According to the Newsweek Article: "Public schools are ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, Intl. Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2008 divided by the number of graduating seniors. All of the schools on the list have an index of at least 1.000; they are in the top 6 percent of public schools measured this way."

Here's an impressive sampling from some of our local schools: 

Pasadena’s Marshall Fundamental ranks 152
La Canada High ranks 231
San Marino High ranks 281 
La Crescenta’s Crescenta Valley High ranks 346
Eagle Rock High ranks 383 
South Pasadena High ranks 787