Top Schools Providing the Best Opportunity for Students From Disadvantaged Backgrounds to Prepare for College

/EINPresswire.com/ -- OAKLAND, CA--(Marketwired - May 03, 2016) -  GreatSchools, a national nonprofit helping parents access the information they need to support their child's learning, released today a list of the Top Bay Area High Schools for Low-Income Families. By considering student achievement through the lens of social and economic equity, GreatSchools, for the first time, is highlighting high performing schools that provide the best opportunity for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The 15 top Bay Area high schools were measured by three factors -- student achievement (as measured by test score rating for students from low-income families), graduation rates, and the percent of economically disadvantaged students who meet eligibility requirements for entrance into University of California or California State University. Schools on the list serve at least 40% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch relative to their overall population. All data comes from the California Department of Education and is available on GreatSchools school profiles.

"We know that a school can never truly be 'great' unless it serves all students well," said Bill Jackson, GreatSchools CEO. "The 15 schools on this list have done something extraordinary to provide opportunity for students who are working hard to break the cycle of poverty by preparing for and going to college."

Through its partnership with Innovate Public Schools, this year GreatSchools added a low-income rating for all California schools that helps parents see at a glance how a school is doing at preparing low-income students for college.

"Our mission is to make sure that all students, including low-income students and students of color, receive a world-class public education," said Matt Hammer, CEO of Innovate Public Schools. "Seeing which schools are preparing low-income students for success helps parents find the best school for their child and points the way towards what all students deserve."

In the coming weeks and months, GreatSchools will continue to highlight top schools where the achievement gap is closing and where students and families can find equal opportunity to receive a great education.

The 15 Top Bay Area High Schools for Students from Low-Income Families include:

1. Oakland Charter High School, Oakland

2. American Indian Public High School, Oakland

3. Oakland Unity High School, Oakland

4. KIPP San Jose Collegiate, San Jose

5. Leadership Public Schools - Hayward, Hayward

6. KIPP King Collegiate High School, San Lorenzo

7. Galileo High School, San Francisco

8. Wallenberg (Raoul) Traditional High School, San Francisco

9. Middle College High School, San Pablo

10. Lowell High School, San Francisco

11. Impact Academy of Arts and Technology, Hayward

12. Balboa High School, San Francisco

13. Lincoln (Abraham) High School, San Francisco

14. Washington (George) High School, San Francisco

15. Summit Preparatory Charter High School, Redwood City

About GreatSchools:

Founded in 1998, GreatSchools is a national education nonprofit helping parents find high-quality schools, support great learning, and guide their kids to great futures. GreatSchools reaches over half of American families with school-age children each year -- more than 55 million people. GreatSchools offers school quality information gathered from federal, state, and local governments, and from parents, students, and teachers. Through its GreatKids program, parents can find thousands of articles, videos, learning tools and worksheets to help support their child's learning. Headquartered in Oakland, California, GreatSchools partners with cities and states across the country to promote access to school quality data to all American families.

Contact:
Carrie Goux
cgoux@greatschools.org
ph: 774-563-0295