Education policy in the United States is set largely at the state and local levels. This patchwork of laws and regulations has led to considerable variation in academic standards, teacher training, and funding across America’s public school districts – and some states have a better reputation for school quality than others.
Depending on the state, average per pupil spending at public K-12 schools ranges from only $8,000 to nearly $25,000, depending on the state. Similarly, high school graduation rates range by state from less than 75% to well over 90%. (Here is a look at how much each state spends on its public schools.)
With such disparities, it is little surprise that every year, millions of families send their children to private schools, which charge tuition but also generally have some clear advantages, including smaller class sizes and better student outcomes.
Still, while many public schools are struggling, there are also those that stand out for the opposite reason. Within each state, there are high schools that have a track record of high graduation rates, offering students updated facilities, a range of extracurricular activity options, and a dedicated teaching staff.
Using data compiled by Niche, an education research platform, 24/7 Wall St. identified the best public high school in each state for 2023. Niche ranked schools based on a weighted index of seven measures, including self-reported standardized test scores, parent and student surveys, extracurricular activities, and indicators of teacher quality. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here. Charter and magnet schools, as well as boarding schools and schools affiliated with a university, were excluded from analysis.
In nearly every high school on this list, the graduation rate is at least 90%. In many of these schools, average SAT and ACT scores are on par with those reported at elite private boarding schools. (Here is a look at the best private schools in America.)
Click here to see the best public high school in every state.
Alabama: Mt. Brook High School
> Location: Mountain Brook, Jefferson County (Birmingham area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 98%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,043
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Alaska: West High School
> Location: Anchorage, Anchorage Borough (Anchorage area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1250 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,752
Arizona: University High School
> Location: Tucson, Pima County (Tucson area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 24:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,222
Arkansas: Bentonville High School
> Location: Bentonville, Benton County (Fayetteville, AR area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1270 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 3,086
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California: Henry M. Gunn High School
> Location: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County (San Francisco Bay area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,936
Colorado: Cherry Creek High School
> Location: Greenwood Village, Arapahoe County (Denver area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 3,868
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Connecticut: Staples High School
> Location: Westport, Fairfield County (New York City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,803
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Delaware: Cab Calloway School of the Arts
> Location: Wilmington, New Castle County (Philadelphia area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1230 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 941
Florida: School for Advanced Studies – Wolfson
> Location: Miami, Miami-Dade County (Miami area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 32:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 90%
> Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 129
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Georgia: Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology
> Location: Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County (Atlanta area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,197
Hawaii: Mililani High School
> Location: Mililani, Honolulu County (Honolulu area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Avg. SAT score: 1170 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 25 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,620
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Idaho: Boise Senior High School
> Location: Boise, Ada County (Boise area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 87%
> Avg. SAT score: 1260 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,421
Illinois: Adlai E. Stevenson High School
> Location: Lincolnshire, Lake County (Chicago area)
> Student-teacher ratio: N/A
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 4,315
Indiana: West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
> Location: West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,102
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Iowa: West Senior High School
> Location: Iowa City, Johnson County (Cedar Rapids area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,466
Kansas: Blue Valley North High School
> Location: Overland Park, Johnson County (Kansas City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,501
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Kentucky: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
> Location: Lexington, Fayette County (Lexington area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,022
Louisiana: Zachary High School
> Location: Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish (Baton Rouge area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1260 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 25 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,633
Maine: Yarmouth High School
> Location: Yarmouth, Cumberland County (Portland, ME area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1280 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 550
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Maryland: Walt Whitman High School
> Location: Bethesda, Montgomery County (Washington, D.C. area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,991
Massachusetts: Lexington High School
> Location: Lexington, Middlesex County (Boston area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,261
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Michigan: International Academy
> Location: Novi, Oakland County (Detroit area)
> Student-teacher ratio: N/A
> Avg. graduation rate: 90%
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,524
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Minnesota: Wayzata High School
> Location: Plymouth, Hennepin County (Minneapolis-St. Paul area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 3,502
Mississippi: Ocean Springs High School
> Location: Ocean Springs, Jackson County
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Avg. SAT score: 1240 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 26 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,808
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Missouri: Ladue Horton Watkins High School
> Location: St. Louis, St. Louis County (St. Louis area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,337
Montana: Bozeman High School
> Location: Bozeman, Gallatin County
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 85%
> Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,463
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Nebraska: Millard North High School
> Location: Omaha, Douglas County (Omaha area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,592
Nevada: College of Southern Nevada High School – South
> Location: Henderson, Clark County (Las Vegas area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 24:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 100%
> Avg. SAT score: 1200 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 26 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 120
New Hampshire: Hanover High School
> Location: Hanover, Grafton County
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 697
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New Jersey: High Technology High School
> Location: Lincroft, Monmouth County (New York City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1520 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 295
New Mexico: La Cueva High School
> Location: Albuquerque, Bernalillo County (Albuquerque area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 85%
> Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,784
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New York: Bronx High School of Science
> Location: The Bronx, Bronx County (New York City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,937
North Carolina: Green Hope High School
> Location: Cary, Wake County (Raleigh area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,247
North Dakota: Fargo Davies High School
> Location: Fargo, Cass County (Fargo area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1320 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 26 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,328
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Ohio: Indian Hill High School
> Location: The Village of Indian Hill, Hamilton County (Cincinnati area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 649
Oklahoma: Union Ninth Grade Center
> Location: Broken Arrow, Tulsa County (Tulsa area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: N/A
> Avg. SAT score: 1070 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 24 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,196
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Oregon: Lake Oswego Senior High School
> Location: Lake Oswego, Clackamas County (Portland area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1320 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,251
Pennsylvania: Conestoga Senior High School
> Location: Tredyffrin Township, Chester County (Philadelphia area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,318
Rhode Island: Barrington High School
> Location: Barrington, Bristol County (Providence area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1290 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,100
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South Carolina: D.W. Daniel High School
> Location: Central, Pickens County (Greenville area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 90%
> Avg. SAT score: 1240 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,149
South Dakota: Washington High School
> Location: Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 84%
> Avg. SAT score: 1150 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 24 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,975
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Tennessee: Ravenwood High School
> Location: Brentwood, Williamson County (Nashville area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 98%
> Avg. SAT score: 1370 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,783
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Texas: Westlake High School
> Location: Austin, Travis County (Austin area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,827
Utah: Skyline High School
> Location: Millcreek, Salt Lake County (Salt Lake City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: N/A
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,104
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Vermont: South Burlington High School
> Location: South Burlington, Chittenden County
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1240 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 880
Virginia: McLean High School
> Location: McLean, Fairfax County (Washington, D.C. area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,317
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Washington: Interlake Senior High School
> Location: Bellevue, King County (Seattle area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,654
West Virginia: Morgantown High School
> Location: Morgantown, Monongalia County
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Avg. SAT score: 1220 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 26 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,847
Wisconsin: Brookfield East High School
> Location: Brookfield, Waukesha County (Milwaukee area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,340
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Wyoming: Jackson Hole High School
> Location: Jackson, Teton County
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1260 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 729
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