Top-performing schools with elite students

The Washington Post High School Challenge is designed to recognize schools that challenge average students. These 24 top-performing schools, listed in alphabetical order, were excluded from the list because, despite their exceptional quality, their admission rules and standardized test scores indicate they have few or no average students. Non-neighborhood schools with SAT or ACT averages above the highest averages for neighborhood schools nationally are put on this list:

Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, N.J.

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A collection of seven career-focused academies where students have an extended school day.

Biotechnology High School, Freehold, N.J.

A demanding program started in 2005, with two large research rooms, four state-of-the-art science labs and most of the senior class earning International Baccalaureate diplomas.

Bronx High School of Science, New York

One of the most famous schools in America. It has a richly talented, ethnically diverse student body.

Davidson Academy of Nevada, Reno

The tiny school — just six graduating seniors in 2010 — opened in 2006 on the campus of the University of Nevada at Reno as a “university school for profoundly gifted students” under a state law.

Early College at Guilford, Greensboro, N.C.

The state’s first early college high school, where 11th- and 12th-graders take courses at Guilford College and graduate with both a high-school diploma and up to two years of college credit.

Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, Bowling Green, Ky.

Juniors and seniors from across the state are selected by scores, grades and essays to live in their own Western Kentucky University residence hall, earning college credit as well as completing high school.

High Technology High School, Lincroft, N.J.

The school, opened in 1991, uses the increasingly popular High Tech High name for magnets emphasizing hands-on learning. It is run by Monmouth County and Brookdale Community College.

Hunter College High School, New York

One of the city’s legendary public high schools, with a program for seventh- through 12th-graders administered by Hunter College. It was an all-girls school until 1972.

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora

“Wayne’s World,” the Mike Myers Saturday Night Live sketch and film, is not Aurora’s only claim to fame. IMSA is a state-funded boarding school. It takes 10th- through 12th-graders and has a strong mentoring program.

International Academy, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

The magnet school for 20 Oakland County school districts has three campuses. All students take the International Baccalaureate diploma program.

International Community School, Kirkland, Wash.

Students are selected through a lottery to attend this school focusing on international awareness. It is one of the few elite public schools without a selective admissions system. Instead, as happens sometimes, the lottery participants self-select into an academic powerhouse.

Louisiana School for Math, Science & the Arts, Natchitoches

Sophomores, juniors and seniors who survive the tough admissions process live at the boarding school established by the state legislature in 1982.