Three Kane County high schools earned recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of Best High Schools in Illinois.

The report is one segment of U.S. News rankings of higher education at all levels, including national rankings of high schools, colleges, grad schools and online education nationwide as well as world universities. The Best High Schools report came out April 22.

Like most such rankings, some of the data is subject to scrutiny and some of the conclusions of what makes a school “best” are arbitrary and subjective. This one evaluates the ratio of students to teachers, percent of “college readiness,” math proficiency and reading proficiency.

There are 708 high schools in Illinois. Of those, 72 earned numerical rankings.

From Kane County, three high schools made the top 72: St. Charles North, St. Charles East and Geneva Community High School and earned silver medals. State rankings and a link to each school’s report, are as follows:

• No. 26 — St. Charles North High School
• No. 41 — St. Charles East High School
• No. 63 — Geneva Community High School

“A good high school education is critical to prepare our future workforce,” said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News & World Report. “The 2014 Best High Schools rankings are designed to help families understand the increasing public school options available to them.”

Which is a good thing.

Using a comprehensive methodology, U.S. News gave each eligible school a College Readiness Index score, and then numerically ranked and awarded gold, silver and bronze medals. Nationwide, 500 high schools earned gold medals, 1,519 took home silver and 2,688 were awarded bronze.

Northside College Preparatory High School was ranked No. 1 in the state of Illinois.

The 2014 Kane County Educator of the Year Awards will be given