According to California’s annual Academic Performance Index Report released May 13 by the California Department of Education, Palo Alto High School received a ranking of 10 statewide and 9 compared to schools of similar rank. This ranking is unchanged from last year.

Each school receives two rankings- one based on how they place in the state overall, and another for how they compare to schools with similar socioeconomic demographics. The schools are rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest. Henry M. Gunn High School also received the same rankings, however they have a base API number of 915, whereas Paly has one of 901.

The Base API number summarizes a school’s performance on the spring 2009 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program and 2009 California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE), among other tests.