K-12 Schools in California
2

2018 Best Public High Schools for STEM in CaliforniaAbout this List

The 2018 Best Public High Schools for STEM ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking based on math state test scores, enrollment in advanced math and science courses, math SAT/ACT scores, alumni interest in STEM majors and colleges, and STEM school ratings. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

382 results

  1. Henry M. Gunn High School

    • Palo Alto Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 236
    7 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: Most teachers are friendly and pretty lenient about tardies and absences (students still do well in school because they're self-motivated). Some teachers are awful, though.
    The administration is okay, although they've made some unpopular decisions. Last year, they didn't follow the AP testing set-up guidlines, prompting college board to cancel the scores of over 400 students for 11 tests. Many of these students (including me) retook the tests to get AP credit. They've also taken a few months to decided whether or not to report students' weighted GPAs on transcripts (which I think is an easy decision: report them to level the playing field for college applications). I know that some of the admins have good intentions (lower student stress to preserve mental health), but they have a problem with listening to the students' opinions, which I think is a big problem because most of their decisions directly affect us.
    Read 236 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,897 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Saratoga High School

    • Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 128
    9 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: I liked my experience at SHS! Overall, it's a great community with great academics and opportunities to get involved with the student body. It's kind of cliche but your experience is "you get out what you put in." It's easy to abstain from activities, but if you really want the best experience possible, I suggest joining clubs, sports, and going to the many many events SHS hosts. The teachers I've had are mostly great, with a few exceptions, but I feel like they all do want me to succeed (except for maybe one or two). I've always found the student body to be supportive and generally good people, but I know some who do not share my viewpoint on that. I super duper suggest you join MAP bc it's the best family to be a part of :)
    Read 128 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,378 Students
    • 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Lynbrook High School

    • Fremont Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 382
    11 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Freshman: Lynbrook academics are highly competitive, and so is the overall school environment. However, because students are so high-achieving, Lynbrook sends many students to top schools such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Ivy League- level schools each year. This school is not particularly diverse; the student body is comprised primarily of Chinese and other Asian ethnicities. Lynbrook provides many incredibly useful resources such as STTTAR tutoring, a huge array of clubs, and Homework Center after school. The administration are understanding and welcoming and teachers are eager to explain topics further if a student doesn't understand.
    Read 382 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,853 Students
    • 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  5. Monta Vista High School

    • Fremont Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 311
    12 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: Monta Vista was an extremely academically competitive school, and the workload was heavy for all four years. Although classes were difficult, this high school definitely allowed me to be ready for college; we had many resources, ranging from citation tools to college research. Because this school is located in the Bay Area, the school was consisted largely of Asians, as shown by my mediocre rating for diversity. One negative experience about this school is definitely related to the administration; the people who work in the office are rude, impatient, judgemental, and unfriendly, which is ironic considering their position. Overall, I am pretty happy with the school; as someone more focused on academics and the arts, Monta Vista provided ample resources and a good learning environment.
    Read 311 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,357 Students
    • 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Palo Alto High School

    • Palo Alto Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 258
    18 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: Palo Alto High School (Paly) is a very accepting high school, full of talented and intelligent individuals. We have received lots of criticism in the past in regards to the competitive nature at our high school, but I believe that the teachers and administration are doing there best to support the students. All the teachers and administrators are very accessible and helpful, and they provide any support, academic or emotional, when needed. The competitive nature at our school arises from the students themselves because everyone is so motivated to succeed, so everyone is doing their best, be it in classes, athletics, or clubs. Another thing that surprised me was the amazing school spirit. Our football and basketball games have a decent student attendance, but regardless of the number of people in the crowd, the crowd still goes wild. Our spirit is especially portrayed during our spirit week where all the classes compete against one another.
    Read 258 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,943 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Mission San Jose High School

    • Fremont Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 301
    19 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: Mission definitely fulfills its mission statement with college preparation. The school is very strong academically and many challenging courses are available to help encourage students to try their best. While the classes may be stressful, I find myself to be grateful for having chosen the hard path when I look back. I learned my time management, my organization skills, and my perseverance in those classes. The teachers push me to my limits, but they also provide the support and resources I need to jump over these obstacles. I feel that in general, all students who pursue their education get more than they wished for. Other than academics, Mission has many sport teams. While I was not part of a team, I could feel the camaraderie between team members as they greeted each other enthusiastically passing through hallways.
    Read 301 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,129 Students
    • 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Dougherty Valley High School

    • San Ramon Valley Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 489
    25 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Junior: Dougherty Valley High School is a really well built and set up school! It has practically all the resources, amenities, and state-of-the-art facilities that a student could ask for. It is highly diverse and fosters a competitive atmosphere in everything it participates in. However, academic competition has been quite stressful in Dougherty especially and school spirit isn't exactly the highest in special events. Also, the main reason Dougherty has it's success is because of it's students, not exactly from the staff, although a lot of the staff can be competent (but some are horrible). Overall, it is a great school to consider, but with caution.
    Read 489 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,645 Students
    • 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Cupertino High School

    • Fremont Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 339
    26 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: Cupertino High School accommodates diversity extremely well and harbors a safe environment for all students. There are a plethora of clubs, activities, and classes for students of different interests (take Tino Stress Relief Club, Muslim Student Association Club, CHS Robotics, etc). The teachers here are very attentive and ready to help the students, yet the academics are very rigorous and can rack up several hours of homework for students, depending on how many APs the student takes and how well they can withhold their load. Hours spent on homework in Cupertino ranges from around 3-6 hours, plus the average student in Cupertino does partake in extracurriculars. Most everybody is preoccupied with maintaining their grades and padding their resumés, and as a result students are usually filled to the brim with stress. It DOES pay off however, the graduation rate is extremely high and students do transfer to fantastic colleges after high school.
    Read 339 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,168 Students
    • 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  12. San Marino High School

    • San Marino Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 230
    27 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Niche User: San Marino High School is a great school, but it does have its downfalls. The amount of pressure to succeed and preform well at this school is huge. It can be overwhelming at times and can become detrimental to a certain extent; pushing for success is great but cracking under all the pressure is not uncommon. Also, the parents here tend to get over-involved at times. This happens in sports, extra circulars, and academics. If the parents do not like coaching decisions or certain grading scales they will voice their opinion until something changes (which can be good, but also very bad.) Additionally, the overall student body lacks compassion. San Marino is a very privileged school and community and we are not exposed to people on the other end of the spectrum which results in an air of ignorance among the students. Despite this, San Marino is a fantastic school and I am glad I received my high school education there. The teachers are phenomenal, the resources are unparalleled, and the drive to achieve greatness overall promotes healthy competition and results in successful students.
    Read 230 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,189 Students
    • 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Los Altos High School

    • Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 231
    28 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: As a current senior at Los Altos High School I have been able to view the school from each grade level. The academics here are rigorous, each student being expected to take at least a few AP and/or honors classes before graduating. The teachers, knowing this unspoken expectation, try their hardest to make the classes as enjoyable and easy as possible, while still covering all the material needed. However, despite this, and much alike many other high schools, students can stumble upon teachers that are, well, not pleasant. Other than the academics, Los Altos has okay sports programs, not being the best but also not the worst. The only downside of this high school I would have to say, is the lack of school spirit. Contrary to the traditional high school experience, students here do not take school pride seriously, and rallies, as well as dances, tend to be bland.
    Read 231 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,920 Students
    • 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Troy High School

    • Fullerton Joint Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 691
    30 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: Awesome experience. Great detail to education of all students.
    No disruption during school times. Been at Troy for 4 years and my brother was there 3 years prior to me, only 1 incident on campus involving students in the 7 years I been associated with Troy HS. Don't get much better that!
    Amazing teaching stuff, they are always available to help if needed. Plenty of tutoring available if needed.
    Read 691 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,764 Students
    • 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Whitney High School

    • ABC Unified School District, CA
    • 7-12
    • 296
    32 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Junior: I have been attending Whitney High School for 5 years, and each year with different classes, I found a different part of myself. The experience of learning a new language and having such a close-knit family atmosphere of a little more than 1,000 students, has enabled me to create new relationships with students from all grade levels. My intellect has continually been challenged, and I have had to work harder and harder each year. The faculty is extremely loving and it is increadible just how much they love their students. Whitney has created the student and person that I am proud to be.
    Read 296 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,019 Students
    • 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Arcadia High School

    • Arcadia Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 904
    36 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Freshman: Arcadia High School is a wonderfully privileged school for its students, sporting various academic and sport clubs that involve much of the student body. There are many terrific facilities available for every student- ranging from personal Chromebooks to helpful counselors and tutors. Unlike other high schools, Arcadia High School's academic performance is supremely valued along with its students physical abilities rather than sports players having more worth than academic competitors. Despite the fact this is my first year at this school, Arcadia High School places top in nationwide tests and tournaments for a reason. The students, staff, system, and behavior at Arcadia High School create a uniquely helpful environment that gifts all scholars with the ability to thrive and learn.
    Read 904 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 3,454 Students
    • 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Miramonte High School

    • Acalanes Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 167
    37 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: AP classes are extremely difficult while regular classes are ridiculously easy. Most students are nice but some can be snobbish and look down on you if you aren't wealthy, aren't "smart", don't play sports, etc. The diversity is slowly improving, especially in 9th/10th grade. Most teachers are very qualified for their jobs and but there are some outliers (see rate my teacher). Food is overpriced and repetitive. But overall a great school!
    Read 167 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,155 Students
    • 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Canyon Crest Academy

    • San Dieguito Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 430
    38 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    High School Senior: CCA has been an incredible school to attend for these past 4 years of high school. I have been able to get involved with awesome school activities (Like the Improv Team: Comedy Sportz), attend school sponsored events that have helped bond my Senior Class, and have met incredible people who will remain close friends even after high school. I wouldn't change my high school experience for the world. CCA is unique for millions of reasons, but I think a primary reason is simply the fun culture on campus. Students and teachers work together to make school fun and engaging and our incredible staff and administrators all are invested in making the campus community the best it can be. For example, on our principal's birthday last year, ASB hired a mariachi band to follow him around campus for the day! It was a fun and heartwarming day for everyone on campus.
    Read 430 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,991 Students
    • 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  22. University High School

    • Irvine Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 395
    39 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: Hello everyone,
    I would like to start off by saying that I have been a student at University High School for 4 consecutive years, and this school has led me to become an independent and outspoken individual. University High, also known as "Uni", offers a competitive and friendly environment where students can thrive to succeed and form outstanding social skills. As a student, you are constantly being given opportunities to stand out amongst your peers, as well as form lifelong friendships. Overall, this school provides an safe, friendly, and competitive environment that invites hard work ethics.
    Read 395 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,527 Students
    • 29:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Mountain View High School

    • Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 238
    45 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Niche User: Just like at any school, the teachers and their instruction styles differ, and always will. In my time at MVHS, the event that stands out the most in my memory is a town hall-style meeting that was called with the school board to discuss a controversial article written in The Oracle, MVHS's student newspaper.

    The very small article in question was written by one of my good friends, who has since continued to engage the public in difficult but important conversations. In the Valentine's Day edition of The Oracle, my friend wrote a short piece about the myths of sex, the importance of birth control, and where to find it.

    A small handful of parents were outraged by the article and called for the student-run newspaper to be dismantled. At the meeting with the school board, which was held in MVHS's theater, a large number of students and parents came out to defend the article in question and support the newspaper. I remember one parent dedicating her allotted 2 minutes of speaking time to simply applauding the students who worked long hours to put out The Oracle regularly.

    Nothing much came of this meeting, but for me the whole event sums up what was important to me about Mountain View High School: brave students, supportive peers and students, and the willingness of the administration and school board to handle the issue in a constructive way. My younger brother is coming up on his senior year at MVHS, and I know the student body is still comfortable voicing their concerns and engaging their peers and the administration in issues that they find important.
    Read 238 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,836 Students
    • 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Leland High School

    • San Jose Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 223
    46 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Sophomore: I think Leland High School is a very good school; in terms of academics. All of the academic departments have good courses and there are many to choose from each year! For college readiness, every now and then we have assemblies in small groups where we are taught about college applications, GPA, and various other topics. But what made my overall experience 4 stars instead of 5 was the lack of diversity and spirit at our school. Our school is Asian dominant, and almost everyone is academically competitive (which can be seen as good and bad). Although we have 'rallies' where we play games and cheer on our football team, at times Leland can seem dispirited and segregated, because everyone is so academically competitive. This impacts the importance of sports, which stands in the shadow of AP/ accelerated classes and SAT prep. But I believe that in future years, Leland can become a well rounded school that appeals to anyone, leading students towards their individual goals. Go Chargers!
    Read 223 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,784 Students
    • 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Amador Valley High School

    • Pleasanton Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 393
    47 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: There is definitely a very competitive atmosphere at Amador. However, it is a overall a great school, with mostly good teachers, and school spirit. The more involved you are at the school, the more fun your experience will be. We do not have the best sports teams, but our academics are far superior to most other schools. Go Dons!
    Read 393 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,612 Students
    • 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Northwood High School

    • Irvine Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 413
    48 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Senior: Here, you will find students willing to go above and beyond in their academic studies while still managing to balance other extracurricular activities.The teachers love challenging the students while still care about their well-being. Northwood is very connected as we take a lot of pride in the multiple Grammy Awards our performing arts have won and our amazing marching band. It’s located in a very safe and protected city and the campus is the prettiest one in our school district and is still fairly new. The block schedule at Northwood is very helpful because we are able to have longer and more in-depth classes every other day. However, Northwood offers limited classes compared to other schools. CP Biology was not an option nor were classes that helped with college essays. Also, students are required to take Integrated Science 1 and 2 for their first two years which limited their options of taking other science classes. Despite that, Northwood still helps students excel in college.
    Read 413 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,173 Students
    • 30:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Oxford Academy

    • Anaheim Union High School District, CA
    • 7-12
    • 524
    49 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    High School Senior: Oxford has a reputation for being a great college preparatory school. This also comes with the stereotype of too many Asians and a lot of homework. These are both true. The homework load is a lot but manageable with the block schedule. The workload will be a lot but as a senior, I honestly think that Oxford was worth all the stress and the long nights because now as I apply to college I have so many advantages that students from other schools don't have such as a minimum of 3 AP classes by the time they graduate. The counselers aren't that great but the students are so motivated they get what they need on their own. The environment is very very competitive but that can be good because it motivates everyone to do even better!
    Read 524 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,194 Students
    • 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Campolindo High School

    • Acalanes Union High School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 217
    50 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Alum: Some of the teachers at this school were my favorites throughout my entire education, and motivated me to take a serious interest in a variety of subjects I wouldn't have otherwise gravitated toward. The facilities were always exceptional given the generous parental donations to the town's education foundation. The athletics are some of the most competitive in the state, with many sports teams winning state championships (sometimes consecutively). The culture amongst the staff, faculty, and students is generally encouraging and supportive.
    Read 217 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,253 Students
    • 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your School

  32. California Academy of Mathematics & Science

    • Long Beach Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 351
    51 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Junior: California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS) is a school that takes all dedication to get every student into college. There are many different people you meet; this school is really diverse and the best part about it is not just about the academics, but the cultures brought together by every person. This school is within the campus of a university so we have materials other schools don't really have, such as books from the university's library, as well as college classes we can take. There's not much change I hope to see from this school, however more exposure to nature would be really great.
    Read 351 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 676 Students
    • 30:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

    • Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 538
    53 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    Junior: PVPHS has always been important to me. It focuses mostly on academics, but as of 2016 its sports have begun to improve. However, its main point of appeal is its academics. The Academic Decathlon, Debate, and Robotics teams are superb, and the teachers are always willing to do whatever they can to create a wonderful learning environment. The only negative is that the drama department suffers from a lack of funding, but that doesn't stop it from being able to place in the top ten in CETA festival. The school, while flawed, is overall one of the best high schools in the nation, and one that I am proud to have attended.
    Read 538 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,574 Students
    • 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Irvington High School

    • Fremont Unified School District, CA
    • 9-12
    • 572
    54 Best High Schools for STEM in California

    High School Senior: It's been quite a ride. Our school has benchmark projects—Change, WIP, and QUEST— in 9th, 10th, and 12th grade respectively. Irvington really values the community service that its students do. We also have a We The People Civics team, which I will be a part of! We're also an arts magnet school, so our performing arts—band, theatre— etc are really great.
    Read 572 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,248 Students
    • 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  • 1 of 16
2018 Best Public High Schools for STEM in California
2