Some of Chicago's select high schools are racking up national awards and recognition as 2009 winds down.
The Chicago Board of Education recognized Whitney M. Young Magnet High School yesterday for being one of the 314 schools across the country to earn a National Blue Ribbon School distinction.
The magnet high school was the only Chicago school to earn the honor this year, board vice president Clara Munana said.
The Blue Ribbon awards are passed out by the U.S. Department of Education. To win the award, schools must post test scores in the top 10 percent for their state, or scores showing dramatic improvement for disadvantaged students.
Separately, U.S. News & World Report last week released its annual ranking of the nation's top schools, which included three Chicago high schools.
Northside College Preparatory High School led Chicago schools at No. 37. Walter Peyton College Prep Math, Science, and World Language Academy and Jones College Prep came in at No. 96 and No. 99, respectively.
The three selective enrollment schools ranked in the report were each marked as Gold Medal schools, meaning the schools earned high marks for three criteria: exceeding state test scores in math and reading relative to the level of the school's student poverty level, proficient scores on state tests for a school's least-advantaged student groups and participation in International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement coursework, according to U.S. News & World Report.