Meta Valley High School was ranked top high school in Kane County according to a U.S. News and World Report assessment. (Suburban Chronicle photo)

Six Kane County High Schools were ranked among the Best in Illinois in U.S. News & World Report’s annual assessment of high schools.

The 2015 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.

U.S. News gave numerical rankings to the top 86 “gold medal” winners among Illinois’ 667 high schools.

Metea Valley was 28th, St. Charles North 35th, St. Charles East 42nd, Waubonsie Valley 61st, Geneva 64th and Batavia 85th.

Last year, St. Charles North was 26th, St. Charles East was 41st and Geneva 63rd among 72 gold medal winners.

The report looks at a number of factors, including student-to-teacher ratio, college readiness, and average proficiency in mathematics and reading.

U.S. News differentiates high schools with gold, silver and bronze medals, using gold medals to indicate the greatest level of college readiness.

This year, 6,517 schools received medals. Maryland claims the highest percentage of top-performing high schools, with nearly 30 percent of its eligible schools earning gold or silver medals. California comes in second with 27 percent, followed by Connecticut with 25 percent. A state-by-state breakdown is available here.

Along with the national rankings, U.S. News released new Best STEM Schools, Best Charter Schools, Best Magnet Schools and individual statewide rankings.

“A high school diploma is essential for career and financial success,” said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News & World Report. “The Best High Schools rankings are a useful tool for families trying to discern how well schools are serving their students in preparation for college and careers.”

To create the 2015 Best High Schools rankings, U.S. News worked with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm. New this year, the Best High Schools methodology was updated to reduce volatility in the rankings from year to year.