Dougherty Valley 3rd Best Public High School In Bay Area, 27th Best In CA: U.S. News

SAN RAMON, CA — Dougherty Valley High School is the 3rd best public high school in the Bay Area, the 27th best public high school in California and the 251st best high school in the United States, according to the 2025-26 U.S. News &World Report Best High Schools rankings.

The rankings identify top public schools based on six key performance indicators, including student achievement on state-required assessments, strong graduation rates, and college readiness measures.

Schools are evaluated on how effectively they serve all students, including underserved populations, with college readiness specifically measured through student participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.

The rankings consider curriculum breadth and overall student outcomes as well. U.S. News worked with RTI International, a global research firm, to implement the comprehensive ranking methodology, using the most current data from the 2022-2023 school year.

Dougherty Valley has an AP participation rate of 78%, a minority enrollment of 92%, and 8% of students are economically disadvantaged. It is also ranked 49th nationally in STEM high schools.

Dougherty Valley has long been ranked one of the best public high schools in the Bay Area and the state. In 2023, U.S. News ranked it 3rd in the Bay Area and 19th in California.

The top 10 California high schools for 2025-26 are:

1. Whitney High School, Cerritos
2. Oxford Academy, Cypress
3. Science Academy STEM Magnet, North Hollywood
4. Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy, Wilmington
5. California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Carson
6. Riverside STEM Academy, Riverside
7. University High School, Fresno
8. Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy
9. Pacific Collegiate Charter, Santa Cruz
10. Lynbrook High School, San Jose