Here Are The 50 Best Public High Schools In CA, New Ranking Says

CALIFORNIA — Several Golden State schools are among the best public high schools in the country, according to a report released this week by Niche.

The 2025 Best Public High Schools in America ranking, released Monday, shows the best traditional public high schools in the nation, including magnet and charter schools.

Niche said its rankings, now in the 10th year, differ from others that rely almost exclusively on test scores and academic performance in that it also includes input from students, alumni and parents, as well as quantitative data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities.

One California high school was ranked among the top-25 schools nationally. California Academy of Mathematics & Science in Carson came in at No. 24. Nine other Golden State Schools made the top-100 national list.

California's top 50 public high schools are:

1. California Academy of Mathematics & Science — Carson (national: No. 24)
2. Girls Academic Leadership Academy: Dr. Michelle King School for STEM— University Park, Los Angeles (national: No. 44)
3. Troy High School — Fullerton (national: No. 45)
4. Henry M. Gunn High School — Palo Alto (national: No. 56)
5. Canyon Crest Academy — Pacific Highlands Ranch, San Diego (national: No. 58)
6. Orange County School of the Arts — Santa Ana (national: No. 69)
7. California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley — Duarte (national: No. 75)
8. Academy of the Canyons — Santa Clarita (national: No. 80)
9. Palo Alto High School — Palo Alto (national: No. 83)
10. Lowell High School — Lakeshore, San Francisco (national: No. 96)
11. Castro Valley Virtual Academy — Castro Valley
12. Saratoga High School — Saratoga
13. Middle College High School — Stockton
14. Los Altos High School — Los Altos
15. Early College High School — Costa Mesa
16. Soar High (Students on Academic Rise) — Lancaster
17. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School — Rolling Hills Estates
18. University High School — Irvine
19. Torrey Pines High School — Torrey Pines, San Diego
20. Westview High School — Torrey Highlands, San Diego
21. Mt. Everest Academy — Clairemont, San Diego
22. Riverside STEM Academy — Riverside
23. Whitney High School — Cerritos
24. The Science Academy STEM Magnet — North Hollywood, Los Angeles
25. South Pasadena Senior High School — South Pasadena
26. Mountain View High School — Mountain View
27. Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science — Long Beach
28. Granada Hills Charter — Granada Hills, Los Angeles
29. Redwood High School — Larkspur
30. La Cañada High School — La Cañada Flintridge
31. Helix Charter High School — La Mesa
32. Del Norte High School — 4S Ranch, San Diego
33. Oxford Academy — Cypress
34. Rancho Learning Center — Arcadia
35. Independence High (Alternative) — Alhambra
36. Cupertino High School — Cupertino
37. Northwood High School — Irvine
38. Piedmont High School — Piedmont
39. Campolindo High School — Moraga
40. Arcadia High School — Arcadia
41. Lynbrook High School — San Jose
42. Da Vinci Science — El Segundo
43. Amador Valley High School — Pleasanton
44. Downtown Magnets High School — Los Angeles
45. West Ranch High School — Valencia, Santa Clarita
46. Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy — Wilmington, Los Angeles
47. Aragon High School — San Mateo
48. Arnold O. Beckman High School — Irvine
49. Foothill High School — Pleasanton
50. University Preparatory Academy Charter School — San Jose

The company said its rankings were created to provide families with valuable information — both quantitative and qualitative — on schools in their area or in a neighborhood they’re not familiar with yet. As in previous years, the Best Schools rankings include categories for boarding schools and private schools, including religious schools, among many others.

Nationally, the top 10 ranked public schools in America are:

1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics — Durham, North Carolina
2. The Davidson Academy — Reno, Nevada
3. Massachusetts Academy for Math & Science — Worcester, Massachusetts
4. Rising Leaders Academy — Panama City, Florida
5. Stuyvesant High School — New York City
6. Payton College Preparatory High School — Chicago
7. Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics — Oklahoma City
8. South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics — Hartsville, South Dakota
9. School for the Talented & Gifted — Dallas
10. Pine View School — Osprey, Florida