2017 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania

694 results

Conestoga Senior High School
Tredyffrin-Easttown School District, PA
9-12
264
1 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Freshman: Conestoga High is a great school with outstanding education, arts, sports, music and tech. Academic atmosphere is competitive and engages students in multi-disciplinary view of education. Students have variety of options to choose classes ranging in different levels of difficulty. Students feel motivated to work hard and find their field of interest and independence in this high school. The sports and music departments are exceptional, passionate and talented. While the cafeteria offers the best food. Fine Arts classes provide fun atmosphere to work on projects, and create masterpieces. Students tend to become better students after studying there, because the atmosphere molds them into good students. Think it's helpful to have a team to help students with mental pressure or illnesses. Otherwise, it's a bright school with many opportunities for students to delve into any career choice they want to go into. Great place to prepare students for college and future endeavors.
Read 264 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
2,051 Students
16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Radnor Senior High School
Radnor Township School District, PA
9-12
94
2 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: A wonderful learning environment with so much to do! Everyone is extremely active and participates in things like sports, clubs, or band.
Read 94 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,172 Students
13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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North Allegheny High School
North Allegheny School District, PA
9-12
651
3 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
High School Senior: North Allegheny is a great school for anybody. I love how they have so many different clubs to join, for example, they have frisbee club, model club..etc. There is so much stuff to choose from! Also, at North Allegheny, sports and athletic, are really big here. Our football team has 2 state champions, since I have been here. My cousins go to North Hills (our enemies school) and they are always so jealous because we always beat them in football. Overall, North Allegheny is a great place to attend, we are dominate in all areas from academic, clubs to sports. LET'S GO TIGERS!
Read 651 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
2,721 Students
15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Harriton Senior High School
Lower Merion School District, PA
9-12
145
4 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: Harriton High School has overall been an amazing experience. The teachers are what make it what it is though. the staff is so welcoming and amazing and just simply brilliant in every way. The food sucks, but that isn't a surprise. Because the district is wealthy, we have cutting edge equipment which helps facilitate more activities and makes the learning great. There isn't the best sense of school spirit since our sport teams suck, however our academic teams are the best in the nation. I am involved with a few of the extracurricular, like theater for example, and the administration try their hardest to help the goals of each club or activity. Overall it has been wonderful and I feel very prepared for college
Read 145 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,154 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Lower Merion High School
Lower Merion School District, PA
9-12
202
5 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: Lower Merion is a great school with plenty of academic and extra curricular opportunities available for students. There are hundreds of clubs, sports, and unique opportunities you can't find at many other schools. You can choose to take advantage of these or not, and there is something for everyone.

In terms of academics, there are lots of challenging courses to choose from as well as lower-level courses. Many teachers are great and passionate about their subject, but not all teachers are like this. It can be hard to get good grades at LM but it's also difficult to fail- most teachers will do everything they can to keep you from failing.

One downside of LM is the competitive culture- there is a big emphasis on getting into college and doing things/taking courses for the sake of college transcripts rather than interest or learning.

Overall, LM is what you make of it- you can learn a lot if you come in with the right attitude.
Read 202 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,350 Students
11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Fox Chapel Area High School
Fox Chapel Area School District, PA
9-12
269
6 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
High School Sophomore: I love going to Fox Chapel. I'm given so many opportunities and chances to become whatever I chose to be. There are so many classes offered, extracurricular activities, etc. One of my favorite experiences at Fox Chapel would be the annual charity telethon. Each year we host a week of fun activities and events that benefit a new charity each year. some of the activities include pictures with Santa, a fashion show, a teacher vs. student basketball game, a live animal show, and a beautiful showing of our schools busking club which is full of talented singers and musicians. This year we raised over $68,000! It shows how much good a group of people can do when they come together and support a great cause.
Read 269 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,413 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Julia R. Masterman Secondary School
Philadelphia City School District, PA
5-12
173
7 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Junior: Masterman is ranked as one of the top schools in the state. It is a really great school! Everyone is really close to each other, so you feel really comfortable. The teachers are also really great. It is easy to go up to them when you have any problems with anything. There are many things wrong with the actual school building itself, but Masterman is one of the best experiences you can get.
Read 173 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,180 Students
21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Unionville High School
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, PA
9-12
170
8 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: Excellent learning environment with supportive teachers. Lots of opportunities for involvement. Students are friendly for the most part and supportive of each other.
Read 170 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,320 Students
14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Mt. Lebanon Senior High School
Mt. Lebanon School District, PA
9-12
289
9 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
High School Senior: I would definitely choose this school over others because of the great education, teachers, and student life. One of my favorite events that my school puts on twice a year is our spirit assembly! All the students sit with the kids from their elementary school and each school puts up students to compete in different, fun events! The school who does the best in the events wins! That is just one of the many amazing experiences that I have had during my time at Mt. Lebanon High School.
Read 289 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,693 Students
14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Central High School
Philadelphia City School District, PA
9-12
1,038
10 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
High School Junior: I do like Central high, but at he same time, the size of each class is extreme! You have to truly stand out or else you are one of the unknown face walking through the halls. I am not someone who stands out, especially with my teachers. I try, but I tend to all my fears to overtake my body and mind. I tend to feel intimidated by the other intelligent students around me. Something I do admire about the school is their variety in cultures and clubs. There's always something that happens in Central, whether it's international day or spots events, school days are always active.
Read 1,038 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
2,227 Students
23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Quaker Valley High School
Quaker Valley School District, PA
9-12
192
11 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Sophomore: All of the teachers or staff that I have encountered are really quite amazing. They do their best to make sure that students understand the material and they will answer any questions that you have. They also tend to cooperate well with students, which is a valuable skill nowadays.
The content itself is very useful and in-depth, providing thorough information that is relevant to not only the topic, but today.
The atmosphere is incredibly positive and welcoming. Everyone there is also incredibly acceptive. After being there, you seem to gravitate towards where you fit in.
The classes that they offer are interesting and unique to other schools.
Overall, it's one of the best schools I've ever gone to.
Read 192 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
616 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Wissahickon Senior High School
Wissahickon School District, PA
9-12
208
12 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: Honestly, Wissahickon is a pretty solid high school. We are among the best public high schools in Pennsylvania. Academics are stressed at Wiss and most of the teachers are willing to go the extra mile for their students. Our facilities and school culture have definitely been lacking the most over the past few years. We do not have the best community spirit that we could have.
Read 208 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,386 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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North Penn Senior High School
North Penn School District, PA
10-12
523
13 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
High School Senior: I am very happy at my school! Even though my school is extremely large, we have a great reputation and there are many opportunities to be involved. North Penn has taught me to co-exist, communicate and thrive in a large community of students and also to adapt to the challenges and limitations that a school with 3000 students can bring. Cooperation, patience and teamwork are skills that are honed in this environment. My favorite part of high school has been my involvement in marching band and indoor percussion. I am a proud member of the drum line in the North Penn Marching Knights & NP Winter Percussion! We are a hard working, award winning groups that are like family and these experiences have taught me life lessons like discipline, perseverance, sportsmanship, that will make me a well rounded person. I will truly miss and cherish these years in my life!
Read 523 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
3,082 Students
15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Central Bucks High School - South
Central Bucks School District, PA
10-12
305
14 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
High School Senior: Central Bucks High School South is an amazing school to attend! All of the teachers are very friendly and caring about the students, and many of them go above and beyond their duties as teachers. The librarian at CB South can always be found socializing with students in the library, talking about college and financial planning. There are various clubs to get involved in that create a positive environment in the school that helps students feel great about waking up and coming to school in the morning! LINK, an exceptional club, aims at promoting positive behavior while having fun! As a council member, I know how important it is for students to get involved at South and appreciate their education, so this club is very meaningful to me. We plan fun reunion meetings and team-building activities with students as well as weekend retreats. We are currently in the process of planning our annual Overnight Retreat, which is a weekend where CB South students are welcome to camp out and enjoy the company of others while participating in group activities aimed at strengthening the relationship between the students. Last year, we had a bonfire and all members present were invited to throw a small stick into the fire after sharing why LINK is important to them. I was so proud of everyone's responses as it showed how we are all one big family at South. Without going into the specifics of what the students shared, as many of them were quite personal, it really opened my eyes to the fact that not everyone has a great high school experience. LINK was the club that made high school worth it for some of those students. Overall, CB South is a very warm, tight-knit community of inspiring and active leaders. I've really enjoyed my high school experience, and I am very sad that this is going to be my last year there!
Read 305 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,855 Students
18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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New Hope-Solebury High School
New Hope-Solebury School District, PA
9-12
97
15 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 97 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
525 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Council Rock High School - North
Council Rock School District, PA
9-12
219
16 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Niche User: Overall, the teachers here are amazing (thus, the high rating). They are extremely knowledgable and genuinely enjoying teaching. The curriculum is alright, there is a set path, but the path definitely prepared me for college. The scheduling process is a nightmare, but it seems to always work out in the end. (However, as a senior, because the counselors messed up scheduling, I had to take creative writing) The workload is intense, but bearable. The most popular classes are definitely the history courses.
Read 219 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,767 Students
15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Upper St. Clair High School
Upper St. Clair School District, PA
9-12
225
17 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Niche User: I'm really happy I attended USC. I had strong relationships with my teachers and I think because the district really stressed the importance of keeping its impressive academic reputation, it made the students want to work harder and do better than their best. I felt really prepared leaving the school district and going into college. They set us up for success.
Read 225 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,360 Students
15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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State College Area High School
State College Area School District, PA
8-12
440
18 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Niche User: State High as a wide variety of courses offered. Sometimes it can be hard to fit all of the ones you want into your schedule, that would be my only complaint. However, they offer everything from Auto-shop, to pottery, to band, to early childhood education, to Calculus AB!

Most of the teachers are wonderful, and are there because they really care about the students.
Read 440 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
2,301 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Great Valley High School
Great Valley School District, PA
9-12
102
19 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: Great Valley is a close knit and welcoming school environment. Never once have I experienced bullying or any kind of discrimination for that matter. Everybody motivates each other through all their academic endeavors and genuinely wants to see their peers succeed. Athletics are awesome, as are the arts. I would say the arts department NEEDS more funding, though. It's a worthwhile investment.
Read 102 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,220 Students
13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Spring-Ford Senior High School
Spring-Ford Area School District, PA
9-12
441
20 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: Spring-Ford High School overall has been a great experience. They offer a lot of very diverse classes that suit a variety of interests and have teachers that are generally very passionate about what they do. The student body is very enthusiastic and involved when it comes to sports and school events and the administration does a good job of balancing fun with the not as entertaining school work and future planning. Most events usually don't get out of hand and strengthen the school's sense of community. While students may still complain about the average school experience, Spring-Ford is a school I feel lucky to attend.
Read 441 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
2,373 Students
14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Strath Haven High School
Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, PA
9-12
210
21 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: A unique aspect about Strath Haven is its block scheduling. Students can pick certain classes, and everyone has only four classes a semester. This fostered a closer relationship among students and teachers because more time and focus was spent with each class. With the freedom of picking certain classes, I was able to have my classes adjusted to my interests, and this was helpful in preparing for my future because I gained more experiences in subjects that I would actually use in the long run.
What are more important are social experiences I have been able to encounter throughout high school. The fact that underclassmen in my organizations listened and respected my opinions, made me become more confident in my own abilities. The majority of the school is open to uniqueness, and we take pride in our overall culture.
Read 210 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,175 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Marple Newtown Senior High School
Marple Newtown School District, PA
9-12
164
22 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Parent: This is my daughter's first year at the high school but she has been in the MN district since Kindergarten and I have been so pleased with the education she has received. The teachers at the high school are top notch. They care about the students and encourage them to be the best they can be. There are different levels of coursework (Honors, AP) that the kids can and do take advantage of, and most of the kids try to do their best, and are supported in all ways by the teachers, the staff and the coaches. I am very impressed with this district, and feel like my daughter is getting the best education she can. The parents in Marple and Newtown townships are very involved in the community and exceptionally good at keeping our schools great. Keep up the great work Marple Newtown!
Read 164 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,160 Students
13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Plymouth-Whitemarsh Senior High School
Colonial School District, PA
9-12
282
23 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Sophomore: PWHS is a school with many opportunities, both for varied subjects and difficulty levels in class selection and for activities inside and outside school hours, from competing in competitions to raising money for charity. Raising money for club activities and charities is fully supported by PWHS. In addition, PWHS's five block schedule allows for a "bonus block" break in the middle of the day for in-school activities and gives students flexible class scheduling. Even though the school is undergoing renovations, every completed project has vastly improved the school (for example, the new cafeteria, which was finished in March of 2016, has plenty of variety in seating and cuisine). PWHS is a school that is very well-rounded in all aspects.
Read 282 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,475 Students
14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Garnet Valley High School
Garnet Valley School District, PA
9-12
256
24 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
High School Senior: I would 10/10 chose Garnet Valley again if I had the choice; i would want my kids to have an experience very similar to mine as well. The school spirit at Garnet Valley is one of the things that makes me love it the most. Homecoming week is my favorite week of the year and I have made memories I will never forget; the inter-grade competition is one of the most exciting and hilarious experiences. Additionally, the pride in Jag Nation is incredible whether it be for football or band. The upper level classes are very competitive and there are high expectations, but the student community in those classes are very supportive of helping one another through the rough patches. There are groups of "stuck up" students, and certainly parents, but they are somewhat easy to avoid. The School Board is not great and has caused a decent amount of drama in the school community the past few years which is probably the major drawback; hopefully newly elected people will change that. Overall, Garnet Valley is an amazing community and I feel blessed to have been able to go there.
Read 256 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,567 Students
14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Central Bucks High School - West
Central Bucks School District, PA
10-12
289
25 Best Public High Schools in Pennsylvania
Senior: Central Bucks High school has definitley changed me to the woman i am. The constant kindness spread throughout every human being is motivating. The Life skills program specifically, has allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of love, gratitude , and thanks. Everyday I work down in the Life skills room assisting special needs kids with their daily activities, and engage in conversation, about love; life; even cb west. When we tell some of the kids to pack up at the end of the day, some say 'no!!' and that truly resonates with me how much they love our school. Go bucks!
Read 289 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,466 Students
16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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1 of 28

Conestoga Senior High School

Radnor Senior High School

North Allegheny High School

Harriton Senior High School

Lower Merion High School

Fox Chapel Area High School

Julia R. Masterman Secondary School

Unionville High School

Mt. Lebanon Senior High School

Central High School

Quaker Valley High School

Wissahickon Senior High School

North Penn Senior High School

Central Bucks High School - South

New Hope-Solebury High School

Council Rock High School - North

Upper St. Clair High School

State College Area High School

Great Valley High School

Spring-Ford Senior High School

Strath Haven High School

Marple Newtown Senior High School

Plymouth-Whitemarsh Senior High School

Garnet Valley High School

Central Bucks High School - West