Count Newsweek magazine among the champions of high school public education in Conejo Valley.

The publication released its 2010 list of the top American public high schools in mid-June, and all three conventional Conejo Valley Unified School District high schools were named. Fewer than 6 percent of public high schools nationally made the list.

Westlake High School paced the local honorees, ranking first in Ventura County, 25th in the state and 236th nationally. Newbury Park High School (2, 101, 635) and Thousand Oaks High School (5, 194, 1,153) rounded out the trio.

“I think it just reinforces that Conejo Valley Unified School District has got consistently great schools,” said Superintendent Jeff Baarstad.

“And no matter where your child goes to high school in this school district, they’re going to be in the top 5 percent of schools in the country,” he said.

The Newsweek rankings are based on the number of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams taken by students at each school, divided by the size of that school’s graduating class.

“This is obviously only one indicator of the academic success at our schools,” Baarstad said. “That’s the one Newsweek chooses.

“Our parents and students appreciate the fact that we provide Advanced Placement classes in a wide variety of subjects.”

Advanced Placement classes allow high school students to earn college credit for their course work. Those students who earn a satisfactory score on yearend AP exams can get a leg up on the academic process even before they set foot on a college campus.

“We work hard in this district to challenge the kids to take these courses, to take these tests,” said CVUSD Board of Education President Pat Phelps. “It takes a lot of support from the teachers. It’s a great combination.”

Phelps added that national rankings such as the Newsweek findings play an important role in bringing new students into the district.

“Obviously it’s great ammunition,” Phelps said. “People can look at our test scores . . . they can say, I can live in Thousand Oaks and get a good education for my kids.

“This gives the district kind of a pedigree. They can look at the schools and see the results.”

The complete rankings can be found online at www.newsweek .com/tag/education.