K-12 Schools in Florida
2

2017 Best Public High Schools in FloridaAbout this List

The 2017 Best Public High Schools 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 factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, and high school ratings. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

954 results

  1. Pine View School

    • Sarasota County Schools, FL
    • 2-12
    • 275
    1 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: Pine View is a terrific college preparatory school. The students are all focused and driven towards further education. The teachers take interest in teaching and preparing the students for the real world and the upcoming challenges they will face as they enter college. The campus is open and allows for a college feel; giving students freedom and independence. Pine View offers a broad range of Honors and AP courses to better prepare the students. It hard, but so is the real world!
    Read 275 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,186 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  2. School for Advanced Studies - South

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 11-12
    • 192
    2 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Parent: School for Advanced Studies (SAS) is known across America as the best high school in Florida. SAS Students earn a two year Associate in Arts degree from Miami Dade College a month before they graduating from high school (for free).

    Because they are full time on a college campus for two whole years prior to high school graduation, they are much better prepared to succeed at a top university than their counterparts who stay in their private, charter, magnet, or neighborhood high schools for 11th and 12th grade.

    That is why SAS graduates are highly regarded by Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Penn, Dartmouth, MIT, Stanford, Duke, UF, UM, U Chicago, and Johns Hopkins.

    SAS offers extraordinary academics, but also has dances, Prom, Grad Bash, robotics and math competitions, honors societies, Mock Trial, picnics, service clubs and great success in Silver Knight awards.
    Read 192 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 237 Students
    • 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  3. Suncoast Community High School

    • Palm Beach County School District, FL
    • 9-12
    • 518
    3 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Sophomore: I like the school spirit that becomes rampant during event weeks! The classes are very rigorous and arduous, but it helps you prepare for college. I like the student's attitude toward other races in the school: not once have I been made fun of for being Asian. In fact, there's a lot of Asians at this school, so that makes me comfortable.
    Read 518 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,523 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts

    • Palm Beach County School District, FL
    • 9-12
    • 427
    4 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Junior: Dreyfoos school of the arts is a very competitive yet comforting school. There is not only racial, but creative diversity. Dreyfoos encourages each student to find their individual creative outlet and to express themselves through their art major. Some of the areas students can be admitted into is Visual Art, Theater, Dance, Band, and Communications. My school has an overall very accepting and nurturing environment thats lets us grow and "find ourselves". My experience at Dreyfoos compares to no other school I've known and I am grateful for not only my wonderful peers, but the everything the school has to offer. Auditioning for Dreyfoos was definitely one of the best choices I've ever made and it helps me grow as a creative person like no other experience I've ever been apart of!
    Read 427 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,373 Students
    • 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  6. Florida State University School

    • Public School
    • Tallahassee, FL
    • K-12
    • 315
    5 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: I love FSU! It has definitely shaped my experience and I have learned and grown so much in my four years. The faculty and staff have all been extremely kind and it is easy to see how much they genuinely care about their students' success. They overextend themselves to make sure they meet the needs of each of their students.
    FSU is working to improve the eateries on campus, now adding dining options in residential halls and including more healthier alternatives to cater to different dietary needs.
    Diversity on campus is still an issue, as it is a PWI, a predominately white institution. There are safe spaces, however, for students of color to feel welcomed and comfortable. With over 600 organizations, FSU makes sure that every student finds a place on campus.
    The new student Union is also in progress, which will expand to provide more spaces for club meetings and resources for students.
    Overall, FSU is a great school and anyone can feel welcomed here, even if they aren't a student!
    Read 315 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,732 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  7. William T. McFatter Technical High School

    • Broward County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 351
    6 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Sophomore: The school is like a little developed village. There are only 600 students, so everyone knows everyone (even the teachers). The classes are challenging, so the students all suffer together like veterans from the same war. The students help each other too. There are plenty of clubs, but some are meh. Students are busy, but occasionally they have time to socialize or do some other unimportant stuff like sleep or spend time with their families. Most teachers are nice and good at teaching, But some don't really teach. The teachers are still way better than most other schools IMO. You can't pick classes, but you can pick the tech program you will take at 10+11 grade. The school is focused on the student's success and their future. Very Focused. It's a tight knit community, and I love it. PS the food is amazing!
    Read 351 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 606 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  10. Coral Reef Senior High School

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 8-12
    • 1,230
    7 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: Coral Reef Senior is a wonderful learning environment. Due to the large student population it truly feels like a college. The clubs and people are really diverse, and there will definitely be something you are interested in! The academics are extremely competitive, but I feel like this helps for college readiness. The teachers and administration take an active role in preparing students to pass these exams. I have thrived at this school, and it has been an enjoyable experience. From Homecoming Week to the pep rallies the student body clearly has some school spirit. Coral Reef has an open and very accepting atmosphere. Even though we have different academies, we all band together as Cudas! The academies are an excellent way of jumpstarting your career goals and to explore a field you are interested in. I hope to see you around the Reef!
    Read 1,230 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 3,213 Students
    • 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  11. Westshore Junior/Senior High School

    • Brevard Public Schools, FL
    • 7-12
    • 208
    8 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Junior: I've been attending West Shore since 7th grade, I'm currently a junior now, and so far I've had an amazing education experience. The student population is very small compared to other schools so teachers really get one on one with the students. West Shore is very focused on acedemics and is very competitive; it is ranked top 50 in public high schools in the nation. However, despite West Shore's perfections, recently multiple teachers had left for varying reasons, the new teachers weren't as skilled as the others and seemed to be very lazy. Overall the school has an amazing atmosphere-no fights and no bullying- it has a lot to offer and is definelty an elite high school.
    Read 208 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 956 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  12. Cypress Bay High School

    • Broward County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 1,272
    9 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Sophomore: Cypress Bay High School is an amazing school with loads of opportunities for expressing individual character and passion. There is a club made for everything and anything, and there are many interesting class selections available to everyone. The teachers are very well qualified, and the curriculum is well thought out and prepared. The amount of students can be overwhelming; there are around 4800 students attending Cypress this year. Areas such as hallways, stairways, and especially the cafeteria are heavy with traffic. Cypress is an all around great school with many opportunities to succeed and shine bright!
    Read 1,272 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 4,489 Students
    • 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  14. School for Advanced Studies - Wolfson

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 11-12
    • 146
    10 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: Overall love the school, with excellent teachers and supportive resources. The inclusion of Dual Enrollment courses offers the chance for a much more potentially varied curriculum than most high schools. Some problems with the facilities, but other than that love my experience at SAS.
    Read 146 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 116 Students
    • 29:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  15. Mast Academy

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 8-12
    • 213
    11 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: In my four years at MAST Academy, I have learned that it is a school that you can make the most out of or get nothing. It is all dependent on the individual. The changes I think should be made are certainly the media center's hours of access. Also, the quality of food that is provided during lunches, most times it is rather unappetizing. The parking situation in the school is horrible. We all have to park across the street where people have had their windshields bashed in year prior. In addition, I wish the administration were more understanding. Our principal, in particularly, only communicates with students if she needs to implement "discipline", which is often time in an immensely aggressive tone. The locker rooms are gross, the pool needs all of that fiber glass removed, clocks and the a/c are never working right, and filter out the teachers who don't care. TALK TO THE STUDENTS!
    Read 213 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 936 Students
    • 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  16. Design & Architecture Senior High School

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 190
    12 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Parent: DASH is an amazing school in some ways, but it is far from perfect. Students who are truly motivated to be artists will find terrific resources and get a great foundation. Academics, however, can be spotty. Administration can be more concerned with what the outside world thinks than actual student experience. And as with any school, it is teachers that make all the difference - some teachers at DASH are stellar beyond what you'd hope, but then there are others who would obviously rather be doing something else. I'd recommend the school wholeheartedly, but would also caution anyone thinking that it is the right school for everybody, or that there won't be some down points. Also, some years require an unhealthy amount of work by students, and it is not quite clear if there's a payoff at the end.
    Read 190 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 520 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  19. School for Advanced Studies - North

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 11-12
    • 168
    13 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: This school fully prepared me for collegiate level work. Not only is this an intellectually stimulating environment, it also embodies the very meaning of education. With such a diverse student body and plethora of educational opportunities, the possibilities at this school are endless. This school is more focused on the academic side of high school rather than sports, as it does not offer any sports for students to participate in.
    Read 168 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 103 Students
    • 34:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  20. Boca Raton Community High School

    • Palm Beach County School District, FL
    • 9-12
    • 702
    14 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Alum: Boca Raton High Community High School is definitely one of the best public high schools that you could attend in South Florida. The staff and teachers are amazing, they care so much about the students and their future, whether through tutoring or review sessions, they want to see their students succeed. The dress code is lax too, so long as that its appropriate and follows certain rules, which is an awesome change from wearing uniforms. Each student is pushed through rigorous AP and AICE courses to be the very best that they can and save tons of time and money in college. Everyone is extremely friendly and it doesn't take much to strike up and intellectual discussion with a group of your fellow peers. And don't get me started on clubs and sports; there are literally clubs and sports for anything you can imagine, from flag football to volunteering, you can always find something that fits you.
    Read 702 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 3,136 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  21. ATC Technical High School

    • Broward County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 215
    15 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    High School Junior: At ATC high school students get an experience that most high school students do not get: a technical certificate. ATC is not only a magnet high school, but also a technical college in which you can earn technical certificates. During high school students junior and senior year, students choose one technical corse to persue and by the time they graduate they have completed this course and received this certificate. This gives students more of an access to the real world and also some access on careers. This may boost some students careers and show others that this is not the field for them. I am so grateful to be accepted into this school to receive an orthopedic and EKG certification when I graduate high school for no cost! I am very excited to get started on these programs next school year.
    Read 215 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 647 Students
    • 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  22. New World School of the Arts

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 245
    16 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: New World School of the Arts has affected my life, for better and for worse. While the school may be lacking in the quality of academic teachers, the arts teachers are phenomenal. One issue I do have, however, is with administration. Students are constantly restricted from having their artistic freedom. The principal and vice principal are both hostile to their students and do not share the same love for the arts as the students and teachers do. It is obvious that they care more about the money they make from their jobs than they do about the students in their school.
    Read 245 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 500 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  23. Edgewood Junior/Senior High School

    • Brevard Public Schools, FL
    • 7-12
    • 288
    17 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Alum: I had a great high school experience. My classes were challenging and my teachers did everything they could to help me succeed. I attended Edgewood from seventh to twelfth grade and am now pursuing a degree in biology as a premed student at Davidson College. My high school experience gave me the tools I need to now succeed in a top notch classroom. Although my pre-medicine classes are definitely a challenge, my high school eexperience prepared me to dive head first into difficulty in order to really push myself to succeed. The friends I made in high school also want to succeed and the academically rigorous environment taught me how to work through the difficult times and help others along the way. I encourage all those students attending Edgewood Junior/ Senior high school to do their best in all they do because they are in the environment to succeed to the best of their potential and beyond.
    Read 288 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 941 Students
    • 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  26. Pompano Beach High School

    • Broward County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 503
    18 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: This is my fourth year at Pompano Beach High School. It's an awesome school with a great bunch of people. There are many opportunities that the school offers, that you don't find anywhere else. You can get involved in many clubs or activities; I've been involved in the Chinese program for 4 years now and it's just amazing! I'd like to see the school shine more light on the music programs. I started my music interest during high school and it's an underestimated program. Overall it's an awesome school with a great bunch of people and administration/faculty. Plus there's no school on Fridays.!
    Read 503 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,206 Students
    • 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  27. Plant High School

    • Hillsborough County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 350
    19 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: Plant possesses a strong sense of community and cooperation. The wide range of available AP classes makes for good resume builders and GPA boosters. Additionally, the various sports teams and extracurriculars allow for a student to practice a well-rounded lifestyle. My experience at Plant was positive in that I was able to take a lot of advanced classes and meet people who were equally as passionate about academics as I am. Perhaps one of the only negatives is that the school has a tendency to run mechanically, and the community of Plant is very political as far as giving scholarships and assigning various grants.
    Read 350 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,330 Students
    • 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  28. Terra Environmental Research Institute

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 585
    20 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: I feel Terra meets my personal expectations of a high school experience. It is a safe modern school that focuses on the student’s academics and learning experience, while preserving the environment by using 40% less water in the restrooms, and conserving paper by using electronic devices. It has magnificent teachers, great reputation, and materials needed for a student to succeed. My years spent at Terra was truly memorable; from the teachers, to being Boys Golf district champions, to helping the environment, to the relations I created with students and teachers. Terra did offer all I needed for my experience, but failed to create the same experience for some of my fellow peers. Terra does not have football, wrestling, or lacrosse to name a few, and made many students miss out on opportunities to pursue their passion. So one thing I would have to change is to change the sports program for the better, including sports such as football, lacrosse, and wrestling. Go Wolves!
    Read 585 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,803 Students
    • 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  29. Stanton College Preparatory

    • Duval County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 643
    21 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: The staff are very helpful and always trying their best to ensure your future, no matter how hard the courses may seem. The campus is large enough to support the many freshman that enter every year, and the food is particularly appetizing, improving every year into better and better cuisine! The campus also remains clean year-round, and the overall atmosphere is healthy, as all rooms have windows. A variety of clubs and organizations are always available for joining each year, allowing everyone to expand their interests!
    Read 643 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,557 Students
    • 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  30. A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School

    • Public School
    • Boca Raton, FL
    • K-12
    • 38
    22 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Junior: I really love FAU Highschool. It is a great opportunity to get ahead for the future and experience the college setting. I am able to get ahead and graduate highschool with many credits working towards my major. The environment on the high school and college campus is awesome. The people were very intelligent and allowed us all to compete and work our hardest to succeed in this type of school. Overall, my experience with FAU high was amazing.
    Read 38 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,032 Students
    • 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  32. College Academy at Broward College

    • Broward County Public Schools, FL
    • 9-12
    • 649
    23 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Junior: My experience at broward college has been overall a great one! To be honest I was really afraid of what I was going into, not having sufficent resources or guidelines to what step I should take next. Luckily I have always had the opportunity to speak to the advisors there and hear different pathways I can take to make my career a successful one! At the college we have lots of great resources that help contribute to our success! For example, the college offers calculators which many of the math classes requires some being those of a specific type and which are pricey. There are also tutoring sessions where students can receive help. Something that I would definitely change at browsers college would be how much students will have to often wait to speak to and advisor even for the most minimum situation! I remember last time I visited I waited an hour to ask a question! The college is overall very resourceful and definitely a GREAT one!
    Read 649 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 349 Students
    • 31:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  33. Osceola County School for the Arts

    • Osceola County School District, FL
    • 6-12
    • 317
    24 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Parent: Academically this is a very strong school, although some of the teachers teach and assess students during the same class period which does not allow the students to absorb the information or demonstrate long-term retention of information and skills.

    The students are very passionate and talented, however, often their theatre production are less than stellar. They have an outstanding Technical Theatre department, but I feel that they should have higher standards for their productions. The talent is there, but somehow, the staff directors do not always put on productions that highlight this talent. The student directed black box shows very good and demonstrate what their are capable of!
    Read 317 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 936 Students
    • 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  34. School for Advanced Studies - Homestead

    • Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
    • 11-12
    • 99
    25 Best Public High Schools in Florida

    Senior: It has been an amazing experience. Not only have I been able to improve my high school academic experience, but I have been able to save money on college. Completing my AA, while in school has been financially beneficial and has prepared me for a higher education. The staff is amazing, especially the counselor Mr. Morales. The teachers and counselor really wants to see you succeed and help you as much as they can. I have no complaints about the institution.
    Read 99 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 125 Students
    • 41:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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2017 Best Public High Schools in Florida
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