Home

 › 

Lifestyle

 › 

The 50 Smartest Public High Schools in the US

The 50 Smartest Public High Schools in the US

Measuring smarts is no easy feat — but schools across the country certainly try. American high school students, depending on the state, may take over 100 standardized tests before they graduate. These assessments help education officials gauge students’ abilities at certain grade levels across school districts and across states. 

Proponents of standardized testing argue that these tests can encourage schools to improve, and can accurately predict a student’s chances for academic success in the future. Critics argue that such tests unfairly discriminate against non-English speakers and are not comprehensive enough in their assessment of student abilities. 

Standardized testing remains a major component of the U.S. public education system, culminating in standardized tests that can be used in college admissions, such as ACT and SAT. Typically these tests are second in importance only to GPA in the college admissions process. And some schools appear better equipped to prepare students for success on standardized tests than others. 

Using average SAT and ACT test scores from school data clearinghouse Niche, as well as the percentages of high school students who are proficient in math and reading on state assessments from the U.S. Department of Education, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 smartest public high schools in the United States. 

We only considered the schools that rank in Niche’s top 300 public high schools. It is important to note that the schools on this list are numbered in alphabetical order by city and are not ranked. Smaller schools are at greater risk of large annual fluctuations in test scores, and therefore we only considered schools with an enrollment of over 500 in our analysis. 

This list was formulated strictly on the basis of student test performance. It does not take into account other measures that are commonly used to gauge the quality of an education system, like Advanced Placement enrollment and graduation rates. Here is a look at the cities where the most people graduate high school.


Source: Courtesy of Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology via LinkedIn

1. Thomas Jefferson High For Science And Technology, Alexandria, VA
> Avg. SAT score: 1510
> Avg. ACT score: 34
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,789

Source: Courtesy of International Academy via Facebook

2. International Academy, Bloomfield Hills, MI
> Avg. SAT score: 1390
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 97% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,557

Source: Courtesy of Bronx High School Of Science via Facebook

3. Bronx High School Of Science, Bronx, NY
> Avg. SAT score: 1420
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,977

Source: Courtesy of Brooklyn Technical High School via Facebook

4. Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn, NY
> Avg. SAT score: 1360
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 5,664

Source: Courtesy of Whitney High School

5. Whitney (Gretchen) High, Cerritos, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1400
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 96% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,011

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Chandler via Facebook

6. BASIS Chandler, Chandler, AZ
> Avg. SAT score: 1470
> Avg. ACT score: 33
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 97% (math); 89% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 897

Source: Courtesy of Northside College Prep via Facebook

7. Northside College Preparatory Hs, Chicago, IL
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 89% (math); 94% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,069

Source: Courtesy of Payton College Preparatory via Facebook

8. Payton College Preparatory Hs, Chicago, IL
> Avg. SAT score: 1390
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 95% (math); 97% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 977

Source: Courtesy of Cupertino High School via Facebook

9. Cupertino High, Cupertino, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 84% (math); 90% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,315

Source: Courtesy of Monta Vista High School via Facebook

10. Monta Vista High, Cupertino, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1430
> Avg. ACT score: 33
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 90% (math); 94% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,334

Source: Courtesy of Oxford Academy AUHSD via Facebook

11. Oxford Academy, Cypress, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 94% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,204

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Flagstaff via Faceboko

12. BASIS Flagstaff, Flagstaff, AZ
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 83% (math); 80% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 640

Source: Jellybean100 / Wikimedia Commons

13. Townsend Harris High School, Flushing, NY
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,109

Source: Courtesy of The Troy Difference via Facebook

14. Troy High, Fullerton, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 77% (math); 86% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,680

Source: Andy M. Wang / Wikimedia Commons

15. Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ
> Avg. SAT score: 1460
> Avg. ACT score: 33
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 94% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,069

Source: Courtesy of Merrol Hyde Magnet School via Facebook

16. Merrol Hyde Magnet School, Hendersonville, TN
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 95% (math); 92% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 660

Source: Courtesy of DeBakey High School for Health Professions-HTX via Facebook

17. Debakey H S For Health Prof, Houston, TX
> Avg. SAT score: 1360
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 95% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 852

Source: Courtesy of Northwood High School Baseball via Facebook

18. Northwood High, Irvine, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 81% (math); 88% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,237

Source: Courtesy of University High School

19. University High, Irvine, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 74% (math); 83% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,558

Source: Courtesy of The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology via Facebook

20. Gwinnett School Of Mathematics- Science And Technology, Lawrenceville, GA
> Avg. SAT score: 1360
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 95% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 979

Source: John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons

21. Lexington High, Lexington, MA
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 98% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,185

Source: Courtesy of Haynes Academy School For Advanced Studies via Facebook

22. Haynes Academy School For Advanced Studies, Metairie, LA
> Avg. SAT score: 1420
> Avg. ACT score: 30
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 810

Source: Courtesy of U.S. Air Force

23. Central Magnet School, Murfreesboro, TN
> Avg. SAT score: 1410
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 97% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,236

Source: Courtesy of Stuyvesant High School via Facebook

24. Stuyvesant High School, New York, NY
> Avg. SAT score: 1470
> Avg. ACT score: 33
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 3,368

Source: Courtesy of Northville High School

25. Northville High School, Northville, MI
> Avg. SAT score: 1360
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 77% (math); 92% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,372

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Oro Valley via Facebook

26. BASIS Oro Valley, Oro Valley, AZ
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 94% (math); 93% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 571

Source: Courtesy of Pine View School for the Gifted via Facebook

27. Pine View School, Osprey, FL
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,051

Source: Gunn High / Wikimedia Commons

28. Henry M. Gunn High, Palo Alto, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1410
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 72% (math); 82% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,919

Source: Mika Ben-Shaul / Wikimedia Commons

29. Palo Alto High, Palo Alto, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 72% (math); 87% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,992

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Peoria via Facebook

30. BASIS Peoria, Peoria, AZ
> Avg. SAT score: 1410
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 94% (math); 87% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 772

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

31. Masterman Julia R Sec Sch, Philadelphia, PA
> Avg. SAT score: 1370
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 97% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,190

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Ahwatukee via Facebook

32. BASIS Ahwatukee, Phoenix, AZ
> Avg. SAT score: 1430
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 87% (math); 80% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 755

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Phoenix via Facebook

33. BASIS Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
> Avg. SAT score: 1400
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 90% (math); 85% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 781

Source: Courtesy of Jasper High School

34. Jasper H S, Plano, TX
> Avg. SAT score: 1400
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 91% (math); 94% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,452

Source: Courtesy of Google Maps 2009

35. Poolesville High, Poolesville, MD
> Avg. SAT score: 1400
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 95% (math); 72% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,180

Source: Courtesy of Raleigh Charter High School via Facebook

36. Raleigh Charter High School, Raleigh, NC
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 92% (math); 95% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 562

Source: MSPACE HOLDINGS / Wikimedia Commons

37. Tesla Stem High School, Redmond, WA
> Avg. SAT score: 1430
> Avg. ACT score: 33
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 95% (math); 95% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 578

Source: Courtesy of Roslyn High School

38. Roslyn High School, Roslyn Heights, NY
> Avg. SAT score: 1350
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 98% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,066

Source: Docnavi / Wikimedia Commons

39. Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 76% (math); 87% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,406

Source: Courtesy of Lynbrook High School

40. Lynbrook High, San Jose, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1440
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 91% (math); 93% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,766

Source: Courtesy of San Marino High School

41. San Marino High, San Marino, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1360
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 81% (math); 85% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,119

Source: Courtesy of Dougherty Valley High School via Facebook

42. Dougherty Valley High, San Ramon, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 85% (math); 95% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 2,998

Source: Courtesy of Saratoga High School

43. Saratoga High, Saratoga, CA
> Avg. SAT score: 1420
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 83% (math); 86% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,358

Source: Courtesy of Scarsdale Senior High School

44. Scarsdale Senior High School, Scarsdale, NY
> Avg. SAT score: 1380
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,517

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Scottsdale via Facebook

45. BASIS Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ
> Avg. SAT score: 1470
> Avg. ACT score: 33
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 92% (math); 88% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,081

Source: Courtesy of Staten Island Technical High School

46. Staten Island Technical High School, Staten Island, NY
> Avg. SAT score: 1410
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 99% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,313

Source: Courtesy of Google Maps 2018

47. Bergen County Technical High School – Teterboro, Teterboro, NJ
> Avg. SAT score: 1350
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 90% (math); 92% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 677

Source: Courtesy of BASIS Tucson North via Facebook

48. BASIS Tucson North, Tucson, AZ
> Avg. SAT score: 1430
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 90% (math); 83% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,063

Source: West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School / Facebook

49. West Lafayette Jr/Sr High School, West Lafayette, IN
> Avg. SAT score: 1350
> Avg. ACT score: 32
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 78% (math); 85% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 1,117

Source: Ruokai Chen and Arjun Gopalratnam / Wikimedia Commons

50. Charter School Of Wilmington, Wilmington, DE
> Avg. SAT score: 1350
> Avg. ACT score: 31
> Proficiency on state-administered tests: 97% (math); 99% (reading)
> Total enrollment: 971

Detailed findings and full methodology

Many of the schools on this list, including the eight BASIS schools in Arizona, are charter schools that emphasize performance on standardized tests. Others are specialized schools, like Stuyvesant High School in New York, and are open only to students who score well enough on an admissions exam, meaning the students may naturally be better test takers and more likely to score well on tests like the ACT or SAT. 

While some schools on this list have a selection process and do not simply admit all children who live within the district, every school on this list receives funding through taxpayer dollars. In contrast, some parents spend tens of thousands of dollars a year to send their children to private schools, many of which report standardized test scores on par with the schools on this list. Here is a look at America’s most expensive private high schools

 To determine the 50 smartest public high schools in the United States, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of several measures related to standardized test performance for each of the 300 schools listed on Niche’s 2020 Best Public High Schools in America. 

Average SAT and ACT scores came from school ranking and review site Niche and were each included in the index at full weight. The shares of students who ranked as proficient in state assessments in mathematics and the share of students who ranked as proficient in state assessments of reading in the 2016-17 school year came from the U.S. Department of Education and were included in the index at full weight. 

Each state administers a different proficiency test, which has different proficiency standards and is administered to various grade levels. The U.S. Department of Education publishes data on the percentage of students who score at or above the state’s proficiency level on their respective exams. While both the content of the tests and their achievement standards vary widely across states and should be compared with caution, the Department of Education recommends utilizing a school’s relation to the state mean or state standards target when comparing proficiency data across states. To compare achievement data across states, the ranking of each school’s proficiency scores within its state were used in the index. 

Data on the number of students who pass at least one AP exam as a share of the number of students who took at least one AP exam during the 2013-14 school year came from the Civil Rights Data Collection program of the Department of Education and was included in the index at full weight. Enrollment figures for the 2016-17 school year came from the National Center for Education Statistics of the Department of Education.

To top