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

Several Wisconsin schools are among the best public high schools in the country, according to a Monday report released by 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.

Wisconsin’s top 50 public high schools are:

1. Whitefish Bay High School — #285 nationally
2. Brookfield East High School — #345 nationally
3. Middleton High School — #396 nationally
4. Nicolet Union High School
5. Brookfield Central High School
6. Reagan College Preparatory High School (Milwaukee)
7. Homestead High School (Mequon)
8. Shorewood High School
9. High School of Health Sciences (Kettle Moraine)
10. Arrowhead High School (Hartland)
11. Cedarburg High School
12. Waunakee Community High School
13. West High School (Madison)
14. Pewaukee High School
15. Muskego High School
16. Eisenhower Middle/High School (New Berlin)
17. Hamilton High School (Sussex)
18. East High School (Wauwatosa)
19. Verona Area High School
20. Franklin High School
21. Slinger High School
22. West De Pere High School
23. Memorial High School (Eau Claire)
24. Lakeview Technology Academy (Kenosha)
25. Vel Phillips Memorial High School (Madison)
26. West High School (Wauwatosa)
27. Sun Prairie East High School
28. Marshfield High School
29. Menomonee Falls High School
30. Kimberly High School
31. Hudson High School
32. New Berlin West Middle/High School
33. South Shore Junior/Senior High School
34. Germantown High School
35. Oregon High School
36. Greendale High School
37. Fond du Lac STEM Academy
38. Rufus King International High School (Milwaukee)
39. Lake Country Classical Academy (Oconomowoc)
40. Onalaska High School
41. Grafton High School
42. Rural Virtual Academy (online)
43. West High School (Waukesha)
44. Bridges Virtual Academy (online)
45. Waukesha Engineering Preparatory Academy
46. Neenah High School
47. Oconomowoc High School
48. Golda Meir School (Milwaukee)
49. Kettle Moraine High School
50. eAchieve Academy – Wisconsin (online)

According to Niche, the top five public high schools in America are:

1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
2. The Davidson Academy (Nevada)
3. Massachusetts Academy for Math & Science
4. South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics
5. Stuyvesant High School (New York)

“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.”