Top 100 US Public High Schools: A Guide Across All 50 States
Two regular public high schools per state. NCES 2023–24 version 1a directory. Row numbers are not ranks.
A national high-school list cannot replace a local enrollment decision. This guide uses the NCES Common Core of Data 2023–24 directory, version 1a, to sample two regular public high schools from each state. The selected records offer grades 9 and 12. Some also teach younger pupils. The complete earlier file provides consistent 50-state coverage; a newer preliminary download omitted two states. The table preserves identifiers, district and grade information. It does not identify the highest-performing schools.
The complete 100-entry table
100 of 100 entries shown
| No. | Institution and source | Location | Type / status | Recorded information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aniak Jr/Sr High School Listed website | Aniak, AK | Public high school | Grades 06–12; Kuspuk School District |
| 2 | Barrow High School Listed website | Utqiagvik, AK | Public high school | Grades 09–12; North Slope Borough School District |
| 3 | Abbeville High School Listed website | Abbeville, AL | Public high school | Grades 07–12; Henry County |
| 4 | Acceleration Day and Evening Academy Listed website | MOBILE, AL | Public high school | Grades 09–12; MAEF Public Charter Schools |
| 5 | ACADEMIES AT RIVERCREST HIGH SCHOOL Listed website | WILSON, AR | Public high school | Grades 09–12; RIVERCREST SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 6 | ACORN HIGH SCHOOL Listed website | MENA, AR | Public high school | Grades 07–12; OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 7 | A+ Charter Schools Listed website | Maricopa, AZ | Public high school | Grades 06–12; A+ Charter Schools (1000166) |
| 8 | A. C. E. | MARANA, AZ | Public high school | Grades 07–12; Marana Unified District (4404) |
| 9 | ACE Charter High Listed website | San Jose, CA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ACE Charter High District |
| 10 | AIMS College Prep High Listed website | Oakland, CA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; AIMS College Prep High District |
| 11 | 27J Online Academy | BRIGHTON, CO | Public high school | Grades 06–12; School District 27J |
| 12 | Abraham Lincoln High School | DENVER, CO | Public high school | Grades 09–12; School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 13 | Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Listed website | Windsor, CT | Public high school | Grades 06–12; Capitol Region Education Council |
| 14 | Academy of Computer Science and Engineering Listed website | Enfield, CT | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Capitol Region Education Council |
| 15 | Appoquinimink High School Listed website | Middletown, DE | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Appoquinimink School District |
| 16 | Brandywine High School Listed website | Wilmington, DE | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Brandywine School District |
| 17 | A. CRAWFORD MOSLEY HIGH SCHOOL | LYNN HAVEN, FL | Public high school | Grades 09–12; BAY |
| 18 | A. PHILIP RANDOLPH ACADEMIES Listed website | JACKSONVILLE, FL | Public high school | Grades 08–12; DUVAL |
| 19 | AZ Kelsey Academy Listed website | Griffin, GA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Griffin-Spalding County |
| 20 | Academy of Richmond County High School | Augusta, GA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Richmond County |
| 21 | Admiral Arthur W Radford High School | Honolulu, HI | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Hawaii Department of Education |
| 22 | Aiea High School | Aiea, HI | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Hawaii Department of Education |
| 23 | ADM Senior High School Listed website | Adel, IA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District |
| 24 | AGWSR High School Listed website | Ackley, IA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; AGWSR Comm School District |
| 25 | ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL | ABERDEEN, ID | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ABERDEEN DISTRICT |
| 26 | ALTURAS PREPARATORY ACADEMY | IDAHO FALLS, ID | Public high school | Grades 06–12; ALTURAS PREPARATORY ACADEMY INC |
| 27 | A B Shepard High Sch (Campus) Listed website | Palos Heights, IL | Public high school | Grades 09–12; CHSD 218 |
| 28 | A-C Central High School Listed website | Ashland, IL | Public high school | Grades 09–12; A-C Central CUSD 262 |
| 29 | Achieve Virtual Education Academy | Indianapolis, IN | Public high school | Grades 07–12; MSD Wayne Township |
| 30 | Adams Central High School | Monroe, IN | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Adams Central Community Schools |
| 31 | Abilene High School Listed website | Abilene, KS | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Abilene |
| 32 | Abilene Virtual School Listed website | Abilene, KS | Public high school | Grades 07–12; Abilene |
| 33 | Adair County High School | Columbia, KY | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Adair County |
| 34 | Allen County-Scottsville High School | Scottsville, KY | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Allen County |
| 35 | Abbeville High School | Abbeville, LA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Vermilion Parish |
| 36 | Abramson Sci Academy | New Orleans, LA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Sci Academy |
| 37 | Abington High Listed website | Abington, MA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Abington |
| 38 | Academy Of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School Listed website | Hyde Park, MA | Public high school | Grades 05–12; Academy Of the Pacific Rim Charter Public (District) |
| 39 | Aberdeen High | Aberdeen, MD | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Harford County Public Schools |
| 40 | Academy for College and Career Exploration Listed website | Baltimore, MD | Public high school | Grades 06–12; Baltimore City Public Schools |
| 41 | Arthur R. Gould Sch--LCYDC Listed website | South Portland, ME | Public high school | Grades 07–12; Arthur R. Gould Sch--LCYDC |
| 42 | Bangor High School Listed website | Bangor, ME | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Bangor Public Schools |
| 43 | ACTech High School Listed website | YPSILANTI, MI | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Ypsilanti Community Schools |
| 44 | AD Johnston JrSr High School Listed website | BESSEMER, MI | Public high school | Grades 07–12; Bessemer Area School District |
| 45 | 196Online High School Listed website | ROSEMOUNT, MN | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN |
| 46 | 199 Online High School Listed website | INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN | Public high school | Grades 09–12; INVER GROVE HEIGHTS SCHOOLS |
| 47 | ACADEMIE LAFAYETTE ARMOUR IHS Listed website | KANSAS CITY, MO | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ACADEMIE LAFAYETTE |
| 48 | ADAIR CO. HIGH Listed website | BRASHEAR, MO | Public high school | Grades 07–12; ADAIR CO. R-II |
| 49 | ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL Listed website | Aberdeen, MS | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ABERDEEN SCHOOL DIST |
| 50 | ALCORN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Listed website | GLEN, MS | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ALCORN SCHOOL DIST |
| 51 | Absarokee High School Listed website | Absarokee, MT | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Absarokee H S |
| 52 | Alberton High School Listed website | Alberton, MT | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Alberton K-12 Schools |
| 53 | A L Brown High Listed website | Kannapolis, NC | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Kannapolis City Schools |
| 54 | A&T Four Middle College Listed website | Greensboro, NC | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Guilford County Schools |
| 55 | ALEXANDER HIGH SCHOOL Listed website | Alexander, ND | Public high school | Grades 07–12; ALEXANDER 2 |
| 56 | ASHLEY HIGH SCHOOL Listed website | Ashley, ND | Public high school | Grades 07–12; ASHLEY 9 |
| 57 | ADAMS CENTRAL JR-SR HIGH SCH | HASTINGS, NE | Public high school | Grades 07–12; ADAMS CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 58 | AINSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL | AINSWORTH, NE | Public high school | Grades 09–12; AINSWORTH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS |
| 59 | Academy for Science and Design Charter (H) Listed website | Nashua, NH | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Academy for Science and Design Charter School |
| 60 | Alvirne High School Listed website | Hudson, NH | Public high school | Grades 09–13; Hudson School District |
| 61 | Abraham Clark High School Listed website | ROSELLE, NJ | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Roselle Public School District |
| 62 | Absegami High School Listed website | GALLOWAY, NJ | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District |
| 63 | ABQ CHARTER ACADEMY Listed website | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ALBUQUERQUE |
| 64 | ACADEMY FOR TECHNOLOGY & CLASSICS Listed website | SANTA FE, NM | Public high school | Grades 07–12; SANTA FE |
| 65 | ACADEMY OF ARTS CAREERS & TECH Listed website | RENO, NV | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Washoe County |
| 66 | Academy For Career Education | RENO, NV | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Washoe County |
| 67 | A PHILIP RANDOLPH CAMPUS HIGH SCHOOL Listed website | NEW YORK, NY | Public high school | Grades 09–12; NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 6 |
| 68 | ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL Listed website | BROOKLYN, NY | Public high school | Grades 09–12; NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #21 |
| 69 | Academy for Urban Scholars Youngstown Listed website | Youngstown, OH | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Academy for Urban Scholars Youngstown |
| 70 | AchievePoint Career Academy - Cincinnati Listed website | Cincinnati, OH | Public high school | Grades 09–12; AchievePoint Career Academy - Cincinnati |
| 71 | ACADEMY OF SEMINOLE CHARTER HS Listed website | Seminole, OK | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ACADEMY OF SEMINOLE (CHARTER) |
| 72 | ACHILLE HS Listed website | Achille, OK | Public high school | Grades 09–12; ACHILLE |
| 73 | Academy of Arts and Academics Listed website | Springfield, OR | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Springfield SD 19 |
| 74 | Adrian High School Listed website | Adrian, OR | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Adrian SD 61 |
| 75 | 21st Century Cyber CS Listed website | West Chester, PA | Public high school | Grades 06–12; 21st Century Cyber CS |
| 76 | Abington Heights HS | Clarks Summit, PA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Abington Heights SD |
| 77 | 360 High School | Providence, RI | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Providence |
| 78 | Apprenticeship Exploration Sch | Cranston, RI | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Cranston |
| 79 | A. C. Flora High | Columbia, SC | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Richland 01 |
| 80 | Abbeville High | Abbeville, SC | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Abbeville 60 |
| 81 | Abbott House High School - 07 | Mitchell, SD | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Mitchell School District 17-2 |
| 82 | Alcester-Hudson High School - 01 Listed website | Alcester, SD | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1 |
| 83 | Adamsville High School Listed website | Adamsville, TN | Public high school | Grades 09–12; McNairy County |
| 84 | Alcoa High School Listed website | Alcoa, TN | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Alcoa |
| 85 | A & M CONS H S Listed website | COLLEGE STATION, TX | Public high school | Grades 09–12; COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 86 | A C JONES H S Listed website | BEEVILLE, TX | Public high school | Grades 09–12; BEEVILLE ISD |
| 87 | Academy for Math Engineering & Science Listed website | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Academy for Math Engineering & Science |
| 88 | Alta High Listed website | SANDY, UT | Public high school | Grades 08–12; Canyons District |
| 89 | Abingdon High | Abingdon, VA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Washington County Public Schools |
| 90 | Achievable Dream Middle/High Listed website | Newport News, VA | Public high school | Grades 06–12; Newport News City Public Schools |
| 91 | Arlington Memorial Listed website | Arlington, VT | Public high school | Grades 06–12; Arlington School District |
| 92 | Bellows Falls Union High School Listed website | Bellows Falls, VT | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 |
| 93 | A G West Black Hills High School | Tumwater, WA | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Tumwater School District |
| 94 | A-3 Multiagency Adolescent Prog Listed website | Spokane, WA | Public high school | Grades 06–12; Spokane School District |
| 95 | Abbotsford Middle/Senior High Listed website | Abbotsford, WI | Public high school | Grades 06–12; Abbotsford School District |
| 96 | Adams-Friendship High Listed website | Adams, WI | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Adams-Friendship Area School District |
| 97 | 6-12 Summers County Comprehensive HS | Hinton, WV | Public high school | Grades 06–12; SUMMERS COUNTY SCHOOLS |
| 98 | Berkeley Springs High School | Berkeley Springs, WV | Public high school | Grades 09–12; MORGAN COUNTY SCHOOLS |
| 99 | Arapahoe Charter High School Listed website | Arapahoe, WY | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Fremont County School District #38 |
| 100 | Big Horn High School Listed website | Big Horn, WY | Public high school | Grades 09–12; Sheridan County School District #1 |
List numbers are navigation identifiers except where the stated research/completion ordering or published NIRF rank is explained. Download the complete CSV.
Sources and selection method
2023–24 CCD version 1a; open/new/added/changed regular High schools offering grades 9 and 12; two per state via geographic round-robin.
50 states only. Historical directory edition. No performance ranking.
Source: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/Data/zip/ccd_sch_029_2324_w_1a_073124.zip. Source records checked 2026-10-01. Current admissions, courses and fees require the institution’s own current evidence. Each row links to its source.
Check the lawful enrollment route
Public-school access can depend on residence, district boundaries and published choice or transfer rules. Inclusion here creates no admission entitlement. A moving family needs the school assigned to the actual address. The NCES identifier helps distinguish similar names. Historical directory data needs a current district check for closures, reorganizations and programme changes. A neighborhood description or old map is not a complete enrollment decision.
Compare actual course access
The current catalogue can show mathematics, science, languages, arts and career education. A listed advanced class does not guarantee that it runs or that the pupil can enter. Prerequisites and schedules matter. Transferring students need a credit assessment. Language development, special education and academic counselling need a defined access process. Families can ask who helps when a pupil falls behind and how schedule changes are handled.
Read state reports with their definitions
Graduation, attainment and growth describe different outcomes. State tests and standards can differ. A national score assembled from incompatible measures can mislead. The year, cohort and participation rate matter. Families can read the improvement plan and ask how gaps are addressed. The directory is not an independent safety or teaching rating. An open school status supplies no such conclusion.
Plan a workable school day
Start times, transport and travel after activities affect participation. Families can compare clubs, sport and arts that the student can actually attend. A documented learning plan needs a transition discussion with the receiving district. Medical or accessibility needs require the actual arrangements. The final evidence sheet can record eligibility, courses, support contact, commute and unanswered questions. Local official registration information completes the decision.
Decision checklist
- Verify attendance boundaries
- Read the course catalogue
- Ask about credit transfer
- Plan support and transport
- Row number is not a rank
Shortlist worksheet
For three feasible options, record the exact programme or year group, current eligibility, full cost, support provision, travel and the official evidence date. Leave a missing answer unresolved instead of estimating it.
Questions before you decide
Are these the highest-scoring schools?
No. This is a geographic directory sample.
Can every student apply everywhere?
No. District boundaries and enrollment rules matter.
Why can grades start before 9?
Combined schools can offer earlier grades while meeting the grades 9 and 12 filter.
Are private schools included?
No. This source is the public-school CCD directory.
Can state scores be compared directly?
Only with compatible definitions, cohorts, tests and years.
Related guides
Compiled by VisitBest from the stated public sources. Current course, admission, service and price details should be obtained from the relevant provider. Send corrections with the exact record and a supporting source.