What are America's most challenging high schools as of 2018?

Hey there, just a junior delving into some deep research here. I've heard about certain schools being exceptionally challenging in terms of coursework and competition, does anyone know which high schools were considered the most challenging in America as of 2018?

Several high schools across the United States are recognized for their rigorous academic programs and high student achievement. Some of the top challenging high schools in 2018, based on various factors like graduation rates, performance on state exams, college readiness, and percentage of students taking and passing advanced classes (like AP and IB), includes:

1. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology located in Alexandria, Virginia represents one of the hardest high schools in 2018. It's known for its strong emphasis on STEM education and has an admissions process that selects only the most academically driven students.

2. Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora, Illinois is another very competitive program that emphasizes STEM subjects. This public, residential high school is open to Illinois students in 10th through 12th grades who excel in math and science.

3. The School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) in Dallas, Texas holds a reputation for providing a challenging curriculum. TAG's curriculum encourages independent studies and learning outside the traditional classroom setting.

4. The Bronx High School of Science situated in Bronx, New York is also consistently mentioned as one of the most challenging schools in the nation. It's funneled a noticeable number of students to prestigious universities and careers in science or mathematics.

5. Lastly, we have Stuyvesant High School, another entry from New York City. Stuyvesant is known for its fierce competition and challenging curriculum but also its diverse set of extracurriculars.

This list is quite variable as statistics such as these change yearly and also reliant on the source of the ranking. Each of these schools differs widely in teaching methods, extracurriculars, and culture, so being the most challenging can depend greatly on the individual student's strengths and interests. Good luck with your research!