Lafayette High School has been labeled as one of “America’s Best High Schools by Newsweek magazine.

500 schools nationwide got to claim the title. Lafayette ranked 75, the second highest out of Missouri’s nominated seven schools. The High School Rankings judged schools on a large spectrum of data to decide which of the schools do the best job for preparing students for college.

Graduation rate, college acceptance rate and number of college-level exams given per student were all factors that made up 75 percent of the ranking criteria. Average SAT/SAT scores and college-level test scores accounted for 10 percent; number of students who enrolled in at least one advanced placement (AP) or other college-level course accounted for the remaining 5 percent.

“Any time that you are recognized for the work that we do in our school, taking in to account all of our programs, academics, activities and athletics, is really positive. We are very proud and honored to be represented and recognized for all of our good achievements. It reinforces how hard it is to do all that, but we do it all for the right reasons and the results are the to prove it,’ Principal John Shaughnessy said.