2024 Best Magnet High Schools in America

• Reno, NV•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  81 reviews

Senior: Davidson is a truly unique educational experience. Everyone around you is not only brilliant but also enthusiastic about learning, the class sizes are small, and the teachers are truly passionate about what they do. While the academics are amazing, the quality of life is also fantastic and perhaps equally compelling. We have great facilities: clean bathrooms, sturdy desks, and lots of technology such as school laptops and TV screens. The school year is also significantly shorter than the rest of the county due to following the university schedule, meaning more summer and winter break. There's a university food court attached to the academy with a coffee shop and several other options, and after turning 16 students are allowed to leave the school during lunch to eat at various locations on the broader UNR campus. Finally, Fridays are elective-only classes, so you can take courses on fun/unique topics. The combination of academics and QOL makes Davidson a great place to attend.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 172

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Worcester, MA•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.64 out of 5  90 reviews

Alum: I was part of the inaugural class of 1993. The experience was eye-opening. Never before was I so challenged by the pace, curriculum, and mostly my fellow classmates. This experience was not only incredible to have as part of a college admissions package, but it also gave me the necessary perspective for all my future endeavors. All my classmates were incredibly talented, ambitious, and great people. Just keeping up, required me to learn and grow. Not only academically but also as a person. To say the program had a profound impact on me, would be an understatement! I loved my time in the Academy, and was very proud to be a part of such a highly talented group.... Read 90 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 100

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  427 reviews

Senior: I've been here for all four years and I love this school! Truly, the best part of the school is the teachers. Of course, you'll have a few that aren't your favorite, but I've found teachers I really admire. They are here because they love to teach. The student body as a whole is also really great, at least for my years here. We went through a lot of administration struggles, but what pulled us together was our support for our teachers and the shared values that we have as students. The course load is challenging but manageable, but I also felt really well prepared from my elementary school. All that being said, Payton has many normal issues like any high school (some student drama, mediocre/bad food, people that you like and don't like, etc).... Read 427 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,167

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Dallas Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  197 reviews

Junior: I highly recommend applying to TAG if you are in DISD. This school prepares you for college. Most of the teachers are user-friendly and willing to accommodate you as long as you communicate; work can pile up at times, and it can get challenging to juggle it all, but you can definitely power through. I've had a positive experience so far, and I am glad I came here!... Read 197 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 502

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  617 reviews

Senior: Northside is very inclusive and lively. Students are involved in all parts of the school such as the production of a musical, the display of sculptural work, and even the spread of awareness for minority groups. At Northside, the individual is strengthened in personal and academic identity. It’s rigorous tasks and unique class schedules prepare students for college academia. As a fellow Northsider, I can say that there was a difficult adjustment to Northside’s expectations, however, I have found an amazing and supportive community alongside it. If you are considering Northside, I hope you are warmed by it’s strengths in education and community!... Read 617 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,027

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  583 reviews

Junior: I’ve been a student for 2 years now, and I’ve experienced good and, not so good. The general community at TJ is pretty great, most people are friendly and welcoming with, of course, a few exceptions. I’ve also had some AMAZING teachers, and some teachers I would prefer not to interact with. For a school that is so STEM focused, some of the STEM teachers just don’t seem to understand that not everyone learns the same way, or some people just won’t get it the first time. The expectations are HIGH, as everyone knows, but in reality, if you ask, some teachers will tell you that the average test scores for regular honors classes is about a B+ (this includes a bunch of As and a bunch of Fs). I don’t know much about AP and post-AP as I haven’t taken any of those yet though. Certain people will thrive at TJ, I personally am doing well academically as long as I take a portion of my time to study, but you wouldn’t really know until you try it out. But, overall, it’s an experience worth taking!... Read 583 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,902

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Aurora, IL•

• Public School•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  373 reviews

Senior: IMSA is a fantastic school for students who want to take their education to the next level. The diversity and academics are excellent, and the shared culture between the students is incredible. That being said, the high workload causes many students to encounter mental health challenges. Lack of proper nutrition, hygiene, and sleep are more common at this high school than at others. Most students get an average of 3-4 hours of homework per day, which can be difficult to balance with mental health, clubs, and other commitments. There is a club for practically every interest a student could have, and there is always something to do on campus. The residential environment allows for deeper connections with peers and establishes lifelong relationships. The biggest issue at IMSA is the administration, which routinely makes questionable decisions that clearly do not consider student input. Overall, IMSA is one of a kind, and the positives of the school definitely outweigh the negatives.... Read 373 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 624

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Morris County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  40 reviews

Alum: The Academy is an all around highly-recommended high school experience. Starting with academics, Academy students are challenged everyday through a difficult and relevant courseload, fully preparing them for college and life beyond. Students have a great relationship with their teachers and with each other. The social environment of the academy is an extremely tight web of inseparable, caring, and competitive students. Although its place as a satellite academy causes administrative headache, this school is the center of the greatest academic and social livelihoods a student can hope for.... Read 40 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 180

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  1,171 reviews

Sophomore: Whitney Young is a great school with great academics and athletics. There are hundreds of clubs to choose from. The school prepares kids for academic success and college readiness. The teachers are caring and the administration makes sure there are rules set in place to help everyone in the school feel at home. The teachers, except maybe 1 or 2, have been the best and are always open to listen to you. The athletic teams always win championships each year and they are supplied with lots of equipment and everything they need. There are many resources helping students in many different ways, like the counseling department and much more. The students all feel well connected to the staff and the weekly newsletter, "The Weekly" answers the concerns or questions that a student may bring up. The school is very diverse, and everyone feels included. There are many safety protocols that everyone must follow to help everyone feel safe. Overall, my time at Whitney Young has been great!... Read 1,171 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,051

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Dallas Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  218 reviews

Junior: The school of science and engineering is a really prestigious school that offers great classes to students. It can sometimes be hard to balance all the work were given because of the challenging classes we take. However the teachers makes the experience a little less dreadful. They strive to make students the best that they can. But what I especially like about my teachers is that they are very strict. The are strict to where they want us to learn and to have a future; that is what I adore about them. Something I would like to see a change is the school spirit. My school doesn’t have the spirit I first thought it did. Not much people are united and interested in school activities. This could be due to the fact that freshman year for us was virtual, so we didn't make any connections. But now going into senior year, I wish my school was closer.... Read 218 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 501

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Austin Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  512 reviews

Junior: LASA is an overall good school and has outstanding academics along with an amazing councilor team and is rated among the best for college readiness. While I think the school provides many good opportunities through AISD and their personal attributes like the library and office administration, due to it being an incredibly competitive school, the students are typically rude and create a hostile environment. Not a day goes by at LASA that you don't have at least 20 conversations a day regarding grades, colleges, or internships. Upon entering, it's nice because you are surrounded by people who want to pursue their career, but after time you see the manipulative ways in which they do so, and the amount of fake aspirations, and people who have no other life purpose than getting it job, and it is exhausting. Being at LASA is depressing, and almost everyone has academic stress. The amount of stress and anxiety that is filled within the campus makes it not worth it to me.... Read 512 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,309

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Sarasota County Schools, FL•

• 2-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  366 reviews

Senior: I've attended Pine View School from 2nd grade through 12th grade. This place is great and offers many advanced classes for those who are consistently performing above their grade level. Once a student reaches high school, they have so much freedom in what classes they take and what path they want to go down with their academics. This school teaches kids to be independent and work hard. On the other hand, unfortunately, being gifted comes with its fair share of consequences as well. The levels of depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses here is much higher than at other schools. Consistently pushing oneself to ace rigorous courses takes a toll on one's mental health. Pine View has good resources and understanding staff when it comes to this, but all I want to say is that it is NOT FOR EVERYONE. Just because you or your child are gifted does not mean you should attend. Be prepared to have your limits tested... I hope you have a good work ethic! Personally, I owe PV everything.... Read 366 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,745

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Muncie, IN•

• Public School•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.37 out of 5  375 reviews

Junior: The Academy allowed me to truly explore my academic potential and opened the door to so many opportunities that I wouldn't have otherwise. Whether it be the academic curriculum, to the staff, academic and residential, the Academy is dedicated to helping you become the best you can possibly be. It's an environment that will make you more productive and will ready you for the challenges of life: in education or your day-to-day. The highest recommendation I can make and the best decision you or your child can make to furthering their education and future academic career.... Read 375 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 213

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Long Beach Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  497 reviews

Parent: After sending our son for a year, we are happy to tell that the school is filled with wonderful people. CAMS students are kind, friendly, supporting each other across grades, and caring younger students very well. Parents are very nice and supportive, too. Most teachers have decent backgrounds/careers. It's easy to communicate with teachers and school staffs. Minimal donation/volunteer requests. The school is for students like Engineering, Computer Science, or Bio-technology. Required courses include manufacturing with CNC machines & industrial 3D printers, computer programming, CAD designing, and college level Bio-tech curriculum. Located on CSUDH campus, junior/senior students may take the college classes at reasonable cost. More than 50 clubs to choose from. 1/5 students join FRC or VEX Robotics teams. While sports teams are limited, good players compete at tournaments. Dancing teams actively perform at various school events. A lot of fun and exciting opportunities at CAMS!... Read 497 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 667

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  350 reviews

Senior: Poolesville High School is a 3/4 magnet school with academically ambitious and intelligent individuals. During my experience there, I'm constantly challenged by our projects and curriculum, and have received a top quality education thanks to our hardworking teachers. I enjoy how small Poolesville, and especially my program (SMCS), is, because it fosters a tight-knit community of like-minded peers who want to succeed, but also want to help each other succeed. One thing I would like to see change is the maintenance of our school setting, where our building is old and unreliable, and the air is often poor due to badly-timed construction.... Read 350 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,272

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Bergen County Vocational Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  555 reviews

Junior: I am a junior at Bergen County Academies and I have had a good experience so far. The teachers at Bergen County Academies are for the most part very knowledgeable in their fields. They are willing to go above and beyond. I also appreciate the fact that the school tries to ensure college readiness through guidance seminar and an overall competitive environment. One thing that I would like to see change at Bergen County Academies is the availability of resources for students. While the school does have a lot of resources available, I feel like there could be more support for students who are struggling academically or who need extra help. Another issue students may encounter is the fact that they are locked into their chosen academy. Overall, my experience at Bergen County Academies has been positive. It is a great school with a strong focus on academics and extracurricular activities, but getting involved in those activities might be difficult due to the already extended school day.... Read 555 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,109

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Guilford County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  126 reviews

Sophomore: The Early College at Guilford has a great community and great teachers. Although the trailers aren't the best, the environment overall is great. The school has an atmosphere towards academics. The first two years, especially Sophmore year, are the hardest because of AP classes, although you can get a lot of credit. However, this pays off in the last two years which are a breeze while getting you credit for college. Overall a great school!... Read 126 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 197

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Houston Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  355 reviews

Senior: Carnegie Vanguard High School is a rigorous high school that provides a great learning and challenging learning environment with the addition of Advanced Placement and Dual Credit Courses. Although the learning environment can be challenging, students at Carnegie create an enjoyable inclusive environment, whether it be from freshmen to seniors; everyone gets to enjoy this positive environment. Students can also enjoy various clubs that are started by teachers, like Chess Club, or by students like the Mahjong Club. These clubs offer great diversity, and promote a sense a inclusion to all students, as everyone is invited. In all, Carnegie Vanguard High has a very supportive environment were students can feel welcome and included, the additional support from everyone, not only students, and the rigorous academic learning a student needs to be successful.... Read 355 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 913

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  760 reviews

Senior: The experience I have had at Jones College Prep has been decent! It is definitely a very academically focused school, and that is a good thing because it motivates students to do well, but it is sometimes not a good thing, because it can get in the way of things that are more important, like connections with other people, family, and just having a life, as one should, outside of school. I will always be grateful for the friends that I made, and the impact they had on my life during my high school years. The changes I want to see is not specific to the school. They are aimed towards the entire school system. I feel as though students mental health and lives outside of school are not valued enough. School starts early in the morning, then students have extra curricular's, and piled on top of that they also have homework, all while trying to have a proper sleep schedule and keeping up relationships with people. A later start and limited homework would extremely benefit students.... Read 760 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,909

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Palm Beach County School District, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  611 reviews

Senior: Good Academics and teachers. Fun school to be in even when academic wise it gets tough. Most teachers are friendly and ready to help. Dreyfoos encourages involvement of student group interaction therefore there is unity at least between kids inside specific departments. Outside of those departments sometimes kids feel the need have "rivalries" or almost pick on certain majors but if you love your art and make good friends despite the major they are, you can get around it. Admin encourages students to be proud of their school and to take advantage of the opportunities offered. There is a variety of activities during the school year to go to and enjoy like spirit week and open houses for parents. The school provides with lots of information about a variety of topics like scholarships. Boot camps outside of regular school hours to help with college apps are offered. I'm going to miss going here for sure. Came for the arts, stayed for the people and opportunities offered!... Read 611 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,380

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Union County Vocational-Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  145 reviews

Senior: Magnet is a school that is very near and dear to me. Throughout my time here, I have made many friends that I will stay in touch with for the rest of my life. I relish the opportunity to interact with so many intelligent people and feel that the culture is one that stimulates growth and improvement. The teachers are above average and it feels like they truly care about their students. I would highly recommend any students in the Union County area to apply to Magnet. It will absolutely be worth it.... Read 145 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 308

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  3,224 reviews

Senior: Easy to be a stranger here, but it's wonderful when you choose not to be one. Room numbering system is odd, but you'll get it in a few weeks. Most students will be happy to assist you w finding classes. Security guards are nice, but wear your ID or hold onto it. The boys bathrooms are in poor condition, and one of the rooms' stalls do not have locks or close properly, and the sink water vacillates between boiling hot and cold. Sometimes there's graffiti in the stalls and garbage on the lawn. I wish other students would pick up their trash because it is messing with the geese and looks bad, and I wish that the front lawn could be terraformed so that it's more flat. There's lots of nice teachers, and the great ones make this school worth it. Lane does a good job in offering specialized programs. I wish there were more counselors at Lane because the school's so big it's sometimes hard to get to know people or get the help you need! LSC cares. A cleanable, solid brick in Roscoe Village.... Read 3,224 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 4,330

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Osceola County School District, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  34 reviews

Senior: Being a part of the first graduating class of this school has been such a wonderful experience! I was even lucky enough to witness the state of the art institution being built from the ground up. With college level laboratories and a maker space that has tons of equipment, going to this school has been a great experience! While the school has an undeniably rigorous course load, this has made me feel extremely prepared for any college I may pursue in the future. Clubs and organizations are also a huge part of school life with every club being student run. If you have the opportunity to attend this school, you will find an amazing campus culture that feels like a second home. Teachers and administration alike are always ready to lend a hand to students in both their academic and even personal life. Overall, if you have any interest in the realm of science, technology, engineering, or math, this school is the perfect place for you!... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 460

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Jersey City School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  302 reviews

Alum: I graduated class of 2023, and I can say hands down that McNair has been one of the most formative experiences I have had in my life. I have learned so much thanks to the teachers and friends that have supported me. There is truly a very collaborative environment here, and everyone is supported every step along the way. There are plenty of opportunities regarding AP courses and extracurriculars. I was part of the Epsilon Math Team, Mock Trial, and various honor societies, and I founded Mathemagicians Tutoring which connects McNair students to Cordero middle schoolers and offers free math tutoring. I highly recommend this school, it will change your life.... Read 302 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 704

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Union County Vocational-Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  124 reviews

Senior: The Academy for Information Technology is a great school to attend if you are pursuing a business/information technology path as a career. You have focused vocational classes teaching business to programming languages like Java. However, the school does not provide the greatest of technological resources. Students only have Chromebooks and Desktops at the school often have their issues which makes it hard to use. Funding dedication in this area isn't the greatest. The counselors help you every step along the way in assisting your application up to college. The food here is average, not the greatest but there are secondary choices always such as hamburgers aside from the main lunch.... Read 124 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 287

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1