Benjamin Banneker High School

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Benjamin Banneker Academic High School is a magnet high school located in Washington, D.C., that was originally built to serve as a neighborhood Junior High School. The school's name commemorates Benjamin Banneker, an African-American scientist, surveyor, almanac author and farmer. In 1980 the school was converted to a magnet high school for academics. The school is colloquially referred to by students and faculty as "Banneker." Some people consider it to be the top high school in the District of Columbia Public Schools, and one of the best in the region, because of its strenuous curriculum and Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.Banneker is located across the street from Howard University, to which it has strong ties. The school draws students from all parts of the city. Any student interested in applying must follow an entrance procedure, involving a multiple choice test, a written essay, an interview, recommendation(s), and a report of the applicant's standardized test scores and grades from previous years.The school's current enrollment is approximately 450 students spanning from grades 9 through 12, up from 393 in 2009-10. Benjamin Banneker Academic High School is an IB Diploma Programme world school. Banneker AHS is consistently ranked among the best high schools in the United States in U.S. News & World Report's national rankings, coming in 575th in 2015 and 602nd in 2017. In the District, Banneker is among the top high schools, awarded 2nd in 2015 and 3rd in 2017.