Two schools from the Federal Way school district were recognized in the 2017 Best High Schools list published by U.S. News & World Report.

TAF Academy and Thomas Jefferson High School were ranked nationally, receiving a bronze medal. Thomas Jefferson High School was also ranked at the state level, earning a spot as one of the top 50 high schools in Washington state.

The Best High Schools list ranks public high schools throughout the country both nationally and at the state level.

In order to be named on the list, schools must succeed at the following steps: 1. Attain performance levels that exceed expectations given the school’s level of student poverty, as measured by state accountability test scores for all scholars in the core subjects of reading and math. 2. Achieve proficiency rates on state tests for its least-advantaged student groups that are equal to or exceed state averages. 3. Graduate scholars at a rate that exceeds the basic national standard. 4. Prepare scholars for college, as measured by participation in and performance on AP exams.