San Marcos High School was ranked third in the state and 11th in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's annual academic survey.
San Marcos seniors were all college-ready, the weekly news magazine reported, based on a survey of 577 high schools in California and nearly 22,000 nationwide. Most of the survey data came from 2009-10 academic year.
"Minority'' students make up about 61 percent of the San Marcos student body.
Ten San Diego Unified School District schools were included in the rankings of nation's top 1,800 schools.
"We thank US News for this recognition,'' Superintendent Bill Kowba said. "Having a diploma from an award-winning school can only help our students as they work to get to college."
The Preuss School at UC San Diego, a charter school dedicated to students from minority and low-income families, was rated eighth in the state and 44th in the nation.
Other highly ranked San Diego County high schools included:
-- La Jolla, 34th in California and 167th nationally;
-- Westview, 40th and 218th;
-- Canyon Crest Academy, 41st and 220th;
-- University City, 66th and 371st, Patrick Henry, 68th and 383rd;
-- Scripps Ranch, 69th and 390th;
-- San Dieguito Academy, 74th and 402nd;
-- Poway High School, 83rd and 449th; and
-- Coronado, 94th and 484th.
