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2019 Best Public High Schools in PennsylvaniaAbout this List

The 2019 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.

1 – 25 of 699
Best Schools
699 results

  1. Conestoga Senior High School

    • Tredyffrin-Easttown School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 297
    1 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Parent: Conestoga is supportive, inclusive and adaptable to the various levels of their students' needs. Students are offered different levels of courses and can choose the level that best supports their strengths and (weaknesses) courses that they may find more challenging. The counseling and teaching staff are supportive, encouraging and the school has a great infrastructure and resources for students to use for areas of support. They have programs in place that can both challenge students and offer additional support when needed. The school communicates with parents often and teachers and counselors are easily accessible to students when needed. Conestoga also does a great job preparing them for college. They offer AP classes if students want the option. The even offer an SAT prep class as an elective. The course selection and electives are very impressive.
    Read 297 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,062 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  2. Julia R. Masterman Secondary School

    • Philadelphia City School District, PA
    • 5-12
    • 193
    2 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Masterman has many strong qualities, especially college readiness. Not only is it very common to develop awesome relationships with teachers, but these relationships help to define your college application process. Teachers are very supportive in offering advice, recommendation letters, guidance or even just being an ear to listen to you vent. A lot of our classes are challenging but we have amazing teachers that always make time for fun. Masterman is a place for those who like to work hard and play hard! Also, our small student body makes it so that everyone is connected and it feels like one big family (through the good, the bad and the ugly of course).
    Read 193 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,184 Students
    • 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Radnor Senior High School

    • Radnor Township School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 102
    3 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Alum: Throughout my time at Radnor High School, I really enjoyed learning with a great community. My classes were taught with teachers who have great enthusiasm and much caring towards their students’ wellbeings. The counselors do a great job guiding students and making sure they are on track with what the future lies ahead of them. The music and arts programs are very strong as well as the sports program. Something that I would like to see change perhaps is the increase in all sorts of awareness programs or assemblies. While it’s hard to schedule these types of things into a school schedule, it may be beneficial to the students if these awareness programs occurred more often than they do now.
    Read 102 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,177 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  4. Sponsored

    Linden Hall

    • Private School
    • Lititz, PA
    • 6-12
    • 29

    Works Here: Linden Hall distinguishes itself from nearly every other college preparatory school of the same academic caliber in one significant way, that must be seen and felt to truly understand it: community. The genuine warmth, sincere friendliness, and the true sisterhood shared by the students at Linden Hall is simply unbeatable. I think Linden Hall is able to accomplish this through their small size, their highly diverse, global community, and their commitment to service and character building. Nearly every student that chooses Linden Hall over another equally competitive academic school, states that the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the campus combined with the friendliness of the students and faculty, were the ultimate reasons that Linden Hall stood above the rest of the competition. This trait must be seen and felt to truly understand it, so don't wait: schedule your visit to Linden Hall now!
    Read 29 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 212 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. Harriton Senior High School

    • Lower Merion School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 158
    4 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Alum: Harriton was an incredibly academically competitive school with a beautiful campus and amazing teachers and resources! The competitiveness is just because everyone expects the best from you and wants you to excel to the best of your abilities. There are a million clubs, sports, and activities to join into as well. The people are always willing to help and the teachers are genuinely some of the best I have ever had in my life. They are willing to help you out academically, socially, and mentally and emotionally.
    Read 158 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,222 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  6. Strath Haven High School

    • Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 230
    5 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Strath Haven has something to offer all students. Overall, the teachers are very good and are interested in what the students are involved in outside of their classroom. The band, sports teams, theater programs and the general arts programs are very strong. When I talked to friends who are in college, they say that Strath Haven prepared them well for college!
    Read 230 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,149 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  7. Downingtown STEM Academy

    • Downingtown Area School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 59
    6 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Overall, I have had an incredibly positive experience at the Downingtown STEM Academy! I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend this high school, as the opportunities it has opened up for me over the past four years are absolutely unmatched. It's one of the top public high schools in PA for a reason! The academics are rigorous, yet the teachers are incredibly supportive and will go the extra mile to ensure students are successful. I feel very well prepared for college after my experiences in the IB programme! If there is anything truly negative to say about the school, there is a very observable stress culture that lingers throughout the student body. The workload is already intense and many students face considerable academic pressures (internally and externally instigated). Fortunately, however, teachers and admin are actively working on sustaining a more positive school culture.
    Read 59 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 789 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  10. North Allegheny High School

    • North Allegheny School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 671
    7 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Alum: I enjoyed my high school experience for sure, I though NA did a great job with providing opportunities for all of its students. I was involved in numerous extracurricular activities while also able to excel in my honors and AP classes. I think you can definitely find something to do that you like whether it's sports, academics, music, clubs because the school is so large. I personally feel that as long as one makes an effort to be involved in some sort of activity, they will have a fulfilling high school experience.
    Read 671 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,693 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  11. Lower Merion High School

    • Lower Merion School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 216
    8 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Lower Merion High School is truly an incredible school. The school offers state of the art facilities along with world class teachers, athletics, and cultural opportunities. Whether someone is athletic, musical, or tech oriented, this school offers a club or class for any type of student. This competitive school prepares every student for a higher educational institution and provides them with an incredible education unmatched by any other school in the state.
    Read 216 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,440 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  12. Fox Chapel Area High School

    • Fox Chapel Area School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 277
    9 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Alum: I consider myself very lucky to have been able to not only go to Fox Chapel's high school but also elementary and middle schools. Fox Chapel has great opportunities for all different kinds of students. Incredible art classes, business classes, and other areas that are helpful to future college students. Being that I am now going to be a sophomore in college, I credit a lot of my picking schools and my major to the classes, teachers, and experiences I had at FC!
    Read 277 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,404 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  14. Unionville High School

    • Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 177
    10 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Junior: Unionville needs more student spirit. They force the students into activities such as the lip dub and additional spirit rallies, but they lower our excitement. Also, there is poor diversity and food. All the food is overpriced. But, the academics at Unionville are unrivaled, and there is a variety of Honors and AP classes to take. The library/librarians are also very helpful and full of resources. However, there is a lack of funding towards music/theater/musical, partially because of the emphasis on sports at Unionville. Administration is okay, as there are some that are good, and some that are bad. The teachers at Unionville overall are great, especially the science teachers. Unionville is unparalleled in academics, but needs more diversity and culture.
    Read 177 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,314 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Mt. Lebanon Senior High School

    • Mt. Lebanon School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 307
    11 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Parent: Mt. Lebanon Sr. High School offers excellent academic challenges and incredible support of the arts. The majority of teachers are invested in their students' achievements, beyond the emphasis on test scores. I have no doubt that my kids will be ready for college! The lack of diversity in the student body, staff and administration is troubling.
    Read 307 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,735 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Wissahickon Senior High School

    • Wissahickon School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 225
    12 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Wissahickon High School is an all-around excellent high school in terms of academics. The teachers, classes, curriculum, etc. are all top-notch and have been known statewide, and even nationwide, for efficiently preparing their students for college. However, the school does have some downsides. For one, despite adding a brand new pool, some parts of the school are in bad physical shape. Wissahickon often has problems with poorly-kept bathrooms, cockroaches, and even sometimes rats in the hallways. On top of that, the overall school spirit of Wissahickon is often seen as poor as well. Those two aspects notwithstanding, though, Wissahickon is a good-quality institution.
    Read 225 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,345 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  19. Central High School

    • Philadelphia City School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 1,132
    13 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Central is a melting pot for so many different cultures, ideas, and people! We are the best because we are not only academically driven students, but we have the MOST school spirit of any public high school in Pennsylvania. The faculty and staff is great, the teachers give every ounce of information to the students, and the students are prepared ACADEMICALLY and SOCIALLY for their next level of education. If you are thinking about coming to Central, come for a shadow day. I promise that after one day, you’ll understand what it means to be a lancer.
    Read 1,132 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,241 Students
    • 40:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  20. Hershey High School

    • Derry Township School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 205
    14 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Sophomore: Hershey is an amazing school. The teachers are always willing to help students learn and go out of their way to make them understand. Also, quite a few of the teachers are quite amusing. They make class fun and stress-free! Of course, there are the few teachers who do not seem like they have any interest in teaching, but students usually end up okay because of the multiple study materials available. Hershey is definetely a place to go for good education and a memorable high school career.
    Read 205 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,126 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Great Valley High School

    • Great Valley School District, PA
    • 7-12
    • 113
    15 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Alum: GV is a great high school. I had an excellent four years here, despite the massive amount of homework teachers gave. This school is the perfect mix between being competitive and being relaxed - it just depends on the type of student you are or want to be. Sports are a big priority while sometimes activities like those in the music dept come second. Relatively diverse for the Main Line area, which is cool. Overall, pretty cool teachers, lots of clubs and activities, and nice students. Prepares students well for college if they take a lot of
    Honors and AP classes.
    Read 113 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,239 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  22. Upper St. Clair High School

    • Upper St. Clair School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 227
    16 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Alum: I enjoyed going to school at Upper St. Clair High School. The teachers cared about your grades and your direction when you graduate. The school is very safe and food in the cafe was excellent with a lot of choices for lunch. Colleges seem to take notice when they hear you're from Upper St. Clair High School and they really want you to attend their colleges/universities. Excellent college readiness.
    Read 227 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,376 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Council Rock High School - North

    • Council Rock School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 238
    17 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Council Rock School North is phenomenal high school. The curriculum offers tons of AP and honors courses as well as accelerated and academic courses. Enough variety to challenge most students. The teachers are knowledgable, dedicated and available. We have incredible sports teams and clubs and a great sense of school spirit. The high school is located in a charming historic town within walking distance to everything. I feel luck to live in a community where the public is so highly regarded!
    Read 238 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,724 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Central Bucks High School - South

    • Central Bucks School District, PA
    • 10-12
    • 327
    18 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Central Bucks High School South has so many classes to offer that are directed towards specific fields, like anatomy, forensics, business classes, computer classes, and many more! This school prepares you for college by making the students strive for success and the want to learn.
    Read 327 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,798 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  27. State College Area High School

    • State College Area School District, PA
    • 8-12
    • 460
    19 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: State High is a wonderful school academically; there is something for everyone to enjoy. They have an extensive Career and Technical Center, more class offerings than some colleges, and a beautiful new building. The teachers work well with students and are (for the most part!) easy to get along with. An awesome place to learn!
    Read 460 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,288 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy

    • Erie City School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 319
    20 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Becoming a student at Collegiate Academy has been one of the most significant events of my life. Coming from an elementary school ranked lowest in the district to the fourth best high school in the state, my educational journey took a sharp turn for the better. Here, I have been able to be taught by incredible teachers and become immersed in an academically competitive yet supportive environment. There are countless opportunities to get involved and determine your own interests. That being said, a student should be willing to tackle the rigorous course load. Advanced Placement classes are not easy, and they are not supposed to be. Collegiate Academy upholds its reputation of a highly ranked high school by supporting a academically challenging course load, so students should be aware of the school's expectations.
    Read 319 Reviews

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

  29. Central Bucks High School - East

    • Central Bucks School District, PA
    • 10-12
    • 327
    21 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: C B East is a very academically competitive school. For the most part, everyone is committed to their schoolwork and tries their best to succeed in class. This competitiveness is not necessarily cut-throat, but in some instances it can be. The teachers are phenomenal. They take pride in the success of their students, and most enjoy getting to know students personally. Kids can be clique-y, but it's not hard to find your group. There are opportunities for many interests, and people usually find friend groups from within sports and clubs. Logistically, East is a nightmare. Only seniors can drive to school, and the parking lot has only one entrance and one exit, making the morning and afternoon drives an absolute mess. I live about 8 minutes away, and it takes me around 25 minutes to get to school when I drop off my sister down the road at Holicong.
    Read 327 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,644 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  30. North Penn Senior High School

    • North Penn School District, PA
    • 10-12
    • 550
    22 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: I loved the available academics, the teachers, the opportunities, and the culture! Sports are a big thing here, especially football. It was awesome being able to go with all of my classmates to watch the games! There are also many options for your school day, especially when you are a senior. You can take away lunches (with parent permission) so that you can squeeze in that one extra class you've been dying to take, or in your senior year you can opt to come in a period late, or leave a period early, to catch some extra sleep or to start working earlier in the day, earning some extra cash. The administration is always approachable and ready to help the students with course selection and college application processes, and the multitude of honors and AP level courses allows students to perform at their full academic extent. There are also so many clubs and extracurricular activities that anyone can find something to be active in.
    Read 550 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,985 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  31. Review Your School

  32. Haverford Senior High School

    • School District of Haverford Township, PA
    • 9-12
    • 251
    23 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Overall a pretty positive experience! No school will ever be perfect but I have definitely had more positive experiences rather than negative ones, and it really has made the person I am today. From the teachers I have grown close to, the friends I have made, the classes I have learned to love, the classes I have pushed through even though they may have been difficult or not interesting, and the abundant amount of activities I have gotten myself involved in, I have such great things to say about the school I am sad to be leaving in June. When things have been rough, all of the students work together to keep on making it a fantastic place and I would not have ever wished to go anywhere else for my 4 years of high school.
    Read 251 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,709 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Quaker Valley High School

    • Quaker Valley School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 198
    24 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: Quaker Valley is very special. It challenges every stereotype ever created by movies and pop culture. I have never had a teacher that wasn't dedicated to their students. The staff is so friendly and caring that they seem more like friends than authority figures - they don't lose any respect from students, though. The students are hard-working, busy, and dedicated to everything they do. Most students take high level honors and AP classes, participate in sports, arts, or other extracurricular activities, and are extremely social and friendly. Our music department is highly regarded and most students are involved in some way or another. Our athletic department is very successful, most teams making it to state playoffs, and competitive, but also inclusive. Our football team just won their first state championship after being predicted to not win one game this season! I am so lucky to be a Quaker.
    Read 198 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 633 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  34. New Hope-Solebury High School

    • New Hope-Solebury School District, PA
    • 9-12
    • 98
    25 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

    Senior: New Hope-Solebury is a great school equipped with caring teachers, involved faculty, and an abundance of supplies. I truly feel challenged and prepared to enter college.
    Read 98 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 532 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  35. Sponsored

    Roanoke Catholic School

    • Private School
    • Roanoke, VA
    • PK, K-12
    • 52

    Senior: Roanoke Catholic is a school that teaches students belong the classroom and prepares them for either college. In the past years, 100 percent of Catholic seniors have attended college and this year the seniors have received over 2.5 million in scholarships. I started Roanoke Catholic two years ago and it was a big change coming from public school. In public schools you could slide by without doing your homework, but at Roanoke Catholic all work is required and graded as a test grade. Roanoke Catholic does not let you fall through the cracks. I also must say the food is outstanding!!
    One thing I really did not like were the uniforms. In public school you basically wore what you want, but not in private school. My first year the gentlemen had to wear a shirt and tie during the winter and in the summer a polo shirt with the school’s logo and khaki pants or shorts. This year they changed the dress code to where gentlemen could wear the polo shirt and khaki pants all year around.
    Read 52 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 483 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  36. Sponsored

    The Haverford School

    • Private School
    • Haverford, PA
    • PK, K-12
    • 73

    Parent: Our son has been at The Haverford School for eleven years and is currently a sophomore in the upper school. Haverford has been a fantastic environment and investment. The faculty fully understand and embrace the nature of boys and learning and the educational experiences span the classrooms, sports fields, music hall and beyond. This past weekend our son had an off-site cross country meet and the turn out from the Haverford community included the Headmaster, teachers, parents and pets - a great, lasting community - Preparing Boys for Life!
    Read 73 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 973 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
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