Some local high schools drop out of US News and World Reportâs top schools list Local schools dropped off top 100 list Some local schools â once ranked in the nationâs top 100 â have dropped off that list. ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The U.S. News & World Report released its highly anticipated 2021 Best High School rankings on Tuesday – and some local institutions were notably absent. The newest edition ranked more than 17,000 public high schools nationwide. A Northern Virginia school sealed the top spot, but many of the area’s prestigious schools were left on the outside looking in. Advertisement - 24.6% are in cities