The Nation's Best High Schools

(NEWSER) -

1. Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)
2. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
3. Warren Central (Indianapolis)
4. Miami (Fla.) Northwestern
5. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)

Court documents from lawsuit tell disturbing tale

(NEWSER) - A high school student who says she was raped on school grounds claims she was raped a second time—after her disbelieving principal used her as “bait” to catch the boy involved. On Feb. 4, 2008, the alleged victim told her teacher about the first rape, and claimed the boy had also raped another girl. The teacher told administrators and offered to make sure the girls got on their school bus safely, but the principal instead came up with a “sting operation,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. More»

Track Flick and making 'fetch' happen, anyone?

(NEWSER) - Hard as it is to believe, John Hughes made his last high school-centric film in 1987. Luckily, the 22 years since haven't lacked for flicks that chronicle some part of those awkward, wonderful 4 years. Christopher Borrelli of the Chicago Tribune lists the 10 movies that do it best:

1. Dazed and Confused: Reflects what high school memories essentially are: "plotless, keen distillations of moments and feelings."

System rewards as much as $50 for A's—and half depends on graduation

(NEWSER) - Chicago public high schools are paying students for good grades under a program funded partly by Harvard University, the Tribune reports. Freshmen get $50 for A’s, $35 for B’s and $20 for C’s, with half their earnings held until they graduate. Some 20 other Chicago-area schools, encompassing about 1,650 students, are participating in the program, which also relies on private donations. More»

Earlier exam will help students prep, College Board says

(NEWSER) - The College Board will start offering the PSAT to eighth-graders in 2010, the LA Times reports. Students normally take the exam, a precursor of the SAT, in 10th or 11th grade, but kids have been signing up earlier in recent years. Critics charge that the College Board is pushing the college prep schedule forward to make more profit. More»