Find the Best High Schools

See school rankings and data on students, test scores and more.

U.S. News Public High School Rankings

The U.S. News rankings include data on nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to traditional high schools, the rankings encompass charter; magnet; and science, technology, engineering and math-focused schools. Discover how your school stacks up against thousands around the country.See all the rankings

National Rankings

The 2024 Best High Schools ranks 17,655 public high schools.

Best Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools that operate under charters, tend to have limited enrollment and usually accept students through an application process.

Best Magnet Schools

Magnet schools may attract the most talented students in a region via an application process, often involving test scores and grade-point averages.

Best STEM Schools

U.S. News looked at the top 2,000 public high schools to identify the top 500 best in science, technology, engineering and math education.

Best Public High Schools by State

Institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are included in the Best High Schools rankings. Schools are ranked nationally and within each state. See how schools compare with those in the same state, using measures like standardized test scores to assess math, science and reading proficiency.

See All States

Private High Schools by State

Search by state for private institutions that teach high school students. School profiles have data including enrollment by grade, student-teacher ratio and percentage of faculty with advanced degrees.

See All States

Best Public High Schools by Metro Area

To be featured, a metropolitan area had to have three or more high schools in the national rankings. We rank schools in more than 900 metro areas, whose boundaries are determined by U.S. census data.

See all 927 metro areas

High Schools Advice

Wondering whether your student should enroll in that AP class or want to find out more about GPA scales? Get answers to all your high school questions.

11 Things to Consider When Choosing a High School

Metro Areas With the Most Top-Ranked High Schools in the U.S.

Map: Where Are the Top 100 Public High Schools?

Explore the 2024 Best STEM High Schools

See the 2024 Best Public High Schools

School Administrators Display Your Badge

If your high school is nationally ranked, display a U.S. News Best High Schools badge on your school's website. To obtain a badge, please visit this page or contact SchoolRankings@usnews.com for more information.

Check Eligibility »

Why U.S. News Best High Schools?

At U.S. News, we believe that better education drives the future. We rank high schools across the country to give an unbiased look at how well schools serve their students and help you make informed decisions about your child’s education. We also want to recognize high-performing schools and inspire educators and municipalities to do better.

The top-ranked schools have a high rate of students who scored above expectations in math, science and reading state assessments, passed an array of college-level exams, and graduated in four years.

The state, metro area and district rankings show how schools fare against others in a geographic location. Magnet schools, charter schools and STEM schools are ranked separately to ensure a fair comparison.

Use our high-quality data and expert reporting to do the necessary research for your child’s education. Read the Best High Schools frequently asked questions to learn what goes into the ranking methodology.