2024 Best High Schools in the Phoenix Area

• Paradise Valley, AZ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  235 reviews

Junior: I love Phoenix Country Day School. I have been going here since 3rd grade, and I am so glad I made the switch from being at public school from K-2nd grade to PCDS. Because we are such a small school (about 70-80 people per grade), you really have opportunities to develop deep relationships with everyone (students, faculty, other staff). I have really made such great connections with every teacher, regardless of whether or not they have actually taught me. The teachers are extremely well-qualified and I love learning from them. They really do make the extra effort to make sure you understand the material, and reach out outside of class to have other conservations not regarding school. The students are also extremely kind, responsible, and caring. I have made such great friends, even starting in middle school, that I will cherish with me past high school. I am so grateful to receive such an amazing education alongside wonderful classmates, taught by incredible teachers.... Read 235 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 768

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  78 reviews

Senior: Basis Phoenix was a competitive environment, filled with high-achieving students, and a hard academic curriculum. I enjoyed getting to know my teachers and fellow classmates, as most were helpful and gave a sincere community to be around. The academic curriculum, on the other hand, provided an immense challenge. It was beyond our level of learning and made it difficult to keep up with. There were many times where I struggled with downgrading self-talk because I learned to define myself by my grades. Along with self-esteem, people at the school are extremely competitive and constantly trying to get ahead of one another, which means they have no qualms about hurting others to do better. While I enjoyed the preparation Basis gave me for college, I believe that there are some aspects that harmed my mental stability and would encourage them to take another look at their school system.... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 730

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  124 reviews

Senior: My overall experience for this school is fairly positive I feel like every since I entered in fifth grade there have been changes for the better and changes for the worst. Amount of students are fairly larger at the lower grades and they begin to dwindle down as you get into higher grades and the courses become more rigorous and demanding of you. Because of this, all the students that remain are all very competitive with each other which is both good and bad, it helps foster growth and improvement but it also creates an environment that perpetually gatekept by a certain number of students that have just all the top positions and whatever they don’t have they just help their friends get it and this blatant bias is something I don’t unfortunately see going away anytime soon.... Read 124 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,057

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Mesa, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  58 reviews

Senior: The school has a reputation of being an academically rigorous STEM school, which can seem quite daunting to prospective students and families. Yes, there is a heavy academic focus (especially in STEM areas), and it is lots of hard work, however, the teachers are with the students each step, constantly supporting them, inspiring them with their passion for the subject (many teachers are experts in their field). The small class sizes (20-30 students per teacher) allow teachers to connect with students individually and help them in specific ways they may need, and the students always help each other. There is a large sense of community that makes the school feel welcoming and fun. When senior year rolls around, I've never seen students so prepared for college, and many graduates find college fairly easy due to the preparation provided. The school doesn't have some traditional things like football games, but the longterm benefits of the education outweigh the smaller things missed.... Read 58 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 808

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 4-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  44 reviews

Junior: I have been a student at Basis Ahwatukee since 2016 and I will be extremely sad to leave this school at my graduation. From elementary, all the way through middle school, and finally in highschool, this school has helped me grow and develop into the person I now am. I am proud to call myself a student at this school. The teachers get to know each and every one of their students so well, keeping up to everyone's individual needs, the curriculum is challenging and brings out the full potential of everyone in class. A sense of unity is built within the students, a sense that every student is in it together, building a strong community within the grade levels. I highly recommend this school and I believe my experience at this school could not ever be surpassed by any other.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 720

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  47 reviews

Parent: We've been part of the Rancho family from 5th grade through 10th. Two very different kids, both extremely glad to be at Rancho. 'Things' always happen at schools, but it's how they're dealt with that matters. The administration at Rancho are dedicated to keeping our school safe and welcoming to all. The teachers are incredible. The students are kind. We are very happy at Rancho!... Read 47 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 850

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.62 out of 5  196 reviews

Senior: My experience with Brophy College Preparatory has been nothing short of spectacular. This institution has left an indelible mark on my heart and mind, filling me with an appreciation for knowledge and a passion for excellence. The faculty and staff at Brophy are unparalleled in their dedication to nurturing young minds and preparing them for a lifetime of success. It is with great enthusiasm that I give Brophy College Preparatory an amazing rating, one that reflects the profound impact it has had on my life and the lives of countless others. Bravo, Brophy!... Read 196 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,407

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chandler, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  76 reviews

Parent: My student is in his second year here. Most of his teachers are phenomenal. There are a couple that he doesn't connect with, but that is any school. I like that he gets to take physics and chemistry and biology in 6th grade. He loves that! He is also very excited about his drama and PE classes. It is a very well rounded curriculum and I like the path he is on. He also has a ton of options for extracurriculars. They are affordable and are much cheaper than club sports or the things that he does outside of school. The administration is very visible every day at dismissal, which is nice. I am happy that he is here.... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,154

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Peoria, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  86 reviews

Junior: The school itself is pretty focused on academics and rigorous courses. It has plenty of available APs you can take and most of the teachers are great. However, sometimes if you put a lot on your plate, the work-life balance can be a little rough. Also, the school itself isn't your typical high school, where it's only 9-12th grades, but it also has all of middle school as well. So with the extra people with the building itself it's kind of crowded at times, but at the same time it's also good because you get to know everyone even if you're not in the same grade. Recently, we've also started a student council, so now there's going to be a lot more student-led events and changes being made, so it should be a nice pace of change. Honestly, the thing I'd really like to be improved is the extracurriculars, there's a wonderful Speech and Debate team (ranked #1 in Arizona), but maybe more options and a larger focus on some of the other clubs and emphasis on them.... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 943

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tempe, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  135 reviews

Senior: I attended TPA from grades 6-12 and loved it! It prepared me for college and guided me through the application process, helping me find success. On top of this, my time at TPA built long-lasting friendships and I always felt supported by a strong community.... Read 135 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 447

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  81 reviews

Senior: As a current senior at Scottsdale Preparatory Academy, I can confidently say that I am overwhelming grateful for the time I have spent at this school. Regarding preparation for college and life, I feel far ahead of my peers who have attended other schools, thanks to Scottsdale Prep. The school is I believe one of the best in terms of academics, taking a liberal arts approach to education, encouraging students to truly think for themselves, problem-solve, and see the value in the subjects they study, rather than memorize random facts. Scottsdale Prep has served as a wonderful environment to grow and develop in, where I feel I have truly gotten to know myself. While the school is academically very rigorous, the people involved in the school are very understanding and supportive, and the rigor of the school has only served my development in terms of ambition and work ethic. I would absolutely recommend Scottsdale Prep to families seeking an excellent education for their students.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 851

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chandler Unified School District No. 80, AZ•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  141 reviews

Senior: Transferring from another high school to Arizona College Prep, I was welcomed into a community of academic excellence, intellectual rigor, and true care for students. I felt like I was not only supported academically, but the entire administration, faculty, and staff truly cared for my well-being and growth physically and mentally. My cognitive abilities were stretched in ways I never thought possible and I am proud to say that I have grown as a person, leader, athlete, and citizen. Going out into the "real world" next year, I feel adequately prepared with the foundations of success, leadership, grit, and education to thrive as a member of society. I would never change my experience at Arizona College Prep for anything!... Read 141 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,225

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Chandler, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  96 reviews

Sophomore: Chandler Prep is an amazing school that I believe offers academics and college prep you can find in Arizona. Although the curriculum is more advanced, the smaller class sizes, diverse tutoring schedules, and mixed teaching styles ensure that every student has an opportunity for success. Chandler Prep is strong academically, however, it lacks many "classic" high school aspects. By that I mean dances are small and low-budget, minimal varieties for clubs or electives and no-cut sports teams. Chandler Prep students will be academically strong and prepared for anything the future holds for them, however, they will miss out on many of the experiences that made high school so memorable.... Read 96 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 694

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  46 reviews

Junior: ACA is a constantly improving and expanding school. There are pros and cons to its education, but overall, I believe it was best that I went here. Islamic education is vitally important. The Quran classes have especially improved from before, with middle and high school being taught based on skill level rather than grade. Arabic could use improvements for non-Arab speakers, along with more programs, but it is improving. Islamic Studies really depends, and a lot of the benefits come from whether the student pays attention or not, in my opinion. The other basic subjects, like Math and English, are just ordinary. Better than public schools, but perhaps lacking compared to other preparatory schools. Clubs and bonus hours are not too great, but considering the size of the school, I feel like that's acceptable. The environment depends on your stance. Personally, I did not hate or like it. I can't comment.... Read 46 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 366

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Private School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  23 reviews

Junior: AMAZING SCHOOL! The teachers work 1-on-1 with all students and truly care about them. After 10th grade, students have flexibility in choosing the classes to take to help them become stronger in specific fields. Math course pacing is student-run, meaning that kids can retake classes or accelerate through courses as fast as they like. Students are kind and inclusive and the building is beautiful.... Read 23 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 103

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Gilbert, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  80 reviews

Senior: I love how with this curriculum, we are able to learn more about the “why” behind things. This is present in almost every class, examples being the socratic seminars we have, or the way we go about learning math through exeter, and the labs we do in science, etc. This allows us to grasp a deeper and more meaningful understanding of various topics. And we are also able to establish a better relationship with our teachers because of it, but also due to the small class sizes and which teachers they hire. I just wish we had more opportunities to chose which classes we can take as well as a greater variety of classes to chose from.... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 550

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tolleson Union High School District, AZ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  324 reviews

Senior: My experience at this school was different from the current underclassmen there. I began my journey at this school during the summer of 2020, where social isolation and online learning was taking place due to the pandemic. I feel that I was not able to get the full experience as a high school freshman and I feel that it set me back the rest of my high school career. Going from a normal middle school to a high school with a rigorous curriculum specifically designed to prepare its students for college was difficult to adhere to and my mental health definitely prevented me from fulfilling my potential at this school. Although I struggled, I am still grateful for the teachers and counselors here for always understanding the struggles their students go through but always believing in them and preparing them in the best way for our futures.... Read 324 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 405

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  4 reviews

Junior: I'm an International Student from Russia and Bella Vista College Preparatory gave me an amazing opportunity to try American education. This school gave me a good athletic scholarship and introduced me with all the details of the American system of education. This school is the first school in Arizona that won a Chick-Fil-A Basketball Tournament. What the difference between the usual public school and Bella Vista? Bella Vista is like a big family, where everyone ready to help you, it could be a math problem and it also could be a support with the problem outside the school. Education is hard but balanced, which for me, as an athlete, is important. Bella Vista is an excellent school for preparing for college.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 89

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  442 reviews

Alum: I absolutely loved XCP! While I know an all girls Catholic school environment may not be for everyone, I fully believe that Xavier has equipped me with the social, spiritual, and academic skills for college. XCP has a wonderful staff of teachers who clearly care for their students and love their jobs. Xavier creates an environment that values and supports the Catholic faith and culture, but still creates a learning space that is welcoming to young women of all faith backgrounds. A Xavier education is truly something unparalleled in the state of Arizona. Girls are at the forefront of every conversation in and out of the classroom. These young women are the presidents of clubs, team captains, and leaders in the classroom. Xavier girls go above and beyond to lift each other up and make sure that everyone is represented within the classroom. An all girls environment takes away the stress of school, and turns it into a fun place where you can truly be yourself.... Read 442 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,156

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Gilbert Public Schools, AZ•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  167 reviews

Alum: As a former student from GCA, there were a lot of highs and lows through my full high school experience. The school is very rigorous academically compared to the other Gilbert Public schools which created a highly competitive student body; however, this resulted in a student body that was close, incredibly close. We all shared stressful moments together, making friends for life. There was a lot of pressure and stress in doing well. Personally, the worst experience I had was the stress and the lack of resources. Educators are not paid enough and it was very evident at our school. I had a lot of stress and depression for a variety of reasons and there wasn't a real support team to look out for the students. There was a time I was emotionally exhausted and stopped doing my assignments. Out of the 8 teachers I had, only 1 reached out to simply check up on me. Additionally, during my AP Biology class, we had at least 6 different teachers because no one was willing to stay.... Read 167 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 712

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  74 reviews

Parent: Our son is in his first year at Veritas in 9th grade and he has attended the school for a month and a half. I can say at this time with certainty that this is truly an excellent school. Great communication with teachers and the school at large. We have received helpful feedback from all of this teachers. I can attest the teachers he has are all top-notch as in early September we attended a parents night where we went through his schedule as if we were our son. We had twenty minute classes with each teacher with parents of other students in the classroom. Without exception all five of his teachers are very engaging, organized, and know what they are doing.... Read 74 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 792

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Peoria, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  77 reviews

Senior: Great hearts has a student and parent culture that is felt and respected by families inside and outside of our school. We care about each other and who we want to become. Teachers create a relationships with us teaching us more than book learning but ways to be the best we can be. We get to experience great literature, the arts, core virtues, and taught the ability to think, comprehend, and share in our many seminar classes. We get to share values with our peers and work together with encouragement. I would like to say they have taught us to have great virtue in day to day circumstances.... Read 77 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 593

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  80 reviews

Parent: Anthem Prep is great for many reasons....class size, leading to individual attention. The structure of the teaching including the classic model/socratic learning is refreshing in this day. They really focus on education, ..all the other distractions are kept at bay. Keeps kids focused on what they are there for...getting an education!... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,022

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Goodyear, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  17 reviews

Parent: As a parent with children in the 6th and 9th grades at BASIS Goodyear, having experienced eight years at the school, I am overall very impressed. The academic rigor is exceptional, with skilled teachers who are deeply invested in student success. The curriculum is challenging, fostering a robust educational foundation. The school's administration is efficient and communicative, ensuring parents are well-informed and concerns are addressed promptly. However, the school could enhance its offerings by expanding the range of clubs and extracurricular activities, which would provide students with more diverse opportunities for growth and exploration. Additionally, greater family involvement would be beneficial, fostering a more inclusive community atmosphere. Despite these areas for growth, BASIS Goodyear is highly recommended for families seeking an academically challenging and enriching environment for their children.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 269

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  158 reviews

Senior: I have been in Horizon Honors since freshman year, and have had no actual complaints about my learning experience at the school. Academically, I feel each class level is appropriately balanced with the right teachers and resources. When it comes to sports they do have a good set of sports that they offer for a charter school. It would of been amazing if they had a football or wrestling team. Ultimately, they did fill the needs for my academic success, and college readiness.... Read 158 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 714

• Student-teacher ratio —