Of course, a school's ranking isn't the only measure of academic success, but it's worth noting that U.S. News and World Report's recently released “Best High Schools” list included dozens of campuses throughout Orange County.
Of all the news organizations that have attempted to rank schools over the years, U.S. News is perhaps the most consistent and widely known. In 2024, the online news publication evaluated roughly 18,000 public schools across the nation based on test scores, graduation rates, achievement of traditionally underserved student populations and the breadth of college curriculum.
Topping the list locally is a familiar name: Oxford Academy in Cypress. The Anaheim Union High School District is ranked No. 4 in California and No. 22 nationally.
“Oxford Academy implements an intensive honors curriculum that requires students to take a minimum of four AP courses to graduate,” U.S. News states. “Ninth and 10th graders can choose from four career pathways to supplement their core courses: biomedical sciences, engineering, business/entrepreneurship, and software systems and development. Oxford Academy boasts a culturally diverse student body, with many students coming from homes where English is a second language.”
BASIS Peoria in Peoria, Arizona, took the top spot in the nation, while Riverside Unified School District's Riverside STEM Academy was the highest-ranked school in California.
U.S. News released the list on April 22. The OC high schools that made it into the top 300 in California are:
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Oxford Academy, Anaheim Union High School District: #4 in California, #22 nationally Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA): #27 in California, #229 nationally Troy High School, Fullerton Joint Union High School District: #30 in California, #239 nationally University High School, Irvine Unified School District: #48 in California, #356 nationally Northwood High School, Irvine Unified School District: #51 in California, #372 nationally Portola High School, Irvine Unified School District: #55 in California, #402 nationally Arnold O. Beckman High School, Tustin Unified School District: #84 in California, #652 nationally La Quinta High School, Garden Fountain Valley High School, Huntington Beach Unified School District: #88 in California, #674 nationally Fountain Valley High School, Huntington Beach Unified School District: #90 in California, #701 nationally Sunny Hills High School, Fullerton Unified School District: #98 in California, #740 nationally Irvine High School, Irvine Unified School District: #114 in California, #822 nationally Woodbridge High School, Irvine Unified School District: #123 in California, #916 nationally Los Alamitos High School, Los Alamitos Unified School District: #124 in California, #918 nationally Garden Grove High School, Garden Grove Unified School District: #134 in California, #1,020 nationally San Juan Hills High School, Capistrano Unified School District: #140 in California, #1,044 nationally Valencia High School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District: #141 in California #1,046 nationally Tesoro High School, Capistrano Unified School District: #142 in California, #1,047 nationally Aliso Niguel High School, Capistrano Unified School District: #150 in California, #1,103 nationally Bolsa Grande High School, Garden Grove Unified School District: #156 in California, #1,176 nationally Foothill High School, Tustin Unified School District: #170 in California, #1,236 nationally Westminster High School, Huntington Beach Unified School District: #198 in California, #1,454 nationally Corona del Mar High School, Newport-Mesa Unified School District: #199 in California, #1,457 nationally Capistrano Valley High School, Capistrano Unified School District: #201 in California, #1,107 nationally #1,460 nationally. Yorba Linda High School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District: #203 in California, #1,466 nationally. Laguna Beach High School, Laguna Beach Unified School District: #211 in California, #1,513 nationally. El Dorado High School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District: #231 in California, #1,627 nationally. Brea Olinda High School, Brea Olinda Unified School District: #233 in California, #1,654 nationally. San Clemente High School, Capistrano Unified School District: #235 in California, #242 in California, #1,719 in the national ranking John F. Kennedy High School, Anaheim Union High School District: #243 in California, #1,720 in the national ranking Huntington Beach High School, Huntington Beach Union High School District: #247 in California, #1,751 in the national ranking El Toro High School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District: #262 in California, #1,845 in the national ranking Edison High School, Huntington Beach Union High School District: #265 in California, #1,861 in the national ranking Cypress High School, Anaheim Union High School District: #266 in California, #1,897 in the national ranking Trabuco Hills High School, Saddleback Valley Unified School District, Mission Viejo, California: #271 in California, #1,933 in the national ranking Pacifica High School, Garden Grove Unified School District: #279 in California, #1,999 nationally Esperanza High School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District: #280 in California, #2,016 nationally
Is your local school missing from the top 300 schools in California or the top 2,000 schools nationwide? Email us at [email protected].
