STOCKTON — Two Stockton schools have been named among the top 200 in the nation and the top 25 in the state by U.S. News and World Report, which compiles the list annually.

Stockton Collegiate International Secondary School, an independent charter, is ranked No. 2 in the state (21st in the nation), and Stockton Early College Academy, of the Stockton Unified School District, is ranked No. 23 in the state (193rd in the nation).

U.S. News and World Report collects data on more than 21,000 public high schools in the nation and awards schools gold, silver or bronze medals based on a number of factors, including their performance on state assessments, graduation rates and how well they prepare students for college.

“We’re very pleased with (the news),” Stockton Collegiate school head Scott Luhn said.

Luhn previously was an assistant principal at Stagg High and principal at Franklin High before becoming head of the school when the charter began operating in 2010. It serves K-12 students through three programs: Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Program.

The school operates three buildings in downtown Stockton with the main elementary building at 321 E. Weber St. Most secondary classes are held in classrooms on 1 N. Sutter and 340 E. Main streets.

One hundred percent of students at Stockton Collegiate, a free and public charter, participate in International Baccalaureate coursework and exams. With 450 kids enrolled in grades 6-12, Luhn said the goal is to get every student prepared to enter a four-year college.

“We know they can do it and we expect them to do it,” said Luhn. “We believe all students can do that.”

With a 100 percent graduation rate, Luhn said 75 percent of seniors move on to college.

The report also includes information on curriculum and test scores as well as student demographics.

Stockton Collegiate has a College Readiness Index of 96.9 and an 82 percent minority enrollment.

Senior Vasiliki Koutsoulis said she has loved going to Stockton Collegiate, as there was always an interesting lesson or exam that she had to really prepare for. It’s no cake walk, she said, as there are high expectations of the students, but teachers, she said, put in just as much work.

“(Teachers) are willing to support students, if that means giving them extra resources or staying later or adjusting the assessments so it can better suit the students’ strengths,” Koutsoulis, 17, said. “There’s a lot of work on the students’ part, but often times that work is mirrored by the teacher’s aid.”

SECA Principal Josh Thom is happy that, for the second consecutive year, his school has been given a gold-medal ranking. He credits all the hours of hard work by his staff and students in being recognized.

“It’s totally great for our students and staff because they worked really hard,” Thom said. “It speaks to everything we’re doing.”

Stockton Unified spokeswoman Dianne Barth said the district is thrilled. “For SECA to be ranked 23rd and given another gold, that’s a testament to the wonderful job they’re doing over there,” she said.

Thom said these rankings should give Stockton something to be proud of, having gone from the bottom of the list to having seven schools within the city recognized by the report.

“It gives me hope for our future,” he said.

Lincoln High is ranked No. 301 in the state and Pacific Law Academy is ranked No. 355, both earning a silver-medal ranking.

Other San Joaquin and Calaveras county schools to be recognized with bronze-medal designation by U.S. News and World Report are Aspire Benjamin Holt College Preparatory; Aspire Langston Hughes Academy; Bear Creek High; Calaveras High; Chavez High; East Union High; Health Careers Academy; Middle College High; Tracy High and Weber Institute.

— Contact reporter Nicholas Filipas at (209) 546-8257 or nfilipas@recordnet.com. Follow him on recordnet.com/filipasblog and on Twitter @nicholasfilipas.