How much stock should people place on the new list of the nation's best public high schools that was released this week by U.S. News & World Report.

As noted in today's article, the rankings saw some schools that do well on other lists such as Raleigh Charter High, Enloe High and East Chapel Hill High not getting ranked. Less academically heralded schools such as Garner High and Southern Wake Academy were honored on this new list.

The difference from the lists done by Newsweek and The Washington Post seems to be that U.S. News requires schools to do well with their low-income and minority students.

If the Triangle High Five has its way, Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston counties and the Chapel hill-Carrboro school system will have a uniform set of math course names and sequences.

As noted in today's article, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board will review the Triangle High Five proposal at tonight's board meeting. Ruth Steidinger, Wake's senior director of middle school program,s said the board would likely get the presentation in January.

Wake will need to decide relatively soon so that high school students can make their course selections for the fall 2012 semester.

Dr. Neil Pedersen, superintendent of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools, is in the running for a state education leadership award.

The Public School Forum, an education policy group, said Friday that Pedersen is one of three finalists for the annual Jay Robinson Leadership Award.

The award is given to those who have made outstanding contributions to education. It is named after the late Jay Robinson, who served as superintendent of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, as a vice president of the UNC system, and as chairman of the state Board of Education.

The recipient of the award will be announced on June 8th. The other finalists are Dr. Dudley Flood, an education consultant, and Dr. Shirley Prince, superintendent of the Scotland County schools.