A pair of area schools received recognition in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual review of the nation’s high schools.

Buchanan High School and Niles High School both received a national bronze medal in the 2015 report, released earlier this month.

The award is a part of the Best High Schools project developed by the U.S. News & World Report, which identifies the country’s top-performing public high schools.

The goal of the report is to provide a clear, unbiased picture of how well public schools serve all of their students in preparing them to demonstrate proficiency in basic skills and well as readiness for college course work.

Niles High Principal Robin Hadrick said it is the third year in a row the school has received a bronze ranking.

“This is not only a huge honor but it’s a reassurance that we are indeed preparing our students for their future,” she said.

The U.S. News rankings include data on more than 21,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.

U.S. News also ranked the top high schools in Michigan, but Brandywine, Buchanan and Niles were not eligible for the ranking because the list only includes schools that receive a national gold or silver medal.