hours; and Extended Essay requirements), giving the school a high average number of IB tests. IA was recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as the second-best public high school in the nation in December 2009. Again earning this #2 ranking in 2011. In 2014, IA dropped down to 9th ranking. In 2016, IA was once again ranked 9th. The U.S. news used "quality-adjusted tests per student" as the criteria. The International Academy was also named the best public IB program in the country, with an "IB Diploma per Grade 12 student enrolled" rate of 90.4%. In 2021, IA ranked No. 43 in the United States and No. 3 in Michigan among public high schools according to U.S. News & World Report''. According to IA, the Class of 2018 average SAT scores were 659 for Evidence-based Reading and Writing, and 721 for Math. The average ACT composite score was a 29.7. In addition, 57 members (16%) of the Class of 2018 were named National Merit Scholars, 30 of whom were Finalists. Student life Students are selected by lottery among the applicants. In 2004, the school enrollment was 576. International Academy has an extended school year (205 days) and an extended school day. At the end of the school day, many students stay to participate in after-school clubs, extra classes (jazz band or full orchestra), or meet with teachers and friends. Students may also participate in activities at their home schools. Students typically only participate in activities at their home high schools that the International Academy does not offer, including sports teams and marching bands. Internationalism The IA often classifies itself as an international school, and has a number of international students - about 10 to 15 percent of the student body attended a school overseas before coming to the IA. However, their families must move to one of the sending districts before coming to the IA. The IA does not have boarding students. The IA gives preference to international students (classified as students who have lived in the US for less than one year), as well as students coming from other IB schools (in the United States or elsewhere). The Central and East campuses have particularly large Asian-American populations (mainly from China, Korea, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East). Athletics The International Academy has no school-sponsored sports. When the IA was founded in 1996, it agreed not to