The rankings take into account equity in educational excellence and outstanding achievement in STEM education.
WASHINGTON , April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. News & World Report, the global authority on education rankings, today released its Best High Schools rankings for 2024. The rankings evaluate approximately 18,000 eligible public high schools at the national, state and local levels.
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Five schools are new to the top 10: Riverside Stem Academy (California), International Academy (Michigan), Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Pennsylvania), Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (Georgia) and BASIS Peoria (Arizona). Rankings are at the state, metropolitan and school district levels, with sub-rankings for each metropolitan area and for school districts with three or more high schools. Additionally, U.S. News released rankings of charter and magnet schools, as well as the top science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) schools.
“The 2024 Best High Schools rankings provide a starting point for parents to understand a school's academic performance, whether it's a school they're considering attending or one their child already attends,” said Dr. Lamont Jones, education editor at U.S. News. “Accessible data about high schools can empower families across the country as they navigate today's education environment and plan for the future.”
The highest-ranked public schools in the 2024 National High School Rankings are those with students who perform well on state assessments in math, reading and science. These schools also boasted disadvantaged student achievement, college readiness, curriculum breadth and high graduation rates. College readiness specifically measures participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, while disadvantaged student achievement focuses on students who are black, Hispanic or from low-income families. U.S. News collaborated with global research firm RTI International to develop a comprehensive ranking methodology.
National Rankings – Top 10
BASIS Peoria (AZ), Signature School (IN), Tesla STEM High School (WA), Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (PA), Peyton College Preparatory High School (IL), The School for the Talented and Gifted (TX), Academic Magnet High School (SC), International Academy of Oakland (MI), Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (GA), Riverside STEM Academy (CA)
Best Charter Schools – Top 5
BASIS Peoria (AZ) Signature School (IN) Haas Hall Bentonville (AR) Basis Oro Valley (AZ) Albuquerque Mathematics and Science Institute (NM)
Best Magnet High Schools – Top 5
Tesla STEM High School (Washington), Julia R. Masterman Middle School (Pennsylvania), School for the Gifted and Talented (Texas), Academic Magnet High School (South Carolina), Macomb International Academy (Michigan)
Best STEM High Schools – Top 5
High Technology High School (New Jersey) BASIS Peoria (Arizona) BASIS Chandler (Arizona) Guilford Early College (North Carolina) Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology (Virginia)
In addition to the national rankings, U.S. News also released a state-by-state ranking of the best high schools for 2024, as well as a demographic breakdown of all the ranked schools, taking into account enrollment, poverty and location.
For more information, visit Best High Schools and use #BestHighSchools on Facebook. X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
About U.S. News & World Report
US News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that help consumers, business leaders and policymakers make better-informed decisions on important issues that affect their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with platforms in education, health, money, travel, cars, news, real estate, careers and 360 reviews, US News offers rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and US News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, US News is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Source: US News & World Report, LP
