AIKEN - Three area high schools are among the top 5 percent of high schools in the nation, according to Newsweek magazine's annual ranking.

South Aiken High School, Lakeside High School and John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet High School placed among the 1,200 high schools recognized for preparing students for college.

School ranks are based on a "challenge index" that takes the number of students in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests and compares it with the number of graduating seniors.

South Aiken High and Davidson, in Richmond County, moved up the list this year, and Columbia County's Lakeside High joined the list for the first time at No. 816.

South Aiken improved 107 spots from last year to place No. 1,009. Davidson jumped 68 spots to No. 295, which puts it among the top 1 percent to 2 percent of high schools in the country.

The magnet school also was named the No. 1 middle school and No. 1 high school in the state earlier this month by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, based on scores from the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests.

"It says we're doing a lot of things here that are right for our students," Principal Vicky Addison said Thursday.

The national accolades have had the phones at Davidson ringing.

"We get quite a few phone calls from people inside the state as well as outside the state who want to come visit the school," she said.

Lakeside Principal Jeff Carney said the list recognized the efforts the school put into its AP program. This year Lakeside increased its number of AP classes from six to 18.

"We're obviously very excited and pleased," he said. "We've made a priority of growing our AP program."

Dr. Jan Nashatker, South Aiken High's principal, said the recognition was a "welcome shot in the arm" at the end of the year.

"We were real tickled," she said. "It wasn't something we applied for, and last year was the first time we even heard of it.

"At this time of the year you're tired and wondering 'Is it all worth it?'" she said.

Dr. Nashatker said the staff encourages students to try AP classes, and the list reflects that students rose to the occasion.

Staff writers Greg Gelpi and Betsy Gilliland contributed to this story.