Carmen ranked second among Wisconsin High Schools

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee Public School is recognized as one of the best high schools in the state. 

U.S. News and World Report ranks Carmen High School of Science and Technology second in Wisconsin. Despite the fact that 9 out of 10 students are considered "economically disadvantaged," one reason for the high ranking is that 94% of Carmen students take advanced placement courses.

"We don't test to get in. We take students from anywhere, everywhere who get in through our lottery and we make sure that they are ready and we push them and we hold them to high expectations," Carmen High School Principal Janis Meinke said. 

"I feel like Carmen is a place of hope in the city. Because for a lot of students here, a lot of us have a variety of disadvantages and Carmen helps us get ahead in a way that other schools just aren't able to," says Vivica Lews, a senior at Carmen High School. 

The ranking is also based on student performance on state-required tests, graduation rates, and how well a school prepares students for college.