2023 Best Public High Schools in Arizona

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  111 reviews

Parent: The faculty, staff, volunteers, boosters, teachers, and students all are there to improve the world. The numerous clubs, from Amnesty International, Model UN, Medical Leader Club, Public Speaking Club, and the 50+ clubs for students to join, are a huge asset for building future leaders through learning first hand. They also offer many sports, arts, music programs. They have taken the best learning techniques from Europe, Asia, Canada, and the United States and brought their own techniques to life with a low teacher to student ratio. Having teachers, that are accomplished as educators and having worked in specialized fields outside of the classroom, brings a wealth of knowledge for the students. BASIS Scottsdale is rewriting what education should be. If more schools followed their path, the world would be a much more intelligent and caring place. I feel lucky to be able to have my son receive such an amazing WORLD CLASS EDUCATION!... Read 111 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,137

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tucson, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  60 reviews

Senior: I have really enjoyed the advanced classes offered at Basis Tucson North. You have plenty of opportunities to take honors and AP classes that will teach and challenge and prepare you for college.. I've really grown academically because of my school. I also love their foreign language curriculum. I have taken French for six years. Because of that, I feel confident in my ability to converse with native speakers on a variety of topics. The French teachers are amazing and have taught me a lot. The only complaint I have about my school is its focus on STEM. There are so many math and science courses available to take, but all of the fine arts programs are very small in comparison. In spite of that, I have had so many amazing experiences taking band and orchestra throughout my years at Basis Tucson North. Although small, the community of students that you make music with is close. Our conductor is amazing. He helps us to unlock our potential with out instruments. It's a really good class.... Read 60 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 922

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  73 reviews

Senior: I’ve been a student at BASIS Phoenix since 5th grade, and I honestly love it! Subject Expert teachers, specifically ones dubbed “veteran teachers” who have been on campus since it’s opening in 2012, give in their all to their students and always persevere through the rough days like Friday’s before seasonal breaks. Everyone just wants the best for each other, especially since everyone grew up together. BASIS not only teaches you simple soft skills, like time management and teamwork, but also a sense of community that is hard to find outside of colleges.... Read 73 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 769

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Oro Valley, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  93 reviews

Junior: I think that if I went to any other school, I wouldn’t have the same teacher-student relationship as I do here. Due to the smaller class size, teachers are able to connect more with your students, and they are fully able to show just how much that they care. There’s also additional hours reserved for students who need extra help with assignments, and plenty of accommodations for those who are struggling to learn. My only complaint would be the lack of funding for extracurriculars and social gatherings, but I know that they plan on making a dedicated group of students to help create better events in the future.... Read 93 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 628

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Peoria, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  81 reviews

Senior: If your looking for the best preparation for college you will find it at basis! It AP courses are challenging yet enjoyable. Any help you need you will find with the teachers who all seek to prepare you for college. It does require hard work but as a senior I've realized all of it was worth it to get into top schools and multiple scholarship opportunities with ease.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 991

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Mesa, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  55 reviews

Senior: Basis Mesa has taught me many things over the past 8 Years. The workload helped me develop tenacity and diligence. I absolutely love the teachers and atmosphere. They never fail to make sure that the students excel at their crafts. From hosting student hours to checking up on the students, the teachers are incredible to work with. Many of my friends I have grown along side with have impeccable characteristics and are very compassionate of others. The facilities at Basis can definitely use some work. I'm pretty sure its because the other Basis Schools are prioritized over our smaller school. I hope that are able to earn more money to aid in providing more extracurriculars. I would like a more diverse curriculum. It would be lovely if the art department had more funding because we have many talented students that love art, theatre, and music. The opportunities that Basis provides are out-matched and I am glad I went to this school.... Read 55 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 813

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chandler, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  72 reviews

Sophomore: Overall, BASIS Chandler was a great school. The teachers were well versed in their subjects in addition to being kind, compassionate, and caring. In academic options, BASIS really excelled. However, I felt that the arts were not given due appreciation. Furthermore, choosing a fine art class often interfered with more academic classes. This left students to choose between an artistic passions, for example, theatre, and taking an AP elective. There could be more funding and support for things that laid outside the realm of academia. Personally, I also felt the rules for students were too strict. BASIS Chandler, after all, does include high school, but we were banned from using phones during lunch, and students were not allowed to text their parents if they were feeling sick. They were supposed to go through the front office. I thought a lot of the rules were unreasonable, especially for high schoolers.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,177

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 4-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  38 reviews

Alum: Great teachers, but majority end up leaving or becoming admin. It's a shame because there used to be a lot more teachers who were passionate for teaching. Sometimes they hire teachers whose qualifications are questionable. Compared to other BASIS schools, we had less funding from BASIS Ed (headquarters). I wish we had had more funding for our theatre department, which is what we're known for. Leadership Society is one of the best extracurriculars you can do at our school because it really teaches you to work in a team and take responsibility for things. We planned all the events from start to finish. Sports are not a strong suit here. Our school emphasizes community. The Boosters, which is the parent organization, plays a very big role in making our school better every day. They organize catered lunches from nearby restaurants as hot lunch. This school is a high stress environment but the AP tests are free. The ceilings leak every time it rains btw. The walls are WEAK so be careful.... Read 38 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 780

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tucson Unified School District, AZ•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  514 reviews

Junior: I love University High School! The atmosphere is wonderful, and the students really care about learning. There is a great balance between academics, sports, and clubs. Students pursue challenging academic goals, while also prioritizing things outside of school that they love. Going here is a great opportunity to discover what you love!... Read 514 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,222

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Flagstaff, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  60 reviews

Senior: I have been at this school since 6th grade and I love it! It can definitely be very academically challenging, but that is one of my favorite parts about it. The teachers are always pushing students to do our best work and reach our full potential. I feel that I am being prepared for college very well in my final year of high school, and I love all of the courses that are being offered senior year. Despite our rigorous academics, our school culture is not overly competitive, and we all support each other, especially when it comes to college applications senior year. Although I wouldn't say that BASIS Flagstaff has great programs when it comes to sports and arts, I have still participated in and thoroughly enjoyed both. If you are interested in a high school with a lot of school spirit, especially surrounding sports, I would not recommend BASIS Flagstaff. We also tend to have a few issues surrounding administrative organization, but overall, I still love this school!... Read 60 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 878

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Tempe, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  130 reviews

Sophomore: I love Tempe Prep! It is a small inclusive community, where bright minds come together to learn. My favorite class at Tempe Preparatory Academy is Humane Letters, which explores history and English. I enjoyed the Aeneid, which we read this year. I also like all of my teachers, and have connected with them well. I have had the opportunity to start an Outdoor Club as well. But, like any school, Tempe Prep has some problems. We do not have good diversity. My class is almost fully white, and I wish I had the opportunity to learn with people a different race than I. And, of those white people, many of them are racist, and would benefit from greater diversity.... Read 130 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 434

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chandler, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  89 reviews

Parent: I find the student body to be diverse and vibrant with students from all different backgrounds. School pride is evident by the cleanliness and orderly nature of the school grounds. Teachers are highly assessable to both students and parents and offers weekly tutoring hours. Students have time after lunch to study, attend tutoring, or get some fresh air on the field. There is a robust mentoring program for new students. My children have very different learning styles where school comes easy for one while the other struggles. Through the CPA ESS program, my youngest gets additional support that helps her be successful with the more rigorous curriculum. This school focuses on a classical liberal arts curriculum that not only cultivates the hearts and minds of students in the pursuit of Truth, Beauty and Goodness, but also graduates students that are prepared for college. The school produces a well rounded student and encourages athletics, music, art, mentorship, and community service.... Read 89 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 734

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chandler Unified School District No. 80, AZ•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  126 reviews

Senior: ACP manages to combine the culture of a small, intimate school with the opportunities afforded by larger rivals. This might be because of ACP's history as the odd school out in our district, where you had to actually want to go to the school to attend. That mentality has stuck with the student body through to today. Almost all of the students that attend ACP do so because they want to, not because they were zoned there. In fact, I was one of those students that chose to attend ACP, and I could not be happier. ACP offers so many different clubs for science-related activities, which is my passion. If you ever wanted a biophysics club, or two astronomy clubs, here you go. The debate team is back-to-back-to-back state champions, and I fell in love with the team the moment I joined. And though most of the students here focus on science, the music and theatre programs put on strong performances and let their light shine. Overall, ACP is an amazing, well-rounded school. Go if you can!... Read 126 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 840

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Scottsdale, AZ•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  75 reviews

Alum: I loved the teachers and their willingness to always help the students. As a student myself, I always felt nervous asking for help but after the first few times I realized that the teachers were willing to give me whatever I needed if I just went to them. I would like see a little more school event take place, such as coffee house, and more opportunities to express school spirit! I understand that we are a charter school, and we have strict rules, but the students still want to express school spirit! I also wished the college counselors were more involved in helping the students. They held many workshops but the material they covered was stuff I could’ve found online.... Read 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 865

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Peoria, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.37 out of 5  75 reviews

Alum: I liked that the graduating class was small. It was like extremely small like 50 people small. I think I would have been bullied or simply have anxiety attacks all of the time at a normal public school. Every student in my class was in my grade which is convenient for befriending people in your graduating class. Though, I would like to see change in the amount of whitewashing there is. They sort of avoid the whole Black rights movement thing while addressing similar problems in the PAST history of the United States.... Read 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 603

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Gilbert Public Schools, AZ•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  163 reviews

Sophomore: Gilbert Classical Academy is an exceptional school. It is small, so everybody is comfortable and friends with everybody. It is difficult, challenging, and fast-paced which I enjoy. However, there is a lot of people who wouldn't make it here for that reason. There is a good balance of strict teachers and fun, laid-back teachers. I am genuinely happy here! However, that is not to day that everything is perfect. I feel that with more funding, Gilbert Classical Academy could be the best school in Arizona. Right now, we lack the facilities necessary for certain sports as well as teachers for more interesting electives. Gilbert Classical Academy only offers arts like orchestra, art, and guitar as electives. I would like to anatomy & physiology, financial applications, and technology as electives. At the same time, that would require more students. Therefore, I understand wanting to maintain the small, intelligent, and dedicated community that we are.... Read 163 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 482

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Gilbert, AZ•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  77 reviews

Senior: It's an incredible liberal arts education that focuses on the content of a person and guides the students on a beautiful journey of questioning the world, through seminars on the Great philosophers and writers from Aristotle to Malcolm X, and even leads us through geometric investigations every quarter. However, this school does have difficulty staying with the times, which can lead to feelings of exclusion and complacency. Overall, though, it's a stimulating and rigorous curriculum that prepares us for the future and the world ahead masterfully.... Read 77 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 556

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Prescott, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  41 reviews

Senior: I have been a student at BASIS since fifth grade. Academically, BASIS is an amazing choice. The curriculum challenges students to do their best in every learning scenario. However, this same academic rigor causes a great amount of stress for many, pushing a large number of students to leave yearly. BASIS has very few sports programs and little recognition for any athletes due to its academic prioritization for colleges. BASIS' stress of self reliance allows for students to excel following graduation from high school. Overall, BASIS is a good choice for any students who have high educational aspirations and do well under pressure.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 706

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chandler, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  37 reviews

Parent: Paragon is fantastic! This is our first year there and my kiddos love it. The teachers and staff are welcoming and extremely supportive. Everyone is available for discussions regarding academics, behavior, anything. You never feel brushed off. The clubs are great too!... Read 37 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 683

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  150 reviews

Senior: Horizon Honors has a variety of amazing teachers and opportunities to just get to know yourself, while still being an academic based school. This is the place where I grew up, and while it still has some kinks to work through. It does help set you up for college, providing a great environment for developing awesome relationships with people since it’s still a small school. Horizon Honors offers a variety of programs too that allow students to learn what their path truly looks like. Overall, Horizon Honors is a great school, and it has left me with a bunch of valuable memories.... Read 150 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 714

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Chandler Unified School District No. 80, AZ•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  1,258 reviews

Senior: Hamilton High School is a great place to be! As a senior who is graduating from this school in 2023, I know there's truly no better place to attend for four years than Hamilton High School. I know I will be looking back on all the friends that I made, the extraordinary teachers, and the building itself. It is fascinating! I have transferred to many schools all throughout high school and Hamilton takes the prize for the best school I have been to.... Read 1,258 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 4,116

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Tolleson Union High School District, AZ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  319 reviews

Junior: Amazing school for student to learn and grow socially, emotionally, and academically. One of the most dedicated schools for equipping students with the necessary skills for college. Go grit!... Read 319 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 438

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  77 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 77 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,022

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Phoenix, AZ•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  79 reviews

Parent: I've been so impressed with Madison Highland Prep. My child has been attending classes here since the beginning of the school year and I have seen such a positive change in their attitude towards school and learning. The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and always willing to help. They make learning fun and engaging with hands-on activities and projects. The curriculum is challenging yet accessible for all students. The school also offers a variety of extracurricular activities and clubs that my child loves. We are so happy we chose Madison Highland Prep!... Read 79 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 460

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Avondale, AZ•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  186 reviews

Senior: Great school! Meet such amazing people and made so many new friends! I would highly recommend going here. The teachers truly care about you and your future ahead of you. The college is also other great benefit to going here! If you are wanting to get a head start this school is your way to go.... Read 186 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 486

• Student-teacher ratio —