DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Six Dayton-area high schools have been honored by U.S. News and World Report as being among America's best public high schools.

New to this year's list was Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton, which received a bronze award. The magazine's Best High Schools 2009 list was released Friday, Dec. 5.

"My goodness, what an incredible honor and it's something we've been working hard for the last 10 to 15 years," said Stivers Principal Erin Dooley.

One of the reasons Dooley credits for Stivers' success is the development of its advance placement program.

"In 1996 we had two AP courses and about nine kids enrolled. Now we offer 11 courses, so we have grown tremendously," Dooley said. "Also we have no achievement gaps among our students on our AP and state tests. There is no one behind, black, white, boy, girl, I mean no one. To have no gaps in achievement among our students is something we are very proud of."

In Montgomery County, Centerville and Oakwood high schools received silver awards. Also new to the list is the Dayton Early College Academy, which earned a bronze award.

In Greene County, Bellbrook High School received a silver award. Cedarville High School received a bronze award.

Other Miami Valley schools honored include Versailles High School in Darke County, which received a bronze award, and Minster High School in Auglaize County, which received a silver award.

U.S. News & World Report in collaboration with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education and data research and analysis business, analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 21,000 public high schools to find the best in the nation. These top schools were placed into gold, silver, bronze or honorable mention categories.

The complete Best High Schools 2009 list is available online at usnews.com. School Evaluation Services provides parents with education data at schoolmatters.com.

Staff writer Lucas Sullivan contributed to this report.