Pittsburgh-Area's Best High Schools Ranked

PITTSBURGH, PA — Several Pittsburgh-area schools are among the best public high schools in the country, according to a Monday report released by Pittsburgh-based Niche.

The 2026 Best Public High Schools in America ranking evaluates more than 93,000 public high schools nationwide.

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.

Indeed, the top 50 list below is dramatically different from the ranking released by U.S. News and World Report a few weeks ago.

These are the best high schools in the Pittsburgh area, according to Niche. Their state ranking is listed parenthetically:

1. North Allegheny, Wexford (4)

2. Mt. Lebanon (8)

3: Fox Chapel (11)

4. Upper St. Clair (13)

5. South Fayette (24)

6. Quaker Valley, Leetsdale (48)

“Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make," Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, said in a news release.

“Our K-12 rankings bring together rigorous data and real experiences from students, parents and educators. This gives families the clarity to choose schools where their children can succeed academically, thrive socially, and build a strong foundation for their future.”