U.S. News ranked the best high schools in America and found that South Dakota ranked dead last, along with Alabama, for public education. But there may be a reason for that. It turns out, South Dakota refused to share it's data with the study, therefore resulting in a big 0% score for the ranking.

Schools across the nation were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals from the widely read publication.

The U.S. News ranking was based on these criteria: Overall student performance on state-required tests, how effectively schools educated their least-advantaged students, and how well they prepared students for college.

In the national rankings, 500 high schools received gold medals, 2,027 schools earned silver and 3,990 took home bronze.

The study found that the School for the Talented and Gifted, located in Dallas, TX., was #1 overall.

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