Best Public High Schools in Every State

Alabama’s top public high school is Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School in Montgomery. The magnet school has nearly 500 students in grades nine through 12.

The school earned an A+ overall grade as well as top marks for its academics from school data platform Niche. State test scores show 95% of Loveless students are proficient in math and reading, both well above national averages. Students also have an average SAT score of 1370 and an average ACT score of 30.

Out of more than 200 public high schools in Alaska, Mat-Su Career & Tech Education High School in Wasilla ranks as the best in the state. This is due in large part to its teachers, who were ranked by school data platform Niche as the best in the state. The school is one of just six magnet high schools in the state.

Like many of the top public high schools in their state, Mat-Su Career & Tech Education High School has a high graduation rate, at 95%. More than two-thirds of students test at or above proficiency level in both math and reading.

BASIS Oro Valley is Arizona’s best public high school. The charter school educates students in grades six-12. BASIS Oro Valley earned an A+ overall grade, as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, health and safety, and college prep, from school data platform Niche. BASIS Charter Schools operates eight of the 10 top public schools in Arizona.

The school has a student-to-teacher ratio of just 6:1, compared to the nationwide ratio of 17:1. Low student-to-teacher ratios allow students to get more individualized attention and feedback from teachers, which often leads to improved academic performance.

Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville ranks as Arkansas’ top public high school, earning an A+ overall grade from school data platform Niche. The charter school educates students in grades seven-12.

Haas Hall Academy also ranks as the state’s top college prep high school as well as the school with the best teachers, per Niche. More than 90% of students are proficient in math and reading, and the school boasts an average graduation rate of 95%.

Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto ranks as California’s best public high school. The school educates nearly 2,000 students in grades nine through 12. The school earned an A+ overall grade from Niche, as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, and college prep.

Public schools rely on funding from taxes levied in the nearby area, and the area around Gunn High School has a median household income of $165,662 — over $100,000 higher than the national median household income.

Cherry Creek High School ranks as the best public high school in Colorado. The school earned an overall A+ grade from school data platform Niche, as well as A+ scores for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and college prep.

Like many public schools that rank as the best in their state, Cherry Creek High School is in an affluent area, meaning the school is better funded through a wealthy tax base. Greenwood Village, where the school is located, has a median household income of just over $129,000 — more than double the national median household income.

Located in Westport near Connecticut’s southern tip, Staples High School ranks as the best public high school in the state. The school earned an A+ grade from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and its college prep.

Staples High School offers its students Advanced Placement classes, as well as a gifted program. The school has an average graduation rate of 99%, and its students report much higher ACT and SAT scores than the typical high school student.

Delaware has just a few dozen public high schools, and The Charter School of Wilmington stands out as the best in the state. The school earned an A+ overall grade from Niche as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, health and safety, and college prep.

The Charter School of Wilmington’s students tend to perform very well academically. The school boasts an average graduation rate of 99%, and 98% of students are proficient in reading and 91% of students are proficient in math.

Pine View School in Sarasota County stands out as the best public high school in Florida, beating out nearly 700 other schools. The magnet school in Osprey educates students in grades two through 12 and also ranks as the best elementary and middle school in the state as well.

Pine View School students tend to perform very well on exams — 99% of students tested as proficient in math and reading. Also, the average SAT and ACT scores are both well above the national average, at 1380 and 32, respectively.

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology in Lawrenceville ranks as the best public high school in Georgia. The school earned an overall grade of A+ from school data platform Niche.

The school offers Advanced Placement courses, and 72% of students are enrolled in AP classes. The school’s students have a 99% proficiency rate in both reading and math.

Mililani High School on the island of Oʻahu ranks as the best public school in the state of Hawaii. All public schools in Hawaii are run by the Hawaii Department of Education, unlike in other states in which school districts are run at the local level. Mililani High School stands out among these schools, earning an overall A grade from school data platform Niche.

Mililani High School has an average graduation rate of 93%, well above the national average. Its students also have higher average SAT and ACT scores than the average American student.

Boise Senior High School ranks as Idaho’s best public school, according to school data platform Niche, earning an overall A+ grade. The school educates more than 1,500 students in grades nine through 12.

More than half of all Boise Senior High School students are enrolled in Advanced Placement classes. Students tend to perform well on tests — 78% of students are proficient in reading and 61% are proficient in math. They also reported higher than average SAT and ACT scores.

Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago ranks as the best public high school in Illinois. The magnet school has an enrollment of just over 1,200 students in grades nine through 12.

Payton College Preparatory High School earned an A+ grade from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and college prep. More than 90% of students are proficient in reading and math. The school’s students reported an average SAT score of 1400 and an average ACT score of 31 — both well above nationwide averages.

Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities in Muncie ranks as the top public high school in the state. The school earned an A+ overall grade from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, and college prep.

The school has a student-to-teacher ratio of 7:1, well below the 17:1 nationwide rate. This low ratio allows students to get more individualized attention and feedback from educators, while teachers can manage the classroom better.

Iowa’s best public high school is Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, just across the Mississippi River from Illinois. The school earned an overall grade of A+ from school data platform Niche.

Pleasant Valley High School students tend to perform well academically. Students have proficiency rates of over 90% in math and reading, and the school has an average graduation rate of 97%. Students also reported an average SAT score of 1350 out of 1600.

The top public high school in Kansas is Blue Valley North High School. Located south of Kansas City and just west of the Kansas-Missouri border, the high school earned an overall A+ grade from school data platform Niche.

Students at Blue Valley North High School tend to perform well on academic assessments. The majority of students are proficient in reading and math, and the school’s average graduation rate is 95%.

Out of nearly 250 public high schools in Kentucky, Louisville’s DuPont Manual High School ranks as the best. The magnet school earned an A+ overall grade from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its academics, clubs and activities, and college prep.

DuPont Manual High School ranks as the top high school in large part because of the academic performance of its students — 85% are proficient in math and 88% are proficient in reading. Of the nearly 1,900 students, 80% are enrolled in Advanced Placement classes.

Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans is the top public high school in Louisiana. The magnet school has nearly 1,000 pupils in grades nine through 12. Franklin High earned an A+ overall grade from school data platform Niche.

The school boasts a 99% average graduation rate, has a 99% reading proficiency rate, as well as a 95% math proficiency rate.

Maine’s best public high school is Maine School of Science & Mathematics, located in Limestone in the northeastern part of the state. The school earned an A+ overall grade from school data platform Niche as well as top scores for its academics, teachers, health and safety, and college prep.

MSSM is a relatively small school, with an enrollment of just 133 students. The school has a low student-to-teacher ratio, at 10:1. This allows students to receive more individualized attention and helps teachers run their lessons more efficiently.

Maryland’s top public high school is Poolesville High School, which is just outside of Washington, D.C. The magnet school educates just over 1,200 students from grades nine through 12.

Poolesville High School students excel in tests — 86% of students are proficient in reading and 84% are proficient in math. Students also reported an average SAT score of 1400 and an average ACT score of 32, both well above nationwide averages.

The best public high school in Massachusetts is MA Academy for Math & Science School in Worcester. The small magnet school for 11th and 12th graders requires prospective students to apply for admission and attend a virtual visit. Its enrollment is less than 100.

The Academy’s students have near-perfect college admissions scores, reporting an average SAT score of 1480 out of 1600 and average ACT scores of 34 out of 36. It also earned an A+ overall grade from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, and college prep.

International Academy in Bloomfield Hills ranks as the best public high school in all of Michigan. The school earned an A+ grade overall from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its academics, health and safety, and college prep. International Academy students have a 99% proficiency rate in both math and reading.

The school offers the International Baccalaureate program, an advanced study program that aims to help students develop their skills for a globalizing world and is offered in roughly 5,400 schools worldwide.

Minnetonka Senior High School ranks as Minnesota’s top public high school, earning an overall A+ grade from school data platform Niche. The school offers AP and IB programs and boasts a 96% graduation rate.

Like many other top public schools, Minnetonka Senior High is in a relatively affluent area, providing the school with greater funding through taxes. The Minnetonka area’s median household income is over $95,000.

The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science ranks as the top public high school in its state. It is the only public high school in Mississippi to earn an overall grade of A+ from school data platform Niche.

MSMS is the rare school in which 100% of students are proficient in both math and reading. The school also has a 95% average graduation rate, and its students reported above average SAT and ACT scores.

Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis ranks as the best school out of more than 500 public high schools in Missouri, earning an overall A+ grade from school data platform Niche. The school also earned top marks for its academics, clubs and activities, and college prep.

Ladue Horton Watkins High School has math and reading proficiency rates above 70% and an average graduation rate of 99%. According to a Niche survey, the vast majority of students feel that teachers give engaging lessons and genuinely care about the students.

Bozeman High School stands out as the best public high school in Montana, ranking ahead of more than 100 other public schools in the state, according to school data platform Niche. The school has just over 2,200 students in grades nine through 12.

Bozeman High students tend to perform better on academic assessments than the typical American student — 66% of students are proficient in reading, and 53% are proficient in math. School students also have an average SAT score of 1300.

Millard North High School in Omaha is the top public high school in Nebraska, according to school data platform Niche, earning an overall grade of A+.

The school’s students have proficiency rates of over 70% in both math and reading. The students also report relatively high scores on college admissions exams — 1390 on the SAT and 28 on the ACT.

The Davidson Academy in Reno is not just the best public high school in Nevada, but ranks first in the entire country. Niche gave the school an overall A+ grade as well as top marks for its teachers, academics, college prep, and more.

To get into The Davidson Academy, students should “score in the 99.9th percentile on accepted intelligence and/or achievement tests,” and demonstrate academic aptitude, motivation, and maturity, according to the school’s site. Students report near-perfect average SAT scores of 1510 and average ACT scores of 34.

Hanover High School ranks as the best public high school in New Hampshire. The grade nine through 12 school earned an A+ overall grade from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, health and safety, and college prep.

Hanover High School has an average graduation rate of 92%. Of school students, 95% are proficient in reading and 87% proficient in math. Students also reported average SAT scores of 1350 and average ACT scores of 31 — both well above national averages.

High Technology High School ranks as the best out of more than 400 public high schools in New Jersey. The school, located in Lincroft, educates just under 300 students in grades nine through 12. As the name suggests, the school also provides STEM education — and excels at it, ranking as the best in the state as well.

High Technology High School earned an A+ overall grade from Niche as well as top marks for academics, teachers, health and safety, and college prep. The school’s students have 95% proficiency in both math and reading. Its average SAT score of 1520 and average ACT score of 34 are both well above national averages.

Arrowhead Park Early College High School in Las Cruces ranks as the best public school in New Mexico. The school earned an overall A+ grade from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its teachers and health and safety.

Arrowhead Park has an average graduation rate of 92%, and both its average SAT and ACT scores are well above the nationwide averages.

Stuyvesant High School ranks as the best public high school in New York state, and the 11th best public high school in the country. The school, located near Battery Park in Manhattan’s west side, received an overall grade of A+ from school data platform Niche. It also earned top marks for its academics, teachers, college prep, and more.

Stuyvesant High School beat out more than 1,200 other public high schools in the state to claim the top spot. The school has a 99% graduation rate, and it boasts 99% proficiency rates in both math and reading.

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is the best public high school in the state, and the second-best public high school in the entire country. It earned an A+ overall grade from school data platform Niche as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and college prep.

One of the factors setting NCSSM apart is its low student-to-teacher ratio, at just 7:1, which allows teachers to give students more individualized attention, and gives students a chance to have their concerns and issues addressed in class. The school’s average SAT score of 1440 and average ACT score of 33 are both well above national averages.

Fargo Davies High School ranks as the top public high school out of nearly 150 schools in North Dakota. It earned an overall grade of A from school data platform Niche. The school educates nearly 1,300 students in grades nine through 12.

Fargo Davies High School boasts a 94% average graduation rate. Its students also report an average ACT score of 26, both well above national averages.

Indian Hill High School in Cincinnati is Ohio’s top public high school, earning an overall grade of A+ from school data platform Niche. It also earned top marks for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, health and safety, and college prep.

Like many top public schools, Indian Hill is located in an affluent area, likely boosting district funding through taxes. The area’s median household income is over $207,000 — more than triple the national median.

Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in Oklahoma City ranks as the best public school in the state. The school earned an overall A+ grade as well as A+ scores for its academics, teachers, health and safety, and college prep from school data platform Niche.

The school is small, with just 150 11th and 12th grade students and a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio. This allows students to be more engaged and receive more attention from teachers, which can help them overcome academic obstacles. The school boasts a 100% graduation rate and college entrance exam scores well above average.

School of Science & Technology in Beaverton ranks as the best out of nearly 300 public high schools in Oregon. The magnet school has just 175 enrolled students in grades nine through 12.

School of Science & Technology tends to perform well on educational assessments — 85% of students are proficient in reading, and 75% are proficient in math. Students also have an average SAT score of 1320 and an average ACT score of 30.

Julia R. Masterman Secondary School in Philadelphia ranks as the top public high school in Pennsylvania. The school earned an overall A+ grade, as well as A+ scores for its academics, teachers, health and safety, and college prep, from school data platform Niche.

Based on “diversity, graduation rates and state test scores for economically disadvantaged and minority students,” per Niche, the school ranks No. 1 in Niche’s list of Standout High Schools in America that are making a difference in their community. Masterman boasts an average graduation rate of 95%, and 99% of students are proficient in reading, while 97% are proficient in math.

The best public high school in Rhode Island is Barrington High School. The school earned an overall A+ grade as well as top marks for its academics and health and safety from school data platform Niche. The school has a 95% average graduation rate, and the vast majority of students are proficient in math and reading.

Like many top public schools, Barrington High School is in a relatively affluent area, and the school is likely better funded through a wealthier tax base. Barrington’s median household income is $125,431 — roughly double the U.S. median.

South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics in Hartsville ranks as the best public school in the state. The school earned an overall A+ grade as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and college prep from school data platform Niche.

GSSM boasts 95% proficiency rates for both reading and math, as well as an average graduation rate of 95%. Nearly all of the 270 11th and 12th grade students are enrolled in Advanced Placement classes.

Washington High School in Sioux Falls ranks as the top public high school in South Dakota. The school educates nearly 2,000 students in grades nine through 12 and offers both Advanced Placement classes and a gifted program.

Washington High School received an overall A grade from school data platform Niche as well as an A for its clubs and activities, and an A+ for diversity. Nearly two-thirds of students are proficient in reading, and students reported average SAT and ACT scores above nationwide averages.

Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School in Nashville ranks as Tennessee’s top public high school. It earned an A+ overall grade, as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, and college prep, from school data platform Niche.

Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School boasts a 99% graduation rate, and the vast majority of its students are proficient in math and reading. Nearly three-quarters of students are enrolled in Advanced Placement classes, and they report average SAT and ACT scores well above the typical score for all American students.

School for the Talented & Gifted is a magnet school in The Heights area of Dallas, educating just over 400 students in grades ninth through 12th. It ranks as the best public high school in Texas out of nearly 1,800 schools, earning an A+ overall grade as well as A+ scores for its academics, teachers, diversity, and college prep, from school data platform Niche.

Students at the School for the Talented & Gifted have a 95% graduation rate as well as 95% proficiency rates in both reading and math. All students are enrolled in Advanced Placement classes and report an average SAT score of 1390 and an average ACT score of 32 — both well above national averages.

Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy is a charter school, providing students in seventh through 12th grades with a liberal arts education. The school earned an overall A+ grade as well as A+ scores for its teachers and health and safety, according to school data platform Niche.

More than two-thirds of Maeser Prep students are proficient in math and reading, and the school has an average graduation rate of 95%. Students report having positive feelings about the school, with the vast majority reporting that they like Maeser Prep and feel safe and happy there, according to a Niche survey.

South Burlington High School ranks as the best public high school in Vermont. The school earned an A grade overall as well as A grades for its academics, teachers, health and safety, clubs and activities, and college prep from Niche.

South Burlington High School students report higher average SAT and ACT scores than the typical American student and a 79% proficiency rate in reading. The school has a 13:1 student-to-teach ratio, well below the nationwide ratio of 17:1, allowing students to receive more individualized attention, which can benefit academic performance.

Maggie Walker Governor’s School in Richmond ranks as Virginia’s best public school — and the fourth best public school in the entire country. The magnet school earned an overall A+ grade, as well as A+ grades for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, health and safety, and college prep, from school data platform Niche.

Students at Maggie Walker Governor’s School tend to perform very well on academic assessments — 100% of students are proficient in reading and math, and the school has a 99% average graduation rate. Students also reported an average SAT score of 1410 and an average ACT score of 33, which are both well above national averages.

Tesla STEM High School in Redmond ranks as the best public high school in Washington state. The school earned an A+ overall grade, as well as top marks for its academics, teachers, health and safety, and college prep, from school data platform Niche.

Tesla STEM High School offers alternative education, allowing students to work in STEM labs and utilize problem-based learning. More than 90% of students are enrolled in Advanced Placement courses, and the school’s average SAT and ACT scores are well above national averages.

Bridgeport High School ranks as West Virginia’s best public school. The school has an average graduation rate of 99%, and more than three-quarters of students are proficient in reading. The school earned an A grade from school data platform Niche.

Like many other top schools, Bridgeport High School is in a relatively affluent area, and the school is likely better funded through a wealthier tax base. Bridgeport’s median household income is $84,382 — more than $20,000 higher than the national median and over $35,000 higher than West Virginia’s median.

Brookfield East High School ranks as Wisconsin’s top public high school, earning an A+ overall grade, as well as an A+ for its academics, from school data platform Niche. The school, located in Brookfield just west of Milwaukee, offers students Advanced Placement courses and a gifted program.

Brookfield East High School reports having an average graduation rate of 96%, and its students report average ACT and SAT scores that are well above nationwide averages. Most students are also proficient in math and reading.

Jackson Hole High School ranks as the best public high school in Wyoming. The school earned an overall A grade, as well as A grades for its teachers and college prep, from school data platform Niche.

Students at Jackson Hole High School are able to get more individualized attention as the school’s student to teacher ratio is just 13:1, well below the nationwide ratio of 17:1. This also allows teachers to better manage their classrooms, and helps them identify struggling students and address their issues.