Five of the country's best public high schools are in the Richmond metropolitan area, according to a Newsweek report.

The five are James River, Midlothian, Clover Hill and Monacan in Chesterfield County and Atlee in Hanover County.

Of the 27,000 eligible U.S. high schools, 1,358 -- about 5 percent -- made Newsweek's list. James River ranked 205th, Midlothian 457th, Clover Hill 893rd, Atlee 937th and Monacan 1,022nd.

The top-ranked high school in Virginia, H-B Woodlawn in Arlington, came in 16th nationwide.

To determine ranking, Newsweek added the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge tests taken by students in 2007 and divided that by the number of graduating seniors. Schools that achieved a ratio of at least 1.0 -- meaning they administered as many tests as they had graduates -- made the list.

Some education experts have said Newsweek's formula fails to recognize many qualities that contribute to a school's excellence.

-- Cynthia McMullen and Randy Hallman