Schools

See How Santa Cruz High Schools Scored In National Ranking

The annual ranking released by U.S. News and World Report evaluates schools based on graduation rates, academic performance and more.

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10 California schools were ranked among the top 100 nationally
10 California schools were ranked among the top 100 nationally (Google Maps)

SANTA CRUZ, CA — This year's list of best high schools in the country has been released. It evaluated more than 17,800 schools nationwide, including 1,603 in the Golden State.

According to U.S News and World Report, these are the top ranked schools in Santa Cruz:

  • Santa Cruz High School ranked #276 in California and #1,917 nationally
  • Harbor High School ranked #332 in California and #2,302 nationally
Pacific Collegiate Charter in the Pacific Collegiate Charter District ranked #777 in California and #5,462 nationally.

Whitney High School in Cerritos is the top school in California, according to a new national ranking by U.S. News and World Report.

The 2022 ranking of best high schools is intended to show how well the nation's public schools serve all students, regardless of achievement level, by teaching them basic skills and preparing them for college-level work, according to a news release from U.S. News.

Families can also use the rankings to see how schools compare at the national, state and local levels on factors such as graduation rates and college readiness.

While thousands of schools were evaluated, 10 California schools were ranked among the top 100 nationally, according to U.S. News.

When you filter by California only, the following 25 schools were ranked the best in the Golden State:
  1. Whitney High School, Cerritos (No. 14 nationally)
  2. California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Carson (No. 15 nationally)
  3. Oxford Academy, Cypress (No. 16 nationally)
  4. Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy, Wilmington (No. 62 nationally)
  5. Preuss School UCSD, La Jolla (No. 71 nationally)
  6. Lowell High School, San Francisco (No. 82 nationally)
  7. University High School, Fresno (No. 92 nationally)
  8. Mission San Jose High School, Fremont (No. 94 nationally)
  9. Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy, Gilroy (No. 95 nationally)
  10. Riverside Stem Academy, Riverside (No. 100 nationally)
  11. Lynbrook High School, San Jose (No. 101 nationally)
  12. Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science, Long Beach (No. 105 nationally)
  13. Hawthorne Math and Science Academy, Hawthorne (No. 121 nationally)
  14. Monta Vista High School, Cupertino (No. 129 nationally)
  15. Western Center Academy, Hemet (No. 137 nationally)
  16. Stockton Collegiate International Secondary, Stockton (No. 149 nationally)
  17. Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego (No. 156 nationally)
  18. Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon (No. 158 nationally)
  19. Lennox Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy, Lennox (No. 175 nationally)
  20. Saratoga High School, Saratoga (No. 176 nationally)
  21. Technology High School, Rohnert Park (No. 187 nationally)
  22. Henry M. Gunn High School, Palo Alto (No. 188 nationally)
  23. University Preparatory Academy Charter, San Jose (No. 193 nationally)
  24. Downtown Business High School, Los Angeles (No. 194 nationally)
  25. West Campus High School, Sacramento (No. 199 nationally)

You can search the full list here.

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