These Are The Best Public High Schools In LA County, New Ranking Says

One of the most important considerations of Los Angeles County parents when choosing a place to live is the quality of the schools.

According to the 2026 Best Public High Schools in America list recently released by the education ranking service Niche, the best public high school in Los Angeles County is California Academy of Mathematics & Science in Carson.

"CAMS is an excellent school for overachievers. The academic rigor and endless college resources foster a positive and motivating environment for students," one parent wrote in a Niche review.

The other top 10 public high schools in LA County, in the order ranked, are:

• Girls Academic Leadership Academy: Dr. Michelle King School for STEM — Los Angeles
• California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley — Duarte
• Academy of the Canyons — Santa Clarita
• The Science Academy STEM Magnet — North Hollywood
• Whitney High School — Cerritos
• La Cañada High School — La Cañada Flintridge
• South Pasadena Senior High School — South Pasadena
• Soar High (Students on Academic Rise) — Lancaster
• Palos Verdes Peninsula High School — Rolling Hills Estates

Niche also released its best public high schools and best private high schools rankings.

READ MORE:

• Best Public School Districts In LA County

Niche said its rankings, now in the 11th 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.