Floyd and Texico high schools get top honors from the U.S. News and World Report's picks for America's Best High Schools.

They both earned a Bronze Medal based on data from the 2007-2008 school year. The Portales News Tribune reports that Floyd and Texico are two schools out of 19 in New Mexico and 1,201 in the nation to receive the Bronze medal. A total of 1,718 schools in the United States received the gold, silver, bronze or honorable mention in ratings.

According to the U.S. News and World Report Web site, the organization bases the listing on math and reading scores from state tests, the success of minority and low-income students and the amount of students passing tests in the Advanced Placement of International Baccalaureate programs, which offer college-level curriculum. Bronze Medal schools don't offer AP or IB programs or don't meet the standards for students passing those tests, but do meet the other criteria.

This is the first time Floyd has been named to the list, but Texico has been on the list a number of times. Texico Superintendent R.L. Richards said the school has made the list five or six times in the last decade.

U.S. News and World Report: America's Best High School http://www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools/