Burris Laboratory School, located on the Ball State University campus, has been listed among the nation's best high schools in a "2008 Best High Schools" analysis by U.S. News & World Report.

Burris, which serves as a laboratory for Ball State's teaching majors, received a silver rating. It was one of only eight schools in Indiana to be awarded gold or silver status, which went to less than 3 percent of schools nationwide.

U.S. News analyzed academic and enrollment data from more than 18,000 public high schools across the country and issued gold, silver and bronze ratings to its top schools.

Roy Weaver, dean of Ball State's Teachers College, views this ranking as a strong indication of the high-caliber learning opportunities and mentoring the university's teaching majors receive.

"Burris is a wonderful opportunity for our students to get real teaching experience in such an academically sound environment," he said. "This recognition is a direct reflection of the quality of students and educators who represent Burris Laboratory School and Ball State University."    

In addition to receiving the silver rating from U.S. News, Burris was also recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in September.

Burris is the state's only K-12 public school and enrolls about 500 students. It is supervised by Ball State's Teachers College and also houses classes for the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities, the state's only public, residential high school for academically gifted juniors and seniors.

For more information, visit www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools.