2024 Best Public High Schools in Florida

• Bay District Schools, FL•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  15 reviews

Senior: During my seven years in Rising Leader Academy, I witnessed my school change drastically throughout the whole years. When I first enrolled RLA, the school was just starting to get on its feet. We didn’t have extracurriculares, the school was small, and there weren’t a lot of staff. By now so much has changed. They expanded the campus, added more extracurricular, hired more and diverse teachers. I have so many good memories and made my closest friends there.... Read 15 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 335

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Sarasota County Schools, FL•

• 2-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  369 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 369 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,745

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Boca Raton, FL•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  111 reviews

Middle school student: Starting at FAU High in fall 2023 is going to be amazing! The open house was super welcoming, and I felt right at home. The school is so clean and well-maintained, which shows how much they care about their students. The staff was beyond helpful in showing me around and making me feel comfortable. I can't wait to begin my academic journey there.... Read 111 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,294

• Student-teacher ratio 30:1

• Palm Beach County School District, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  617 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 617 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,380

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.45 out of 5  162 reviews

Junior: Let me tell you, this high school is #1 in Florida and #4 in the nation for an excellent reason. This unique program 2-year program has been amazing. I have never been happier to switch to such a fantastic school. If you're lucky enough to be the few allowed into the school after applying, then you'll be able to experience a schedule that is unlike any other high school I have ever seen. You have 3 hours every single day to yourself (and college classes as this is a dual enrollment program) and to complete any work. The teachers and fellow students are just absolutely amazing! The environment is stunning as we are housed within a college campus; it's very open with lots of green! Not to mention this program allows you to start college 2 years early.. completely free! You don't exactly have a choice, however. I won't lie. The school is tough. You lose lots of free time. But it's so worth it! Just know how to balance your social and work life and you'll be fine!... Read 162 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 133

• Student-teacher ratio 33:1

• Osceola County School District, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  41 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 41 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 460

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Duval County Public Schools, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  854 reviews

Senior: During my time at Stanton College Prep, I have noticed a plethora of pros and cons that give the school personality. Some awesome parts of the school are all the smart students and excellent teachers who really care for you and your trip towards college. Additionally the school is highly focused on college readiness with mandatory AP or IB classes that challenge you. Some cons however are the terrible sports, stingy administration, and terrible, unsafe location. Overall, however, this school has helped me become an excellent student highly potentiated for competitive college life.... Read 854 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,420

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.41 out of 5  199 reviews

Junior: Being a student in such a small school has this huge advantage: Each student has a plethora of opportunities to meet with teachers and ask for some extra help! In the beginning, it seemed like such a unbearable challenge with the rigorous course loads and the many morning quizzes, but later in the year, that sense of preparedness and accomplishment made it all worthwhile. I was too busy focusing on the sheer amount of work to notice that I was improving and gaining confidence in my academic abilities at such a fast pace! I am forever grateful of my choice to become a White Tiger!... Read 199 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 123

• Student-teacher ratio 41:1

• Palm Beach County School District, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  722 reviews

Alum: During my high school journey, I had the privilege of experiencing a truly remarkable academic environment that enriched my knowledge through a multitude of programs and rigorous classes. The sense of wonder and excitement pervaded every aspect of my high school experience, making it truly unforgettable. Engaging with a diverse and passionate community of teachers and peers , I was constantly inspired to push my intellectual boundaries. The rigorous curriculum provided a solid foundation across various subjects, while also encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Whether it was analyzing literature from George Orwell or unraveling complex mathematical equations, each class challenged me to think deeply, fostering a love for learning that has stayed with me. I was surrounded by teachers and staff that genuinely cared about my safety and education while being supported by driven, like-minded individuals.... Read 722 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,589

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Broward County Public Schools, FL•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  973 reviews

Senior: Going to the College Academy at Broward College was the best decision I could have made. The faculty and staff genuinely care about your academic development. There are SAT study sessions and office hours to hone in on academics. The students are extremely friendly and welcoming, it is not very cliquey. Principal Haygood is committed to every student's academic success and college application process. Dr. Weinstein provides insightful information to keep everyone up to date with college applications. Mr. Olliviere creates outstanding emails with fly-in and scholarship opportunities. I made my best friends in CA; I got closer to people on the path to success. I even started my own Broward College club: BC Fit. All the resources you could ask for are at your fingertips at College Academy. I am now deciding between various full-ride scholarship offers, and none of it would have been possible without College Academy!... Read 973 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 466

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Pinellas County Schools, FL•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  329 reviews

Alum: St. Petersburg Collegiate High School allowed me levels of freedom that would have never been possible at a typical public high school. The ability to formulate my own college schedule made room for me to have a job and focus on my interests. The staff were extremely helpful and always responded in a timely manner, so I felt strongly supported. Also, the benefit of getting a head start on college is undeniable. I graduated with my AA degree with all of my general education classes done, many of which pertain to my intended degree. All of this, I believe, led to my ultimate scholarly and personal success as well as my acceptance into my first choice college.... Read 329 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 240

• Student-teacher ratio 48:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  224 reviews

Alum: My experience was mostly good. I got the great opportunity of being able to go to college at the same time as I was finishing up high school, which helped a lot in terms of money since the college classes were paid for by the school. The teachers were mostly helpful, the classes were good. It was just a lot of brain usage as you have multiple high school AP classes as well as various college classes in between. Now that I am done I do feel accomplished but I can definitely say that it was hard to balance everything out, especially with a slight language barrier, I felt that I had to work harder.... Read 224 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 119

• Student-teacher ratio 40:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  291 reviews

Junior: As a student at School for Advanced Studies, the #1 school in Florida and #4 in the nation, my experience has been incredibly rewarding. The emphasis on independence and self-directed learning has been a standout aspect of the school. The teachers here truly understand the value of empowering students to take ownership of their education, providing us with ample opportunities to explore our interests and pursue academic challenges beyond the standard curriculum. One of the best parts of my experience at School for Advanced Studies is the diverse and talented student body. Interacting with peers who share a similar drive for knowledge and academic success is truly motivating. Collaboration is encouraged, allowing for meaningful discussions, group projects, and a supportive community where ideas are shared and celebrated. The collective intelligence and different perspectives that students bring to the table create a dynamic and engaging learning environment.... Read 291 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 266

• Student-teacher ratio 44:1

• Brevard Public Schools, FL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  293 reviews

Senior: West Shore has been a six year long experience because it integrates middle and high school. Being integrated has the benefit of being able to take more advanced classes, seniority guidance, and a comfortable transition each grade! However, it also means younger grades are underrepresented and makes it feel more prioritized to older grades, and is very awkward to be the younger students as there is a big age gap between students. Overall, the school is very academically driven, so this means the school has a lot more homework. The school also restricts duel enrollment which is disappointing, but has a hard focus on AP classes. Teachers have been mostly top tier giving me a great education. On another hand, all sports, except soccer, are underfunded and often require student efforts for them to work out! Then, continuing on student activities the school is very strict about what students can do often resulting in less freedom because of fear of getting kicked out.... Read 293 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 946

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Broward County Public Schools, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  1,765 reviews

Junior: Though some might disagree, I love this school. Not only is CB a top school in the COUNTRY, but the almost 5,000 students create so many opportunities via classes and clubs for every interest imaginable. The big campus gives you lots of freedom to explore, and navigation gets easy within a week. Most teachers are really nice and genuinely care, especially when taking a higher-level class offered at the school. Some teachers have really left a mark as awesome people and educators, including Ms. Slutsky (AP CSA, AP CSP, etc.), Ms. Barrera (Spanish classes), Mr. Berna (AP Lang, etc.), and Mr. Boswell (Bio, AP Bio, AP Environmental, etc.). The varieties in schedules, lunches, buildings, and activities guarantee you'll see new faces every year or even every day—I've made new friends consistently every single year here. There's almost always action, events, trips, and interesting things going on, and for these reasons and more, I reccommend this school very highly!... Read 1,765 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 4,838

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  119 reviews

Alum: Overall, I would rate iprep a 10/10. It’s a great school with the best teachers. One thing I like the most about this school is that it’s a small school so it greatly helps with connections with the students and teachers. Because of this, teachers will help every single one of you and guide you to success. I can guarantee that every student will be accepted to college.... Read 119 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 873

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Tallahassee, FL•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  820 reviews

Freshman: I love Flordia State University because it offers me so many opportunities socially, academically, and creatively. For the sake of this response, I will focus on the latter. In my hometown, I was not provided with many creative outlets. I felt alone in my creative interests, such as photography, film/cinematography, creative writing, etc. I thought that these interests would never help me in my career. However, after coming to FSU, I have seen so many opportunities that involve creativity! I have joined the screenwriting club, have had peers model for my photography, have had professors edit my poetry, and have talked with professors about psychology within literature. Many advisors, professors, mentors, and peers have helped guide me down the best path for me, utilizing my creativity so that I may prosper in life. I no longer feel alone in my creative pursuits.... Read 820 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,825

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  1,595 reviews

Alum: After graduating from this school, I could say I had the best four years in this school even thought 2 of them were cut short from Covid-19. I loved the active school spirit involvement which included seasonal pep rallies and cultural activities such as the Black History Month Drama Show and having themed dress-up weeks. Almost all teachers and staff care and challenge students to prepare you for college. One thing that could be changed though is the cleanliness of the bathrooms. The mirrors are so dirty you can barely look through them and the walls are always filled with writing. Overall, Coral Reef is an amazing school and very great academically!... Read 1,595 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,310

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  99 reviews

Freshman: I have only been here for a few weeks to be honest so I will talk from what I have experienced so far. However, this school is very clean, everyone seems very friendly, and the views from the windows are breathtaking. The Duel Enrollment system in this school is great, since you can literally go to the college next door for your class. Education here is a bit struggling sometimes, as if you don't keep up the minimum 3.5 GPA you get kicked out. However, most teachers seem understanding. Also, the school only has 6 periods and as a freshman, I didn't get to choose my specials which was quite upsetting. Now, I just take it in a positive note since those classes I received aren't that bad. Everything is very expensive and the dress code is quite strict. Not your normal high school experience, however it teaches you life is unfair. Last but not least, this school is very safe, because of strict security guards to make sure IDs are worn by students and if any intruders are in the building.... Read 99 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 454

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Orange County Public Schools, FL•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  188 reviews

Senior: After switching from my old elementary school to this school, I found it to be a drastic change. There are different buildings for each category of students (elementary, middle, high) and they're not all that big, however, the intelligence and diversity of this school make up for it! I've made friends of many different cultures and I've never met so many people who are of the same culture as me. I take college classes in addition to my high school classes, and I'm even graduating a year early to get a headstart on college. This school is primarily A student, and 90% of the teachers actually care about their students and prioritize their education. I love my teachers, I could never ask for better ones. Overall, this school is very hard-working, diverse, and the extracurriculars focus on STEM-related activities, but they have cultural and even athletic clubs, too!... Read 188 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,269

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  817 reviews

Senior: Terra Environmental Research Institute focuses on a variety of skills that are taught. From academics to activities, Terra successfully molds young adults for the future. Terra is home to many inspiring and robust individuals ready to change the world. Over the past 4 years at this school, I have learned life skills that I have begun to use daily. This high school is flowing with new possibilities and opportunities. I would recommend all students apply to Terra hence the efforts they put into every single wolf!... Read 817 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,668

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Brevard Public Schools, FL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  343 reviews

Alum: I am so grateful for the teachers and staff at Edgewood. They truly care about their students, and each other, and give the school a family environment. My freshman year is when we got shut down by the pandemic, and although my sophomore year was a little rocky, I was blessed to have fantastic junior and senior years. The teachers really made a difference in my school experiences. I feel that if the administration continues to keep that family environment that supports and uplifts, it'll continue to be a great experience for those who attend Edgewood. Keep the right people and keep a good thing going!... Read 343 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 922

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  134 reviews

Parent: My son had been a trouble student when he entered 9th grade. A program which let seniors talk and help individual 9th student has been a great touch to my son. Also with teachers ‘ help and encouragement, he made great progress in his studies and was admitted to top college. Thanks to all the work and efforts from Archimedean. As a parent, I highly appreciate it!... Read 134 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 320

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Broward County Public Schools, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  672 reviews

Senior: Pompano Beach high school is an amazing. It offers so many different programs and we have Fridays off! My favorite thing about my school is our international program, very other year we host an international summit. We invite schools all over the globe to our school for a week. We earn how students in different countries learn and live their lives. Thanks to the international summit I can say I have friends in Ireland, Nepal, Switzerland, Germany and so many other countries.... Read 672 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,219

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Broward County Public Schools, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  454 reviews

Senior: McFatter was a wonderful school that I'm proud to say I attended. Teachers and Staff were willing to help you out if you ever asked and there were plenty of tutoring opportunities. Although we may not have a sports team or a proper band, we make up for it with plentiful clubs. The P.E. course was also very fun. They offer many AP courses that will all help complete your GEP requirements for college, as well as offer Dula Enrollment. The technical programs really are the star of the show. I'm coming out of high school already as a nurse! How cool is that? Anyone can go in and come out with many different certifications that can help you immediately find a better-paying job. Despite also being a college campus, the school takes extra precautions to keep the high school students and the college students separated and have plenty of officers on site if anything were to happen. And lastly, our fires and patty melts are to die for!... Read 454 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 596

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1