PORTLAND — U.S. News & World Report says Maine and California are tied for the highest percentage of high schools in the top tier of the magazine’s ranking system.

The magazine released annual rankings Tuesday that say both states had slightly more than 22 percent of high schools with “gold” or “silver” rankings. Those tiers represent the top nine percent of schools. The ranking system awards gold medals to the top 500 schools in the nation.

There are four gold medal Maine schools, 16 silver medal schools and six bronze medal schools in the 2014 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings. 

The rankings gave the top spot in Maine to Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone. The school was also ranked 13th best public high school in the country and third-best magnet school in the country. Falmouth High School and Yarmouth High School were next on the list of best Maine high schools.