Preuss is near the top, because they have lots of mandatory AP classes (ergo, large number of AP exams per student, which is Newsweek’s only criterion). Low incomes and smartness are irrelevant.

[quote]Gunn has been a feeder school for Stanford University for years and I know that Los Altos HS (which is a few miles distant from Gunn) struggles to place even a few students in Stanford, instead sending the bulk on to Cal State programs (and no knock on CSU schools, I went to one).[/quote]

I’m not sure what you mean by saying that Gunn is a “feeder” for Stanford. Stanford is a hard-to-get-into, expensive private university. If Gunn sends more students to Stanford than does Los Altos, there are other possible reasons (maybe parents of Gunn students are richer and more likely to afford the university?)

Los Altos sends 20% of students of its graduating class, on average, to UC universities. Gunn sends 25%, Monta Vista sends 30%. In San Diego, Torrey Pines is the best in this aspect, it also sends ~20%.