Liberal Arts Science Academy, which has once again been recognized on a national level," Austin ISD Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz said. "We congratulate them for this prestigious recognition."

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked LASA No. 7 in the state and No. 37 in the nation, and the LASA class of 2014 had the most National Merit Scholars in the district.

Last spring, LASA graduates combined to earn more than $21 million in scholarships and 96 percent of seniors in the LBJ Early College High School graduated, leaving with 1,295 college credit hours.

"I couldn't be more proud. This really attests to all of the hard work of our students and staff," LASA Principal Stacia Crescenzi said.

To see the full listings, visit www.newsweek.com/high-schools/top-10-schools-2014.

For more information, please contact the Department of Communications and Community Engagement at 512-414-2414.