2024 Best High Schools in the Pittsburgh Area

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.45 out of 5  128 reviews

Alum: I'm a middle and high school alum currently evaluating SSA for my own children. SSA was a fantastic experience for me, so I was interested to see how the campus or culture had changed over time. By all accounts it has not, and if anything the school is more comprehensively resourced than it was in my day, which is hard to imagine but appears to be true. I still sense the absence of the cut-throat competition among students that sets it apart from some other nationally recognized schools of similar stature. There's more of a cooperative vibe, and that's what I was hoping to find.... Read 128 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,209

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  35 reviews

Senior: I had a great experience at Winchester Thurston. Everyone—the faculty, the students, the administrators, the custodial and kitchen staff—wanted the best for each and every one of us. It's a place that nurtures students and encourages them to pursue their passions. It's a collaborative environment where students are rarely in conflict with each other. It's easy to make friends and find people who share your interests. Teachers are always available and want to help the students. I couldn't have asked for a better place to grow.... Read 35 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 641

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• North Allegheny School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  769 reviews

Senior: North Allegheny School District in McCandless, PA is known for its competitive nature and top-tier clubs and athletics. The school has been recognized as the top sports school district in Pennsylvania and fourth in the nation. It has also been ranked as the No. 1 high school program for athletes in the state. The success and drive of the students contribute to the overall competitiveness and strength of the school. In addition to its athletic achievements, North Allegheny offers a wide range of clubs and extracurricular activities for students to get involved in. These clubs provide opportunities for students to pursue their interests and develop their skills outside of the classroom. The culture of success contributes to the overall competitiveness of the school. Overall, North Allegheny School District is considered one of the best in the state of Pennsylvania. Its strong athletic programs, top-tier clubs, and successful students make it a competitive and high-performing school.... Read 769 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,698

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  40 reviews

Parent: We had an excellent experience at Ellis. You must visit the campus! The teachers and administrators care for our children. My daughter grew throughout her time there. Girls graduate with a strong personalities, assertiveness, and smarts! Although we relocated from Pittsburgh, my daughter fondly remembers the institution. I am grateful for the time we spent there!... Read 40 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 403

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Sewickley, PA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  142 reviews

Parent: Sewickley Academy is a warm and welcoming experience. The day begins on any day with parents and children walking, talking, smiling, riding a bike, holding hands, or driving along the lovely lanes of Sewickley to arrive at the school. You are greeted with a clean and clearly enticing atmosphere of bright red umbrellas along the lawns meant to draw you to the outside space of the school. At any time of day, you will find much of the school has flowed out onto their outdoor spaces getting fresh air, whether playing or studying. Enter any of the schools hallways and find the students working together whether laying out projects on the floor, running experiments in the labs and listening or participating intently. They move between specials and classes even in the elementary school constantly learning, behaviorally and educationally. The faculty are vested in the students well-being and demonstrate great care. I feel good about having a child who spent 14 years at this wonderful school.... Read 142 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 477

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Mt. Lebanon School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  392 reviews

Senior: My experience at Mt. Lebanon High School has been nothing short of extraordinary. This school is more than just a place of education; it's a nurturing and inspiring community that fosters personal growth and academic excellence. Ranging from our WPIAL State champion football teams to our chess clubs and challenging coursework, each area of growth is equally emphasized. One of the most incredible aspects of Mt. Lebanon High School is its dedicated and caring teachers. These individuals are not only experts in their respective fields but also genuinely passionate about their students' success. They go above and beyond to ensure every student reaches their full potential. Aside from educating in the classroom, teachers provide valuable lessons applicable to our future careers and life. What sets Mt. Lebanon High School apart is an unmatched sense of community. There's a culture of support and collaboration that permeates every aspect of the school. An unforgettable experience!... Read 392 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,820

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Fox Chapel Area School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  317 reviews

Freshman: My time at Fox Chapel Area High School has been delightful. I was initially intimidated by the size and amount of people but quickly became accustomed to it. There were so many teachers and students willing to assist me when I needed any type of help. Not only are the staff and students very helpful, but the amount of clubs, classes, sports, and more extracurriculars was outstanding. There are clubs for almost all possible interests, its almost impossible to not find someone with similar hobbies. I had the ability to take classes that were able to challenge my mind and although I did have some struggles, I was able to bring myself back up.... Read 317 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,309

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Upper St. Clair School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  282 reviews

Senior: The education that I have received since Kindergarten until now, as a senior in high school, has been outstanding. Teachers in all subject areas demonstrate a clear understanding of their materials and subject matter. The only issue that I have had with Upper St. Clair High School is bullying. I find that students often are not disciplined as they should be when they make harmful comments that could be constituted as bullying to other students. Otherwise, USCHS has provided me with a very well-rounded education. I feel extremely prepared for college in the fall because of it.... Read 282 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,315

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• South Fayette Township School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  207 reviews

Sophomore: Personally, I’ve noticed that South Fayette has been very inclusive for a numerous amount of students. They have clubs and activities for LGBTQ+ students, students who want to work with underwater robotics, etc. They have a lot of options for everyone and everyone is very friendly and welcoming!... Read 207 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,094

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Franklin Regional School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  337 reviews

Parent: I enjoy attending school at my high school. The teachers seem very knowledgeable in their field on the subjects they teach. They are always very helpful if someone is trying hard to understand a certain subject and are willing to help the students achieve a good grade. The Math Department stays after school for open seminars and sessions . There is also time in the day to do homework and or class work around out lunch time so students can see their teachers if needed. There are so many extracurricular activities to choose from. There is not only sports but many clubs to choose from. I was in the marching band for two years and in softball for three years. I made some good friends there that I will always cherish. The school district is one of the top school districts in Pennsylvania. If anyone is ever moving to the city of Pittsburgh with children I would suggest this school district above many others.... Read 337 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,101

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Peters Township School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  241 reviews

Alum: I received a more than satisfactory education, lifelong skills, and knowledge. The new high school is an admirable addition but comes with a slightly gray, harsh, industrial feel. My only qualm was the lack of diversity; it was quite noticeable among students, more significantly among staff as well.... Read 241 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,295

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  149 reviews

Parent: Academically and philosophically Central was exactly what we were looking for for our son. The environment at the school is extremely conducive to raising young men of character. The teachers and administrators were all responsible and responsive. We are very pleased with how they challenged him to be his best.... Read 149 reviews

• grade A

• Students 790

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Quaker Valley School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  222 reviews

Parent: The teachers and in-school administrators are great. You really do feel like they care about all of the students at the school. There's definitely a culture of inclusivity but nothing over the top. Scheduling and class selection are fantastic--something you won't get at a larger school. Athletics are above-average. Winning culture in most sports and coaches have a winning mentality, and somehow there are a lot of exceptional athletes in a smalls school. (football not withstanding) QV made the WPIAL playoffs in almost all sports, won several WPIAL championships, and even had some individual and team state champions. Reason for 4 stars instead of 5: The facilities! School is like 500 years old and the community can't band together to allow the new bldg to be built. People are worried their high school kids can't drive up and down a hill (that 25% of HS drivers already drive).... Read 222 reviews

• grade A

• Students 604

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Hampton Township School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  237 reviews

Senior: It was overall a good experience. I received good education, and many people I met were very friendly. There are some downsides though. It may sound silly, but Hampton is very bad at regulating temperature in their schools. It will be 10 degrees outside, and it will feel like 50 inside. I am not alone on this, everyone else is shivering around me as well. I have Raynaud's, meaning my fingers and toes go numb easily in cold. My fingers often turn white in school. Unless it is 70 or above outside, it is unbearably cold inside the building. It makes it impossible to concentrate on class since my body naturally prioritizes my health. If I am in pain because of the temperature, I am not able to focus properly on anything else besides keeping myself warm.... Read 237 reviews

• grade A

• Students 914

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Pine-Richland School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  323 reviews

Junior: Pine-Richland High School does a great job making sure their students have every learning opportunity available for them if they wish to pursue it. It's obvious that the school is dedicated to its students success. However, I wish I had more learning opportunities about college earlier in my high school career. Everything that had to do with college was just dumped on me my junior year. I feel like this could have been prevented with early introduction to the application process, what kinds of leadership projects I should be doing, and what I should do for volunteering. Despite this, Pine-Richland always makes the effort to make sure their students succeed academically.... Read 323 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,431

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  429 reviews

Junior: I moved to Oakland Catholic sophomore year. I went to a school before that really did not match my needs. I knew someone from middle school that transferred here for high school. I always knew about the school, but never imagined myself there. I brought up the idea to my parents and they were hesitant. After months and months of conversation regarding the subject, they agreed to let me tour it. I still remember the day I toured, I was so nervous but pleasantly surprised by this environment. After the tour, I begged my parents even more to let me go. And my last day of freshman year my parents told me that I could go if I followed a list of rules they had for me. I've been here ever since and it has been an amazing journey. I've made friends I know I will have for life and amazing experiences and opportunities that not all girls are lucky enough to have. The all girls environment has helped me grow along with the amazing teachers who I know are setting me up for a successful future.... Read 429 reviews

• grade A

• Students 397

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  82 reviews

Junior: Bishop Canevin is constantly growing! Adding new features like a cafe, and updated fitness center, a new gym floor, and remodeling classrooms every year. The small environment is a positive (in my opinion), but is growing each year. School spirit is extremely high and very involved. All of the teachers are helpful and open to help you if you are struggling at anytime. With a faith based education and and wonderful athletics, this school is home to many people.... Read 82 reviews

• grade A

• Students 210

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Mt. Lebanon, PA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.45 out of 5  106 reviews

Senior: Seton LaSalle provides a very welcoming and caring atmosphere to students. The staff cares deeply about your success, and they help you in any way they can. The small class sizes allow you to garner a relationship with your teachers and peers. The only issue I’ve had with the school itself, comes in the form of having a few bad teachers and the lack of different classes. That being said, I’ve also had some amazing teachers too, and the staff and courses are only becoming better!... Read 106 reviews

• grade A

• Students 424

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Moon Area School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  342 reviews

Junior: It’s a pretty nice school! There’s lots of options for classes and a lot of extracurriculars and clubs. The extracurriculars that stand out are marching band (because of the sheer amount of students involved), football (because this is an American suburb and our team has been really good lately), track and field, and basketball. A lot of our other sports teams are super successful, too, we’ve got two school musicals a year, and several singing clubs. Moon has a unique treatment of clubs where most non-sport and non-musical clubs have meetings once a month during the weekly homeroom periods; however, it does make it difficult to join several clubs. Classes can fit anyone’s academic skill level and passions, with offerings from special education to AP courses, elective sciences to a variety of arts, and more.... Read 342 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,186

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Montour School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  222 reviews

Senior: Montour has an extremely welcoming community. All of my teachers have been concerned about my academic and personal success. Many of my teachers I’ve had the privilege of having for two years, allowing them to know me better, which has helped me academically thrive. Montour offers a plethora of classes for many fields of interest including pre-medicine and engineering. The staff also does a wonderful job of ensuring seniors have a post graduation plan. The students love to be involved in school activities and to rally for sports events. I feel very fortunate to have attended Montour because my experiences have made me feel ready for college and the real world.... Read 222 reviews

• grade A

• Students 903

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Gibsonia, PA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  95 reviews

Alum: I attended Aquinas from first through twelfth grade and am so grateful for the intellectual and spiritual formation I received at the school. The value of Aquinas academics was particularly evident to me after I graduated and attended a top-20 university, where I felt incredibly prepared for the challenging coursework, particularly essay writing. The size of the school means faculty and staff get to know students on an individual basis and allows students to try a range of extracurriculars rather than pigeonhole themselves into one category. Additionally, the spiritual and character formation offered at the school is top notch. For example, Mass is offered at the school daily and opportunities for confession regularly.... Read 95 reviews

• grade A

• Students 504

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Wilkinsburg, PA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  72 reviews

Niche User: Trinity has been a great overall education experience. The academics are strong for a private school, the school offers plenty of activities and extracurriculars for students in the fifth grade and up, and provide students with fundamentals needed for their future. As a high school student, I would've hoped for a better Guidance program, as a lot of work for college and standardized test prep was done on my own or with outside guidance counselors. But, Trinity definitely is a wonderful environment for learning and growing in friendship, abilities, and faith.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A

• Students 420

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  7 reviews

Parent: This school is remarkable due to its small size, giving it the ability to truly address the needs of each individual student. There are no bureaucratic layers here - issues are addressed immediately and with fairness. There is an excellent culture in the school, which starts at the top. The teachers and administration care a great deal about the success of their students, make accommodations when necessary, yet maintain academic rigor. Very nice environment for learning!... Read 7 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 42

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Washington, PA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.1 out of 5  10 reviews

Senior: Love the Atmosphere! It is a great school with teachers that are eager to help you. The administrator is like everyone's mother, and she does so much for everyone.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 47

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1

• Cranberry Township, PA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  94 reviews

Parent: I daughter has been at NC for 3 years and is doing great academically and socially! She loves the small class size, the ability to take Honors and AP a classes to challenge herself and the opportunity to play a sport. I also like that the teachers know her and me personally and make themselves available even after school. They also support the Catholic faith.... Read 94 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 202

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1