The 2026–2027 US News High School Rankings provide a broad overview of some of the highest-performing public high schools in the United States. Many of these schools offer strong AP or IB programs and demonstrate impressive academic outcomes. In this article, we’ll explain how US News evaluates high schools, highlight notable changes in this year’s rankings, introduce the Top 50 public high schools in the U.S., and discuss what students and families should consider when using rankings as part of the school selection process.
One of the most widely used resources for comparing U.S. high schools is the US News Best High Schools ranking, which is based on academic data and student outcomes from thousands of public high schools across the country. However, families should avoid using rankings as the only factor in choosing a school. A school’s position on a ranking tells only part of the story. It is equally important to understand how US News evaluates schools, what the rankings actually measure, and whether a highly ranked school is truly a good fit for a student’s academic goals, learning needs, and long-term plans.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 2026–2027 US News Best High Schools rankings, key updates to this year’s list, and the Top 50 public high schools in the United States.
What Are the US News High School Rankings?
The US News Best High Schools rankings, published by U.S. News & World Report, evaluate high schools across the United States. Unlike many school rankings that rely heavily on reputation or subjective assessments, the US News rankings use a data-driven methodology to measure student academic performance and outcomes.
The rankings include eligible public high schools across the country. In addition to its national rankings, US News also publishes rankings by state, metropolitan area, and specialized categories, such as Best High Schools for STEM.
It is also important to understand that many of the highest-ranked public high schools are selective schools, magnet schools, or charter schools. Admission policies vary widely by school and district. Some schools may consider academic performance, prerequisite coursework, teacher recommendations, or entrance exams, while others may use geographic eligibility requirements or lottery-based admissions.
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Which States Have the Most Top-Ranked High Schools?
Top-ranked public high schools are not distributed evenly across the country. Among the top 100 high schools nationwide, Arizona and Florida each have 13 schools, the highest number of any state. Texas follows with 11.
When looking at the percentage of schools that rank in the top 25% nationally, Massachusetts continues to lead. Nearly 47% of the state’s eligible high schools fall within the top quarter of schools nationwide. New Jersey ranks second at 44.1%, followed by Maryland at 42.7%.
States such as Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, California, Arizona, and Texas all have strong public high school systems, but they can differ significantly in academic focus, admissions policies, school environment, and available programs.
Which Metropolitan Areas Have the Highest Concentration of Top Schools?
Among metropolitan areas, San Jose, California, continues to have the highest percentage of schools ranked in the top 25% nationwide. About 60% of ranked schools in the area, 36 out of 60, fall within the top quarter nationally. The highest-ranked school in the metro area is Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy, which ranks No. 37 nationally.
The New York metropolitan area, meanwhile, has the largest number of ranked high schools, with 1,009 schools included. However, only about 20% of those schools rank within the top 25% nationwide.
How Does US News Rank High Schools?
To understand what the rankings actually mean, students and families should know that US News does not evaluate schools based solely on test scores or college acceptance rates. The rankings use six main factors, with college readiness carrying the greatest weight at 30%.
Criteria | Weight | Measurement |
College Readiness | 30% | Based on the percentage of 12th-grade students who take and earn qualifying scores on at least one AP or IB exam. This measure reflects how well a school prepares students for college-level academic work. |
State Assessment Proficiency | 20% | Measures overall student performance on state-administered assessments in subjects such as math, science, and reading. |
State assessment performance | 20% | Evaluates whether students perform above or below expectations based on the characteristics and demographics of the student population the school serves. |
Underserved Student Performance | 10% | Examines the academic performance of Black, Hispanic, and low-income students compared with similar student groups across the state. |
College Curriculum Breadth | 10% | Based on the percentage of 12th-grade students who take and earn qualifying scores on AP and/or IB exams across multiple academic subjects. |
Graduation Rate | 10% | Based on the percentage of students who entered ninth grade in the 2020–2021 school year and graduated within four years in 2024. |
One clear takeaway is that AP and IB participation and performance play a major role in the rankings. Two factors directly related to AP and IB, which are College Readiness and College Curriculum Breadth, together account for 40% of a school’s overall ranking score.
Notable Changes in the 2026–2027 Rankings
One of the most noticeable trends in this year’s rankings is the strong presence of charter schools. Among all ranked public high schools, about 11.9% are charter schools. Within the top 5% nationally, charter schools make up roughly 19.7%.
What Is a Charter School?
A charter school is a public school that operates with greater independence than a traditional public school and may be exempt from certain state or local regulations.
Depending on the state and school, charter schools may admit students through:
- eligibility-based admissions;
- a lottery system when applications exceed available seats;
- or other enrollment models permitted under local regulations.
Best High Schools for STEM
In addition to its overall high school rankings, US News also publishes a separate Best High Schools for STEM ranking. This list focuses on student participation and performance in advanced math and science coursework, including AP exams in STEM-related subjects. To be eligible for consideration, a school must rank within the top 2,000 schools in the overall Best High Schools ranking.
In this year’s STEM ranking, High Technology High School in New Jersey continues to hold the No. 1 position. Another standout is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, which ranks among the top 10 both overall and in STEM.
For students interested in fields such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, or the natural sciences, the STEM ranking may provide a more useful point of comparison than the overall ranking alone.
Schools With Notable Ranking Changes
This year’s rankings also saw several major shifts within the top 10. Four schools newly entered the top 10:
- School Without Walls High School – Washington, D.C.
- Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology – Georgia
- Nikola Tesla STEM High School – Washington
- The Science Academy STEM Magnet – California
One of the biggest moves came from School Without Walls High School, which rose from No. 69 to No. 5. In the opposite direction, BASIS Tucson North in Arizona, which previously held the No. 1 position, fell to No. 58. These year-to-year changes are an important reminder that rankings should not be viewed as a complete or permanent measure of school quality. Families should look at broader trends, academic offerings, admissions policies, student support, and overall fit rather than relying on a single year’s ranking alone.
Top 20 Public High Schools in the U.S. According to US News
Below are the Top 20 public high schools in the United States according to the US News High School Rankings 2026–2027:
| Rank | School | State |
| 1 | Central Magnet School | Tennessee |
| 2 | BASIS Peoria | Arizona |
| 3 | Signature School | Indiana |
| 4 | School for the Talented and Gifted | Texas |
| 5 | School Without Walls High School | Washington, D.C. |
| 6 | Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology | Georgia |
| 7 | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics | North Carolina |
| 8 | BASIS Scottsdale | Arizona |
| 9 | International Academy | Michigan |
| 10 | Nikola Tesla STEM High School | Washington |
| 11 | The Early College at Guilford | North Carolina |
| 12 | Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at WPI | Massachusetts |
| 13 | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology | Virginia |
| 14 | International Studies Preparatory Academy | Florida |
| 15 | Haas Hall Academy | Arkansas |
| 16 | Pine View School | Florida |
| 17 | BASIS Chandler | Arizona |
| 18 | Oxford Academy | California |
| 19 | International Community School | Georgia |
| 20 | The Davidson Academy | Nevada |
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How Should Students Use the US News High School Rankings?
Rankings can be a useful starting point, but they should never be the only factor in choosing a high school. A school ranked No. 30 may be a much better fit for a student than a school ranked No. 5 if its academic programs, learning environment, and opportunities better align with that student’s goals. When comparing high schools, students and families should consider at least six factors beyond the ranking itself.
What Are the Enrollment and Admissions Requirements?
Start by understanding who is eligible to attend the school. Public high schools can have very different enrollment policies depending on the district and school type. Some primarily serve students who live within specific attendance boundaries, while selective, magnet, and charter schools may use separate admissions processes, academic requirements, entrance exams, or lotteries.
What Is the School Known For Academically?
Students interested in computer science, AI, engineering, or other STEM fields should look beyond a school’s overall ranking. Consider its STEM curriculum, advanced courses, academic clubs, competitions, laboratories, and research opportunities.The same applies to students interested in areas such as social sciences, economics, business, writing, or the arts. A school with strong programs in a student’s area of interest may provide more meaningful opportunities than a higher-ranked school with a different academic focus.
How Competitive Is the School?
A highly ranked school may offer exceptional academic opportunities, but students should also consider whether its environment matches their academic level, personality, and learning style. Families should look at factors such as course rigor, workload, student achievement levels, and the overall level of academic competition. The goal should not simply be to attend the most competitive school possible, but to find an environment where the student can be challenged while continuing to grow and succeed.
Which Advanced Courses Are Actually Available?
The total number of AP or IB courses offered tells only part of the story. What matters more is whether students can access the specific courses that support their interests and future goals. For example, a student interested in computer science might look for courses such as AP Computer Science A, Calculus, Statistics, Physics, and other advanced STEM classes. A strong fit is a school that offers the academic sequence and level of rigor the student needs to continue progressing.
Is the School Environment a Good Fit?
Two schools ranked within the top 50 can offer completely different student experiences. School size, academic culture, competitiveness, extracurricular activities, athletics, arts programs, student organizations, and the surrounding community can all shape a student’s high school experience.
What Are the Student’s College and Long-Term Goals?
Ultimately, a high school provides the environment in which a student builds their academic and extracurricular profile. The school’s ranking itself does not determine college admissions outcomes. A student who excels, takes initiative, and pursues meaningful opportunities in a well-matched environment may be better positioned for college than a student who struggles to stand out in an extremely competitive school simply because it has a higher ranking.
The 2026–2027 US News High School Rankings offer a useful snapshot of academic performance across public high schools in the United States. Many of the highest-ranked schools demonstrate strong academic outcomes, extensive AP or IB offerings, and high graduation rates. At the same time, many are selective schools or operate under specialized enrollment models.
For students and families, the best approach is to begin with the student’s academic goals, interests, strengths, preferred learning environment, and available school options. The US News rankings can then serve as one tool for narrowing down schools and identifying programs worth exploring further.
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