Special Report

Best Public High School in Every State

Evan Comen

Published: September 7, 2018 6:02 pm

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 6:14 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
> High school: Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School
> Students: 497
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Average SAT: 1350

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Charter Schools, Inc.

3. Arizona
> High school: BASIS Scottsdale
> Students: 739
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1470

Source: Courtesy of Haas Hall Academy

4. Arkansas
> High school: Haas Hall Academy
> Students: 352
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Average SAT: 1360

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Source: Docnavi / Wikimedia Commons

5. California
> High school: Canyon Crest Academy
> Students: 2,255
> Student-teacher ratio: 26:1
> Average SAT: 1360

Source: Courtesy of Cherry Creek High School

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

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Source: WestportWiki / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Source: Ruokai Chen and Arjun Gopalratnam / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: Justin Lebar / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: Education Laboratory Public Charter School / Facebook

11. Hawaii
> High school: Education Laboratory School
> Students: 442
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1190

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Source: Andy.priest / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Source: Jauerback / Wikimedia Commons

13. Illinois
> High school: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
> Students: 649
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Average SAT: 1450

Source: Courtesy of West Lafayette Community School Corporation

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

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Source: Teddythetank / Wikimedia Commons

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

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

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

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Source: local_louisville / Flickr

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

Source: Infrogmation / Wikimedia Commons

18. Louisiana
> High school: Benjamin Franklin High School
> Students: 901
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Average SAT: 1350

Source: Wcnghj / Wikimedia Commons

19. Maine
> High school: Maine School of Science & Mathematics
> Students: 149
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Average SAT: 1400

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons

21. Massachusetts
> High school: Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science
> Students: 98
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Average SAT: 1470

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Source: atronatic / Wikimedia Commons

22. Michigan
> High school: International Academy
> Students: 1,371
> Student-teacher ratio: 108:1
> Average SAT: 1390

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Source: Courtesy of Minnetonka Senior High School

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

Source: Courtesy of Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science

24. Mississippi
> High school: The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
> Students: 245
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Average SAT: 1360

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Source: Town of Clayton / Flickr

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

Source: Tim Evanson / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Source: brklynn / Flickr

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

Source: Courtesy of The Davidson Academy

28. Nevada
> High school: The Davidson Academy
> Students: 160
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Average SAT: 1510

Source: Ken_Gallager / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Source: Andy M. Wang / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: Courtesy of Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science

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

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Source: 53024120@N04 / Flickr

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

Source: Courtesy of Raleigh Charter High School

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

Source: LisaMarei / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Source: Sesamehoneytart / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: Julia Mills / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Source: Chris Phan / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: OnlyInAmerica / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: 0xF8E8 / Wikimedia Commons

39. Rhode Island
> High school: Barrington High School
> 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
> High school: Academic Magnet High School
> Students: 647
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Average SAT: 1370

Source: TCN7JM / Wikimedia Commons

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

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Source: EVula / Wikimedia Commons

42. Tennessee
> High school: Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School
> Students: 903
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Average SAT: 1330

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Source: Atxmanuel / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: Courtesy of Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy

44. Utah
> High school: Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy
> Students: 639
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Average SAT: 1370

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Source: Webpage882003 / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

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

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Source: MSPACE HOLDINGS / Wikimedia Commons

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

Source: prayitnophotography / Flickr

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

Source: myfoxmilwaukee / Flickr

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

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Source: sheridan.k12.wy.us

50. Wyoming
> High school: Big Horn High School
> 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.