Education policy in the United States is set largely at the state and local levels. This patchwork of laws and regulations has led to considerable variation in academic standards, teacher training, and funding across America’s public school districts – and some states have a better reputation for school quality than others.
Depending on the state, average per pupil spending at public K-12 schools ranges from only $8,000 to nearly $25,000, depending on the state. Similarly, high school graduation rates range by state from less than 75% to well over 90%. (Here is a look at how much each state spends on its public schools.)
With such disparities, it is little surprise that every year, millions of families send their children to private schools, which charge tuition but also generally have some clear advantages, including smaller class sizes and better student outcomes.
Still, while many public schools are struggling, there are also those that stand out for the opposite reason. Within each state, there are high schools that have a track record of high graduation rates, offering students updated facilities, a range of extracurricular activity options, and a dedicated teaching staff.
Using data compiled by Niche, an education research platform, 24/7 Wall St. identified the best public high school in each state for 2023. Niche ranked schools based on a weighted index of seven measures, including self-reported standardized test scores, parent and student surveys, extracurricular activities, and indicators of teacher quality. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here. Charter and magnet schools, as well as boarding schools and schools affiliated with a university, were excluded from analysis.
In nearly every high school on this list, the graduation rate is at least 90%. In many of these schools, average SAT and ACT scores are on par with those reported at elite private boarding schools. (Here is a look at the best private schools in America.)
Click here to see the best public high school in every state.
Source: Courtesy of Mountain Brook Schools
Alabama: Mt. Brook High School
> Location: Mountain Brook, Jefferson County (Birmingham area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 98%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,043
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Source: radiokaos99709 / Flickr
Alaska: West High School
> Location: Anchorage, Anchorage Borough (Anchorage area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1250 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,752
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Arizona: University High School
> Location: Tucson, Pima County (Tucson area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 24:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,222
Source: Courtesy of Bentonville High School via Facebook
Arkansas: Bentonville High School
> Location: Bentonville, Benton County (Fayetteville, AR area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1270 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 3,086
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California: Henry M. Gunn High School
> Location: Palo Alto, Santa Clara County (San Francisco Bay area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,936
Source: Courtesy of Cherry Creek High School
Colorado: Cherry Creek High School
> Location: Greenwood Village, Arapahoe County (Denver area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 3,868
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Source: WestportWiki / Wikimedia Commons
Connecticut: Staples High School
> Location: Westport, Fairfield County (New York City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,803
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Source: Courtesy of Cab Calloway School of the Arts via Facebook
Delaware: Cab Calloway School of the Arts
> Location: Wilmington, New Castle County (Philadelphia area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1230 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 941
Source: Courtesy of Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies via Facebook
Florida: School for Advanced Studies – Wolfson
> Location: Miami, Miami-Dade County (Miami area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 32:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 90%
> Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 129
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Source: Courtesy of Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology via Facebook
Georgia: Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology
> Location: Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County (Atlanta area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,197
Hawaii: Mililani High School
> Location: Mililani, Honolulu County (Honolulu area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Avg. SAT score: 1170 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 25 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,620
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Source: Andy.priest / Wikimedia Commons
Idaho: Boise Senior High School
> Location: Boise, Ada County (Boise area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 87%
> Avg. SAT score: 1260 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,421
Source: Courtesy of Adlai E. Stevenson High School via Facebook
Illinois: Adlai E. Stevenson High School
> Location: Lincolnshire, Lake County (Chicago area)
> Student-teacher ratio: N/A
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 4,315
Source: Courtesy of West Lafayette Community School Corporation
Indiana: West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
> Location: West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,102
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Source: Courtesy of West High School
Iowa: West Senior High School
> Location: Iowa City, Johnson County (Cedar Rapids area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,466
Kansas: Blue Valley North High School
> Location: Overland Park, Johnson County (Kansas City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,501
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Source: Courtesy of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School via Facebook
Kentucky: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
> Location: Lexington, Fayette County (Lexington area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,022
Source: Courtesy of Zachary High School via Facebook
Louisiana: Zachary High School
> Location: Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish (Baton Rouge area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1260 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 25 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,633
Source: Courtesy of Yarmouth HS Soccer via Facebook
Maine: Yarmouth High School
> Location: Yarmouth, Cumberland County (Portland, ME area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1280 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 550
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Maryland: Walt Whitman High School
> Location: Bethesda, Montgomery County (Washington, D.C. area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,991
Source: Courtesy of Lexington High School via Facebook
Massachusetts: Lexington High School
> Location: Lexington, Middlesex County (Boston area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,261
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Michigan: International Academy
> Location: Novi, Oakland County (Detroit area)
> Student-teacher ratio: N/A
> Avg. graduation rate: 90%
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,524
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Source: Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota: Wayzata High School
> Location: Plymouth, Hennepin County (Minneapolis-St. Paul area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 3,502
Source: Courtesy of Ocean Springs High School via Facebook
Mississippi: Ocean Springs High School
> Location: Ocean Springs, Jackson County
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Avg. SAT score: 1240 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 26 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,808
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Source: Courtesy of Ladue Horton Watkins High School Class of 1988 via Facebook
Missouri: Ladue Horton Watkins High School
> Location: St. Louis, St. Louis County (St. Louis area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,337
Source: senatortester / Flickr
Montana: Bozeman High School
> Location: Bozeman, Gallatin County
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 85%
> Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,463
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Source: Courtesy of Millard North High School via Facebook
Nebraska: Millard North High School
> Location: Omaha, Douglas County (Omaha area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,592
Source: smolaw11 / iStock via Getty Images
Nevada: College of Southern Nevada High School – South
> Location: Henderson, Clark County (Las Vegas area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 24:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 100%
> Avg. SAT score: 1200 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 26 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 120
Source: Ken_Gallager / Wikimedia Commons
New Hampshire: Hanover High School
> Location: Hanover, Grafton County
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 697
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Source: eyecrave productions / E+ via Getty Images
New Jersey: High Technology High School
> Location: Lincroft, Monmouth County (New York City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1520 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 295
New Mexico: La Cueva High School
> Location: Albuquerque, Bernalillo County (Albuquerque area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 85%
> Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,784
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
New York: Bronx High School of Science
> Location: The Bronx, Bronx County (New York City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,937
North Carolina: Green Hope High School
> Location: Cary, Wake County (Raleigh area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,247
Source: LisaMarei / Wikimedia Commons
North Dakota: Fargo Davies High School
> Location: Fargo, Cass County (Fargo area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1320 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 26 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,328
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Source: Courtesy of Indian Hill Exempted Village School District via Facebook
Ohio: Indian Hill High School
> Location: The Village of Indian Hill, Hamilton County (Cincinnati area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 649
Source: Courtesy of UHS Freshman Academy via Facebook
Oklahoma: Union Ninth Grade Center
> Location: Broken Arrow, Tulsa County (Tulsa area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: N/A
> Avg. SAT score: 1070 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 24 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,196
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Source: Courtesy of Lake Oswego Senior High School via Facebook
Oregon: Lake Oswego Senior High School
> Location: Lake Oswego, Clackamas County (Portland area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1320 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,251
Pennsylvania: Conestoga Senior High School
> Location: Tredyffrin Township, Chester County (Philadelphia area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,318
Rhode Island: Barrington High School
> Location: Barrington, Bristol County (Providence area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1290 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,100
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Source: Courtesy of D. Daniel High School via Facebook
South Carolina: D.W. Daniel High School
> Location: Central, Pickens County (Greenville area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 90%
> Avg. SAT score: 1240 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,149
Source: Courtesy of Washington High School via Facebook
South Dakota: Washington High School
> Location: Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 84%
> Avg. SAT score: 1150 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 24 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,975
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Source: Courtesy of Ravenwood High School PTO via Facebook
Tennessee: Ravenwood High School
> Location: Brentwood, Williamson County (Nashville area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 98%
> Avg. SAT score: 1370 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,783
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Texas: Westlake High School
> Location: Austin, Travis County (Austin area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,827
Utah: Skyline High School
> Location: Millcreek, Salt Lake County (Salt Lake City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: N/A
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,104
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Source: Courtesy of South Burlington High School via Facebook
Vermont: South Burlington High School
> Location: South Burlington, Chittenden County
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1240 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 880
Source: Courtesy of McLean High School Orchestra via Facebook
Virginia: McLean High School
> Location: McLean, Fairfax County (Washington, D.C. area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 2,317
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Source: Courtesy of Interlake Saints via Facebook
Washington: Interlake Senior High School
> Location: Bellevue, King County (Seattle area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,654
Source: BackyardProduction / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
West Virginia: Morgantown High School
> Location: Morgantown, Monongalia County
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Avg. SAT score: 1220 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 26 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,847
Source: Courtesy of Brookfield East High School via Facebook
Wisconsin: Brookfield East High School
> Location: Brookfield, Waukesha County (Milwaukee area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 1,340
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Source: Courtesy of Jackson Hole High School (Photo by Greg Hursley)
Wyoming: Jackson Hole High School
> Location: Jackson, Teton County
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Avg. SAT score: 1260 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 27 out of 36
> Total enrollment: 729
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