Chesco's Downingtown STEM is No. 1 in the state

DOWNINGTOWN The Downingtown STEM Academy was named the most challenging school in Pennsylvania in the Washington Post's annual list of "America's Most Challenging High Schools."

The academy, which opened in 2011, was ranked 95th in the country.

Two other Chester County schools, Conestoga and Unionville High Schools, were also ranked in the top 10 in the state, Conestoga fifth and Unionville seventh.

Downingtown High School East (No. 21) and Downingtown West (No. 31) were also included in the Pennsylvania rankings.

Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia took the No. 2 spot in the state. BASIS Oro Valley in Arizona was No. 1 in the country.

Overall, 38 schools in Pennsylvania were on the list, which included more than 2,300 high schools. - Justine McDaniel