Special Report

Best Public High School in Every State

Evan Comen

Published: October 11, 2018 2:44 pm

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 4:32 pm

Few public services are as uneven in quality as the U.S. public school system. Because school budgets are largely funded by property taxes, the quality of public schools is often a function of neighborhood wealth rather than student need, creating large disparities in educational outcomes. While students in some parts of the country have major advantages, students in poorer areas are often left behind.

The majority of the nation’s best public schools are concentrated in just a few wealthy states. While just four states — Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Texas — are home to half of the nation’s 50 top-ranked public schools, every state has at least one high school that exceeds national averages in outcomes.

To determine the best public high school in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed rankings for all public schools from school and neighborhood data clearinghouse Niche.

Click here to see the full list of the best public high school in every state.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

Source: Chris Pruitt / Wikimedia Commons

1. Alabama: Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School
> Location: Montgomery, AL
> Students: 497
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Average SAT: 1350

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

2. Alaska: West High School
> Location: Anchorage, AK
> Students: 1,880
> Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
> Average SAT: 1240

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Charter Schools, Inc.

3. Arizona: BASIS Scottsdale
> Location: Scottsdale, AZ
> Students: 739
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1470

Source: Courtesy of Haas Hall Academy

4. Arkansas: Haas Hall Academy
> Location: Fayetteville, AR
> Students: 352
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Average SAT: 1360

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Source: Docnavi / Wikimedia Commons

5. California: Canyon Crest Academy
> Location: San Diego, CA
> Students: 2,255
> Student-teacher ratio: 26:1
> Average SAT: 1360

Source: Courtesy of Cherry Creek High School

6. Colorado: Cherry Creek High School
> Location: Greenwood Village, CO
> Students: 3,499
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Average SAT: 1340

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Source: WestportWiki / Wikimedia Commons

7. Connecticut: Staples High School
> Location: Westport, CT
> Students: 1,885
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Average SAT: 1280

Source: Ruokai Chen and Arjun Gopalratnam / Wikimedia Commons

8. Delaware: Charter School of Wilmington
> Location: Wilmington, DE
> Students: 972
> Student-teacher ratio: 05:1
> Average SAT: 1350

Source: Justin Lebar / Wikimedia Commons

9. Florida: Pine View School
> Location: Osprey, FL
> Students: 2,175
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Average SAT: 1370

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Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia Commons

10. Georgia: Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology
> Location: Lawrenceville, GA
> Students: 966
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Average SAT: 1350

Source: Education Laboratory Public Charter School / Facebook

11. Hawaii: Education Laboratory School
> Location: Honolulu, HI
> Students: 442
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1190

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Source: Andy.priest / Wikimedia Commons

12. Idaho: Boise Senior High School
> Location: Boise, ID
> Students: 1,549
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Average SAT: 1260

Source: Jauerback / Wikimedia Commons

13. Illinois: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
> Location: Aurora, IL
> Students: 649
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Average SAT: 1450

Source: Courtesy of West Lafayette Community School Corporation

14. Indiana: West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
> Location: West Lafayette, IN
> Students: 1,081
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Average SAT: 1350

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Source: Teddythetank / Wikimedia Commons

15. Iowa: Ames High School
> Location: Ames, IA
> Students: 1,270
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Average SAT: 1400

Source: elisfkc from Orlando, FL, United States / Wikimedia Commons

16. Kansas: Blue Valley North High School
> Location: Overland Park, KS
> Students: 1,514
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Average SAT: 1390

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Source: local_louisville / Flickr

17. Kentucky: DuPont Manual High School
> Location: Louisville, KY
> Students: 1,895
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Average SAT: 1390

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Source: Infrogmation / Wikimedia Commons

18. Louisiana: Benjamin Franklin High School
> Location: New Orleans, LA
> Students: 901
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Average SAT: 1350

Source: Wcnghj / Wikimedia Commons

19. Maine: Maine School of Science & Mathematics
> Location: Limestone, ME
> Students: 149
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Average SAT: 1400

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

20. Maryland: Poolesville High School
> Location: Poolesville, MD
> Students: 1,205
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Average SAT: 1390

Source: John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons

21. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science
> Location: Worcester, MA
> Students: 98
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Average SAT: 1470

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Source: atronatic / Wikimedia Commons

22. Michigan: International Academy
> Location: Bloomfield Township, MI
> Students: 1,371
> Student-teacher ratio: 108:1
> Average SAT: 1390

Source: Courtesy of Minnetonka Senior High School

23. Minnesota: Minnetonka Senior High School
> Location: Minnetonka, MN
> Students: 3,089
> Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
> Average SAT: 1360

Source: Courtesy of Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science

24. Mississippi: The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
> Location: Columbus, MS
> Students: 245
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1360

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Source: Town of Clayton / Flickr

25. Missouri: Clayton High School
> Location: Clayton, MO
> Students: 870
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1340

Source: Tim Evanson / Wikimedia Commons

26. Montana: Bozeman High School
> Location: Bozeman, MT
> Students: 1,989
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Average SAT: 1280

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Source: brklynn / Flickr

27. Nebraska: Millard North High School
> Location: Omaha, NE
> Students: 2,529
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Average SAT: 1360

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Source: Courtesy of The Davidson Academy

28. Nevada: The Davidson Academy
> Location: Reno, NV
> Students: 160
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Average SAT: 1510

Source: Ken_Gallager / Wikimedia Commons

29. New Hampshire: Hanover High School
> Location: Hanover, NH
> Students: 691
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1340

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Source: Andy M. Wang / Wikimedia Commons

30. New Jersey: Bergen County Academies
> Location: Hackensack, NJ
> Students: 1,059
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1450

Source: Courtesy of Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science

31. New Mexico: Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science
> Location: Albuquerque, NM
> Students: 356
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Average SAT: 1330

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Source: 53024120@N04 / Flickr

32. New York: Stuyvesant High School
> Location: New York, NY
> Students: 3,328
> Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
> Average SAT: 1470

Source: Courtesy of Raleigh Charter High School

33. North Carolina: Raleigh Charter High School
> Location: Raleigh, NC
> Students: 561
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Average SAT: 1370

Source: LisaMarei / Wikimedia Commons

34. North Dakota: Fargo Davies High School
> Location: Fargo, ND
> Students: 1,210
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Average SAT: 1350

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Source: Sesamehoneytart / Wikimedia Commons

35. Ohio: Dublin Jerome High School
> Location: Dublin, OH
> Students: 1,563
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Average SAT: 1370

Source: Julia Mills / Wikimedia Commons

36. Oklahoma: Booker T. Washington High School
> Location: Tulsa, OK
> Students: 1,325
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Average SAT: 1240

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Source: Chris Phan / Wikimedia Commons

37. Oregon: South Eugene High School
> Location: Eugene, OR
> Students: 1,447
> Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
> Average SAT: 1310

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Source: OnlyInAmerica / Wikimedia Commons

38. Pennsylvania: Conestoga Senior High School
> Location: Berwyn, PA
> Students: 2,062
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Average SAT: 1310

Source: 0xF8E8 / Wikimedia Commons

39. Rhode Island: Barrington High School
> Location: Barrington, RI
> Students: 1,028
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Average SAT: 1280

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Source: Courtesy of Academic Magnet High School

40. South Carolina: Academic Magnet High School
> Location: North Charleston, SC
> Students: 647
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Average SAT: 1370

Source: TCN7JM / Wikimedia Commons

41. South Dakota: Brandon Valley High School
> Location: Brandon, SD
> Students: 1,024
> Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
> Average SAT: 1320

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Source: EVula / Wikimedia Commons

42. Tennessee: Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School
> Location: Nashville, TN
> Students: 903
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Average SAT: 1330

Source: Atxmanuel / Wikimedia Commons

43. Texas: Liberal Arts & Science Academy
> Location: Austin, TX
> Students: 1,016
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Average SAT: 1400

Source: Courtesy of Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy

44. Utah: Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy
> Location: Lindon, UT
> Students: 639
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Average SAT: 1370

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Source: Webpage882003 / Wikimedia Commons

45. Vermont: South Burlington High School
> Location: South Burlington, VT
> Students: 881
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Average SAT: 1250

Source: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

46. Virginia: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
> Location: Alexandria, VA
> Students: 1,823
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Average SAT: 1510

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Source: MSPACE HOLDINGS / Wikimedia Commons

47. Washington: Tesla STEM High School
> Location: Redmond, WA
> Students: 561
> Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
> Average SAT: 1420

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Source: prayitnophotography / Flickr

48. West Virginia: Morgantown High School
> Location: Morgantown, WV
> Students: 1,808
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Average SAT: 1260

Source: myfoxmilwaukee / Flickr

49. Wisconsin: Whitefish Bay High School
> Location: Whitefish Bay, WI
> Students: 954
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Average SAT: 1360

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Source: sheridan.k12.wy.us

50. Wyoming: Big Horn High School
> Location: Big Horn, Wyoming
> Students: 146
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: N/A

Detailed findings

Across the country, 84% of high school students graduate in four years, 16.2% of students are enrolled in Advanced Placement classes, and the average SAT score is 1060 out of 1600. In some of the nation’s top public schools, virtually all students graduate on time, AP enrollment is well above 70%, and average SAT scores are above 1400.

Nationwide, approximately 92% of public school funding comes from state and local sources. School spending tends to correspond to school quality, and the better the school the higher the spending per pupil. Many of the best schools are located in the wealthiest states. In nine of the 10 states with the most public high schools ranked in the top 1,000, the median annual household income is higher than the national median of $57,617.

States with better high schools also tend to have better educational outcomes. In all 10 states with the most top-1,000 public high schools per student, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is greater than the national bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 31.3%. These states also have higher public school expenditures, they pay public school teachers more on average, and they have larger shares of students who score a 3 out of 5 or higher on AP exams.

Methodology

To determine the best public high school in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed rankings for all public schools from school and neighborhood data clearinghouse Niche. Data on rank, number of students, student-teacher ratio, graduation rate, average SAT score, average ACT score, and AP enrollment also came from Niche.