2023 Best Public High Schools in Hampshire County

• Hadley, MA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  24 reviews

Junior: The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School as an amazing school for those who want advanced education, and small, more intimate classes. PVCICS teaches all grades from K-12 with a range of immersion of the Chinese Mandarin Language. The highschool (9-12), takes honours classes in 9th and 10th grade, and the 11th and 12th graders are all enrolled in the IB Programme which teaches college level classes, along with college credit that can take of 1-2 years off your college degree. The class sizes are also very small and intimate, as the grade sizes range from 10-50 students total. It is very challenging though, so only you should only enroll if you are up for a long and hard (but very advanced) high school experience.... Read 24 reviews

• grade A

• Students 560

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Northampton Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  153 reviews

Senior: My experience at Northampton High School has been a good one for sure. We have excellent teachers, especially in the history, science, and music departments. Everyone is very welcoming and accepting. It's about everything you want in a high school and has a wide spectrum of class offerings from AP to regular. Smith College is also close by and you can take some college classes there. My only complaint would probably be the grading policy which was implemented last year (2021) called standards-based grading. It makes it pretty easy to get really good grades without trying too-too hard.... Read 153 reviews

• grade A

• Students 861

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Belchertown Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  195 reviews

Senior: Throughout my time at Belchertown High School, I participated in the lacrosse team as a JV player positioned as attack. I participated in the Humanities club my freshman year, but slowly fell out of it to focus on my academics. I built relationships with my teachers and enjoyed conversations with them. I liked that Belchertown High School felt inclusive during the prep rallies and enjoyed the memories spent there. As a senior, I look back on my time at the high school and feel that I was apart of a community.... Read 195 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 694

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Hadley Public Schools, MA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  31 reviews

Senior: Hopkins Academy is academically quite advanced. The classes develop the student's logical and analyzing skills, but academics also focus on developing a student's personal philosophy and beliefs, sharing and learning about others while in the process of discovering yourself and your values. The teachers are professionals who know how to challenge students and strike compelling, thought-provoking discussions. What really makes Hopkins Academy stand out is its community. Coming from a small town, the school and its community are always helping and supporting each other. I've learned to help others in my school and my community so you can learn to grow as a person through the experience. The school wants to involve students through sports, arts and music, a variety of clubs, volunteer work, and even internships. I personally joined our Equestrian team and Key Club, who's aim is for each student to have 50 hours of volunteer work by the end of each year.... Read 31 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 258

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• South Hadley, MA•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  77 reviews

Senior: Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School is a fantastic community with very friendly students and teachers. I have been at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School from 7th grade to 12th grade and looking back enrolling here might be the best decision I have ever made. I feel so lucky to be a part of such a caring and open-minded community, and being able to experiment with so many different forms of art (even as a student who will not be pursuing the arts), has been an invaluble experience for me.... Read 77 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 391

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• South Hadley Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  82 reviews

Senior: The teachers and staff are committed to each student's success. Accommodations are made for struggling students and their anti-bullying policy is effective. The friendships I have made here are the types that will last a lifetime. The education I have gotten at South Hadley High School has provided me with a solid foundation to not only get accepted to college, but successfully complete my 4-year degree. The one thing I would like to see my high school implement is a way for students to evaluate teachers and give them feedback on their teaching methods - what works and what does not work. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. Sam Haviland... Read 82 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 571

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Hatfield Public Schools, MA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  29 reviews

Senior: My time at smith academy was pretty good! The small class sizes can be limiting, but all the teachers are really great. They care a lot about students and their success. Administration is pretty good about hearing student concerns.... Read 29 reviews

• grade B

• Students 181

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Westhampton, MA•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  84 reviews

Senior: I loved the community feel. It’s a smaller school but the relationships you build are so close knit and everyone is so kind. The only hard thing is many of the teachers promote self teaching and lots of homework is given but I feel it has prepared me tremendously for college. I had such a great experience here!... Read 84 reviews

• grade B

• Students 683

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Easthampton Public Schools, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  138 reviews

Senior: I loved the teachers and the athletics at easthampton high school. The teachers always made sure to do everything they possibly could to help you understand the curriculum that they are teaching. Easthampton high school also offers work based learning and dual enrollment to help prepare students for the future. The sports at easthampton high school are also great as well as the coaches. Easthampton high school has great sportsmanship and leadership and everyone at the school is very supportive. Everyone at the school is very nice and the guidance counselors are very supportive and helpful. They will assist with anything you need help with whether it’s personal or preparing for college. I loved all 4 years at easthampton high school and although 2 of them were online every second was memorable and prepared me for where I am today. It truly is an amazing school with small classes which allows everyone to know everyone. I highly recommend the school.... Read 138 reviews

• grade B

• Students 419

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Ware Public Schools, MA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  37 reviews

Senior: Ware junior senior high school will always hold a special place in my heart not only because that’s where I will be graduating from in the spring but because this is my community and where I grew up. When I’m at school I feel nothing but safety. Everyone puts their differences aside and looks out of one another. We are a small but yet very connected school community whether we are at sporting events or just in every day classes we constantly cheer one another on. Our teachers always put out education and future as a priority. There has never been a time where I’ve struggled in school and no one was there to help. There was always another student or teacher very eager to help me.... Read 37 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 523

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Gateway Regional School District, MA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  117 reviews

Alum: Gateway Regional High School was a trip and somewhat fun, of course you have your typical Mischief from students like me and others, but the richness of people that you find a none comparable to other schools, this such a tight-knit community and an experience to have. It definitely stands out when it comes to Public Schools when it comes to their Athletics and over all student friendliness :)... Read 117 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 194

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Granby Public Schools, MA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  42 reviews

Senior: Granby differs from most other schools for the fact of it being small. With less kids, the classes are smaller which allow the teachers to pay more attention to individual students. This helped me succeed in my high school career!... Read 42 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 328

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Northampton, MA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  28 reviews

Senior: Smith Vocational was a great school for people who are planning on going out into the working field. The vocational teachers prepare you and help for you to find a job in what you are interested in. Considering you only have half as much academics the classes are taught to what we need to know. The teachers are friendly and want to see you succeed in life. The sports are not of huge importance at Smith Vocational because we are more hands on with a vocation. Most students are working everyday jobs while still attending school. So sports falls second to them.... Read 28 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 528

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1