The United States takes its schools seriously, with many parents looking to give their kids a leg up in life through education. Good schools are responsible for teaching standard subjects and critical thinking skills, as well as preparing students to succeed in an ever-changing and competitive world. The best schools also create a healthy sense of community for young people, helping them to feel involved and part of the larger social whole.
Public schools in America are hugely important, as they are primarily responsible for educating the majority of our nation’s youth, across diverse cultures and backgrounds. In addition to core subjects like history, English, and math, public schools offer enrichment through arts, sports, and extracurricular activities. Attendance at a top high school can place students on a path toward the best colleges and enviable careers.
Through Niche, an education and community research platform, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s 50 best public high schools for 2024. Niche ranked schools based on a weighted index of multiple measures, including standardized test results, graduation rates, AP enrollment, student-teacher ratios, and parent and student surveys. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here. Charter and magnet schools were excluded from the analysis. (If you’d prefer to learn about private schools, these are the nation’s top private high schools.)
Why We’re Sharing the Importance of Education
Education plays a large role in how the country works, including how people get more money and the efficiency of businesses and corporations. For those looking to have their kids do well as they grow up, it’s imperative that your kid has a fighting chance at success. These top 50 high schools offer students the education and resources they need to get into great colleges. As you know, that’s a great step towards achieving a high-paying job and life-long career.
These are undoubtedly America’s 50 best public high schools:
50. Radnor Senior High School
- Location: Radnor, PA
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 98%
- Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 83.0%
- Total enrollment: 1,165
49. Weston High School
- Location: Weston, MA
- Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 61.9%
- Total enrollment: 638
48. Winston Churchill High School
- Location: Potomac, MD
- Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 96%
- Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 73.2%
- Total enrollment: 2,212
47. Jericho Senior High School
- Location: Jericho, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 58.3%
- Total enrollment: 1,205
46. Great Neck South High School
- Location: Great Neck, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 97%
- Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 46.0%
- Total enrollment: 1,222
45. Conestoga Senior High School
- Location: Berwyn, PA
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 98%
- Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 51.3%
- Total enrollment: 2,335
44. Hinsdale Central High School
- Location: Hinsdale, IL
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 94%
- Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 40.4%
- Total enrollment: 2,544
43. University High School
- Location: Irvine, CA
- Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 94%
- Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 44.5%
- Total enrollment: 2,097
42. Palo Alto High School
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 97%
- Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 42.5%
- Total enrollment: 2,010
41. Walt Whitman High School
- Location: Bethesda, MD
- Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 96%
- Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 65.0%
- Total enrollment: 2,029
40. Lexington High School
- Location: Lexington, MA
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 44.6%
- Total enrollment: 2,273
39. Westwood High IB World School
- Location: Austin, TX
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 98%
- Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 49.6%
- Total enrollment: 2,781
38. Glenbrook North High School
- Location: Northbrook, IL
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 98%
- Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 31.0%
- Total enrollment: 2,052
37. High School Math, Science & Engineering at The City College of New York (CCNY)
- Location: New York, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 96.0%
- Total enrollment: 524
36. River Hill High School
- Location: Clarksville, MD
- Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1370 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 61.8%
- Total enrollment: 1,508
35. Glenbrook South High School
- Location: Glenview, IL
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 98%
- Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 31.4%
- Total enrollment: 3,080
34. Neuqua Valley High School
- Location: Naperville, IL
- Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 98%
- Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 44.4%
- Total enrollment: 3,297
33. New Trier Township High School
- Location: Winnetka, IL
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 98%
- Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 29.3%
- Total enrollment: 2,995
32. The College Academy at Broward College
- Location: Davie, FL
- Student-teacher ratio: 27:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 100%
- Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 466
31. Bergen County Technical High School – Teterboro
- Location: Teterboro, NJ
- Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 66.2%
- Total enrollment: 678
30. Aspire, Deer Valley’s Online Academy
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 94%
- Avg. SAT score: N/A
- Avg. ACT score: N/A
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 370
29. West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
- Location: West Lafayette, IN
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 35.0%
- Total enrollment: 1,100
28. Carroll Senior High School
- Location: Southlake, TX
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 61.8%
- Total enrollment: 1,394
27. Ladue Horton Watkins High School
- Location: St Louis, MO
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 97%
- Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 48.6%
- Total enrollment: 1,324
26. Bard High School Early College Queens
- Location: Long Island City, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 675
25. Half Hollow Hills High School West
- Location: Dix Hills, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 93%
- Avg. SAT score: 1290 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 85.5%
- Total enrollment: 1,035
24. Academy of the Canyons
- Location: Santa Clarita, CA
- Student-teacher ratio: 28:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 395
23. Westlake High School
- Location: Austin, TX
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 68.8%
- Total enrollment: 2,823
22. Canyon Crest Academy
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Student-teacher ratio: 28:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 56.7%
- Total enrollment: 2,346
21. School for Advanced Studies – Wolfson
- Location: Miami, FL
- Student-teacher ratio: 41:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 99.1%
- Total enrollment: 123
20. University High School
- Location: Tucson, AZ
- Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 100.0%
- Total enrollment: 1,129
19. Henry M. Gunn High School
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 96%
- Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 40.2%
- Total enrollment: 1,868
18. Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
- Location: Hot Springs, AR
- Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 100%
- Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 255
17. High School of American Studies at Lehman College
- Location: Bronx, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 70.5%
- Total enrollment: 408
16. School for Advanced Studies – Homestead
- Location: Homestead, FL
- Student-teacher ratio: 33:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 99.1%
- Total enrollment: 133
15. Scarsdale Senior High School
- Location: Scarsdale, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 1,471
14. Biotechnology High School
- Location: Freehold, NJ
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1490 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 22.6%
- Total enrollment: 315
13. Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science
- Location: Manahawkin, NJ
- Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 274
12. Troy High School
- Location: Fullerton, CA
- Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 67.0%
- Total enrollment: 2,614
11. A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School
- Location: Boca Raton, FL
- Student-teacher ratio: 30:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 100%
- Avg. SAT score: 1370 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 1,294
10. Adlai E. Stevenson High School
- Location: Lincolnshire, IL
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 97%
- Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 50.6%
- Total enrollment: 4,392
9. High Technology High School
- Location: Lincroft, NJ
- Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1530 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 43.6%
- Total enrollment: 287
8. Stuyvesant High School
- Location: New York, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1500 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 55.7%
- Total enrollment: 3,304
7. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology
- Location: Lawrenceville, GA
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 71.7%
- Total enrollment: 1,165
6. Townsend Harris High School
- Location: Flushing, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 89.9%
- Total enrollment: 1,347
5. Bronx High School of Science
- Location: Bronx, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 68.7%
- Total enrollment: 2,985
4. Staten Island Technical High School
- Location: Staten Island, NY
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 95.5%
- Total enrollment: 1,355
3. South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics
- Location: Hartsville, SC
- Student-teacher ratio: N/A
- Avg. graduation rate: 95%
- Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 98.5%
- Total enrollment: 270
2. Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
- Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 100%
- Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 120
1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
- Location: Durham, NC
- Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
- Avg. graduation rate: 99%
- Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
- Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
- Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
- Total enrollment: 976
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