Francis Howell High School ranks no. 1 in the district and no. 21 in Missouri.

“U.S. News & World Report” reviewed nearly 25,000 U.S. public high schools and 455 Missouri schools made the rankings. The publication considers “college readiness,” state assessment scores, graduation rate and more in its evaluation.

“MAP testing scores, final grades, and our students at this school are very academically driven,” junior Ella Bartnick said.

Bartnick said she credits teachers with making Howell a highly ranked school.

“Our teachers make sure our academics and sports are as equally valued,” Bartnick said.

Bartnick said Howell can maintain or even improve its status.

“We’re perfectly capable of keeping a high ranking and we can only go up from there,” Bartnick said.