"These schools showed the greatest improvement in test scores when comparing scores from the most recent year available to the year before. We compared grade-level improvement rather than student group improvement. For example, we compared 10th grade scores for this year to 10th grade scores last year, as opposed to comparing student scores in 10th grade and then the same group of students and their scores for 11th grade. It's important to note that the improvement could be a result of the differences in the two sets of students rather than the success of the instruction. These schools also had to meet our minimum enrollment as outlined above for Top Performing Schools."

For more information see these Webpages:

• Here is where it all began:  "GreatSchools.net's Top High Schools in North Carolina: Five high schools in each state that represent the qualities of a great school"
• Here is the article on BusinessWeek.com about how GreatSchools.net "uses parent input as well as test scores to help families find the best schools"
• Click here to see the Best High Schools in America as ranked by BestSchools.net.
• Specifically, here is a page from BusinessWeek.com  with a 'N.C. image' and the Top Schools in N.C.