Gunn Ranked Best Public High School In California In 2022: Niche

PALO ALTO, CA — Palo Alto’s Henry Gunn High School was ranked the top public high school in California and the 35th best in the country, according to new rankings from Niche.com.

“The Gunn High School community is enriched by the challenges and treasures of diversity, the aptitude of our staff, and the critical importance of partnerships with parents and trusted adults,” Principal Wendy Stratton told Patch in an email. “Committed to the values and opportunities of a world class education offers, we continuously learn from and are sharpened by our students. We are a highly collaborative, adaptive, and service oriented community who are willing in this post-pandemic world to let our students boldly claim their own reinvented future.”

Palo Alto High School, Gunn’s longtime rival, scored 5th in California, and 50th nationally. Patch reached out to the school for comment.

Niche's 2022 rankings factored in academic and student life data from thousands of schools across the country. The most important factor was academics, but Niche also looked at culture and diversity, teachers, clubs and activities, sports and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

The top-ranked public high school in the country was The Davidson Academy, located in Reno, Nevada. Nine other Silicon Valley schools earned top spots as well:

1. Saratoga High School, Saratoga (3rd in state)
2. Lynbrook High School, San Jose (12th)
3. Los Altos High School, Los Altos (14th)
4. Mountain View High School, Mountain View (19th)
5. Homestead High School, Cupertino (35th)
6. Aragon High School, San Mateo (38th)
7. Cupertino High School, Cupertino (39th)
8. Mills High School, Millbrae (40th)
9. Los Gatos High School, Los Gatos (47th)

There were 10 California public schools that made it into the top 100 best schools in the nation. Many more were listed among the best in the Golden State. Here are the top 50 schools in the state as ranked by Niche:

1. Henry M. Gunn High School, Palo Alto (33rd nationally)
2. Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego (34th nationally)
3. Saratoga High School, Saratoga (36th nationally)
4. California Academy of Mathematics & Science, Carson (44th nationally)
5. Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto (50th nationally)
6. Troy High School, Fullerton (55th nationally)
7. Orange County School of the Arts, Santa Ana (68th nationally)
8. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates (82nd nationally)
9. Torrey Pines High School, San Diego (86th nationally)
10. University High School, Irvine (93rd nationally)
11. La Canada High School, La Canada
12. Lynbrook High School, San Jose
13. Northwood High School, Irvine
14. Los Altos High School, Los Altos
15. Whitney High School, Cerritos
16. Academy of the Canyons, Santa Clarita
17. Lowell High School, San Francisco
18. Carmel High School, Carmel
19. Mountain View High School, Mountain View
20. Mt. Everest Academy, San Diego
21. Campolindo High School, Moraga
22. Westview High School, San Diego
23. University High School, Fresno
24. Redwood High School, Larkspur
25. Del Norte High School, San Diego
26. Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton
27. Riverside STEM Academy, Riverside
28. South Pasadena Senior High School, South Pasadena
29. Arcadia High School, Arcadia
30. Foothill High School, Pleasanton
31. San Marino High School, San Marino
32. Piedmont High School, Piedmont
33. Miramonte High School, Orinda
34. Woodbridge High School, Irvine
35. Homestead High School, Cupertino
36. Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon
37. Oxford Academy, Cypress
38. Aragon High School, San Mateo
39. Cupertino High School, Cupertino
40. Mills High School, Millbrae
41. Westlake High School, Westlake Village
42. Davis Senior High School, Davis
43. Walnut High School, Walnut
44. Granada Hills Charter, Granada Hills
45. Sage Creek High School, Carlsbad
46. West Ranch High School, Valencia
47. Los Gatos High School, Los Gatos
48. Arnold O. Beckman High School, Irvine
49. Helix Charter High School, La Mesa
50. Irvine High School, Irvine

View the full list of the best high schools in the country.