Since Newsweek began ranking the top 5% of high schools in the United States in 2003, Rufus King has earned placement as the top school in Wisconsin.  Rufus King is listed in Newsweek Magazine's top public schools in 2008 as number 214 on the list, based on a challenge index developed by Washington Post columnist Jay Matthew.  The next closest listing of a state high school is Marshfield, at number 434.  Third-ranked Whitefish Bay is 558.  One other MPS school, Riverside, ranked 17th in the state, at 1229.

The schools are ranked by Newsweek using the number of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school, divided by the number of graduating seniors.  Rufus King's index is 2.737.

"The Rufus King International Baccalaureate High School administration heartily congratulates our staff and students for committing themselves to demanding standards of excellence in the academic arena as well as in extracurricular activities,” said Marie Newby-Randle, Rufus King principal. “Our students are to be commended for challenging themselves by taking more than one thousand rigorous and intellectually challenging IB exams during the month of May, distinguishing our school with this honor, and proving again that they are truly among the brightest and the best. We are honored to guide and mold young people with these highly desirable qualities.”