Washington, D.C. – August 18, 2026 – Santa Fe South Pathways Middle College has been ranked No. 5 in Oklahoma among the 2026-2027 Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings evaluate around 27,000 schools at the national, state and local level, with nearly 18,000 ranked.

The school was also ranked No. 3 in Charter Schools

Pathways Middle College has been recognized as the fifth best high school in the state of Oklahoma in the latest statewide school rankings. This honor highlights the exceptional academic environment, dedication of educators, and hard work of the student body.

While celebrating this top-tier placement, school leadership emphasizes that the school’s core mission goes well beyond traditional ranking metrics. A central pillar of the Pathways Middle College experience is offering students the opportunity to earn extensive concurrent college credit while completing high school—a transformative benefit that is not factored into standard ranking formulas.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized among the top five high schools in Oklahoma,” said Christopher McAdoo, the Principal of Pathways Middle College. “What makes this recognition truly special is that we achieved it while focusing on what matters most to our students’ long-term success. While standard ranking systems overlook the hundreds of tuition-free college credits our students earn each year, our community knows the real value of that head start. Being ranked this high is a powerful testament to our students’ drive and our staff’s commitment.”

By enabling students to graduate with a substantial head start on their college degrees—often saving families thousands of dollars in college tuition—Pathways Middle College continues to redefine college readiness in Oklahoma.

The methodology focuses on six factors: college readiness; reading, math and science proficiency; reading, math and science performance; underserved student performance; college curriculum breadth; and graduation rates.

“Earning a high placement in the Best High Schools rankings is a remarkable achievement that reflects a school’s commitment to academic excellence,” says LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for education at U.S. News. “U.S. News evaluates thousands of institutions nationwide using a data-driven methodology that looks far beyond surface-level success. Schools that rank at the top of this list have proven their ability to consistently deliver high graduation rates, exceptional state assessment proficiency and robust college readiness. This distinction signals to families and communities that an institution is operating at the highest level of public education.”

Parents and students can see how Santa Fe South Pathways Middle College compares to other institutions and how the rankings are calculated on USNews.com.

About Pathways Middle College

Pathways Middle College is an innovative public high school dedicated to preparing students for academic and professional success through dual and concurrent college enrollment. By partnering with higher education institutions, Pathways enables high school students to earn transferable college credits tuition-free alongside their high school diploma, significantly reducing the time and cost required to earn a college degree. For more information, visit pathwaysmiddlecollege.org

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.