2023 Best Public Schools in America

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  126 reviews

Senior: A great opportunity to learn and take classes not typically available in high school! Many of the classes count for college credit, and all classes are honors level or above. There is a great support system in place to make sure all students get what they need. Living in Durham is also a great experience and a lot of fun. The main adjustment for me was getting used to the food (which is free!), but it was doable.... Read 126 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 680

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  410 reviews

Senior: I've been here for all four years and I love this school! Truly, the best part of the school is the teachers. Of course, you'll have a few that aren't your favorite, but I've found teachers I really admire. They are here because they love to teach. The student body as a whole is also really great, at least for my years here. We went through a lot of administration struggles, but what pulled us together was our support for our teachers and the shared values that we have as students. The course load is challenging but manageable, but I also felt really well prepared from my elementary school. All that being said, Payton has many normal issues like any high school (some student drama, mediocre/bad food, people that you like and don't like, etc).... Read 410 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,191

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Reno, NV•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  72 reviews

Junior: Throughout my years as a student I have been to private, public, magnet, and online schools, but none of those experiences compare to the DA online campus. When I first joined Davidson I was worried. I had been to two other schools just the year before (one magnet and one public) and neither had worked. Not to mention my online school experience was very small as I had only taken a few asynchronous online classes before. But at Davidson, the live sessions were stimulating and engaging, the teachers were invested in my learning, the work was actually interesting, and my peers were amazing! I’ve made strong friendships and connections throughout my two years. Davidson has helped be become a successful student too. I’d always had trouble taking notes, planning, and studying but DAO has let me create my own strategies for each! The school is meant for gifted kids and it shows in everything they do. Thanks to Davidson I finally feel at home at school.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 165

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Worcester, MA•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.6 out of 5  72 reviews

Senior: Mass Academy is an amazing school! The collaborative environment and assignments that are geared toward challenge and real-world applications make being a student here an inspiring and enjoyable experience. The academics are top-notch and challenging, and everyone will help each other. With the small size of ~ 50 students per grade, you get to know each of the faculty members and your classmates personally. The faculty offer a lot of support with independent projects and the college application process. Senior year at WPI prepares you well for college. Although you are always busy as a junior, most of the projects are truly enjoyable because you get to work in a group, including when designing an app and assistive technology device. There are also great classes in the humanities and language, so students gain skills in math and science as well as writing, English, history, and Spanish/French. I would strongly consider applying here if you are interested in collaboration and challenge!... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 100

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  602 reviews

Senior: Northside is very inclusive and lively. Students are involved in all parts of the school such as the production of a musical, the display of sculptural work, and even the spread of awareness for minority groups. At Northside, the individual is strengthened in personal and academic identity. It’s rigorous tasks and unique class schedules prepare students for college academia. As a fellow Northsider, I can say that there was a difficult adjustment to Northside’s expectations, however, I have found an amazing and supportive community alongside it. If you are considering Northside, I hope you are warmed by it’s strengths in education and community!... Read 602 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,041

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Aurora, IL•

• Public School•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  353 reviews

Sophomore: I love the attention that all of the teachers I have met to this point have given to every student! They hold a lot of patience for questions and genuinely enjoy helping everyone learn, not just memorizing information. The food given out could be better, such as always having it warm and not cold sometimes. Overall, kind teachers and staff!... Read 353 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 629

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  564 reviews

Alum: TJHSST offers a unique high school experience. The academics are definitely much different and difficult from what I've experienced in middle school. However, the communities and relationships formed at the school are unmatched. TJ offers many unique opportunities that can't be found at traditional high schools. For example, I learned the Russian language for four years. I know Russian is not a course offered at many other high schools throughout the US. TJ also offers many clubs through 8th period. We are able to choose 4 different clubs per week allowing us to further explore both our academic and creative interests during school. TJ is the perfect place for students who want to challenge themselves and always aim to do better.... Read 564 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,809

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Richmond, VA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.41 out of 5  147 reviews

Junior: MLWGS is a wonderful place, and I could not have made a better decision than to come here. The teachers are so talented and engaging, and they make learning truly enjoyable. Contrary to popular belief, MLWGS isn't only good for its international studies or social studies classes—it has fantastic STEM and arts programs, as well, and the students have really diverse passions and strengths. What we DO have in common is that most of us are nerds... but our athletic programs are fantastic, and our football team is undefeated (lol)! If you're the type of student who likes challenging yourself with rigorous classes and expanding your worldview through exploring various extracurriculars (from Quiz Bowl to Bhangra), this is the school for you, and you will find students and faculty who share your interests and are willing to support you in all of your undertakings. And don't be scared off by rumors about the rigor—the workload is super manageable, and teachers are really understanding.... Read 147 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 746

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Monmouth County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  107 reviews

Senior: Choosing this high school was one of the best decisions of my life! From amazing teachers to peers that support and get along with each other, High Technology High School provided me with the best possible high school experience I could have asked for. The academics are rigorous but manageable, and the clubs provide great opportunities to meet and become friends with others who share your interests. The hour long lunch in the middle of every day is a perfect time to get some extra studying done as well as generally hanging out with friends. I have met so many great people by going to this school, and I believe that I changed for the better having gone here over my home high school. There are people from every walk of life and by going to this school I was able to learn so much, not just from academics but also from my fellow students.... Read 107 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 295

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  1,153 reviews

Sophomore: Whitney Young is a great school with great academics and athletics. There are hundreds of clubs to choose from. The school prepares kids for academic success and college readiness. The teachers are caring and the administration makes sure there are rules set in place to help everyone in the school feel at home. The teachers, except maybe 1 or 2, have been the best and are always open to listen to you. The athletic teams always win championships each year and they are supplied with lots of equipment and everything they need. There are many resources helping students in many different ways, like the counseling department and much more. The students all feel well connected to the staff and the weekly newsletter, "The Weekly" answers the concerns or questions that a student may bring up. The school is very diverse, and everyone feels included. There are many safety protocols that everyone must follow to help everyone feel safe. Overall, my time at Whitney Young has been great!... Read 1,153 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,121

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Morris County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  39 reviews

Alum: The best experience I could have possibly had in high school. Great teachers, resources, facilities, and most importantly, people. I met people here I'll never forget. At first, the schoolwork was difficult and I thought I might not be able to stay, but the community helped me get through it. I was able to thrive at AMSE thanks to that same community and would recommend it for anyone interested in STEM in the future!... Read 39 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 182

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Urbana, IL•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  176 reviews

Junior: Overall, I’ve had a really good experience at Uni! Academics are mostly really good. I’ve had some less than stellar teachers—many of whom are knowledgeable in their subject areas, but struggle teaching them at a beginner level—but others have been incredible. The workload‘s tough, but manageable if you’re not overloaded with extracurriculars. There’s a diversity of personalities in the student body, but kids are generally passionate and motivated, and mostly very friendly. There’s some competition in academics and extracurriculars (especially related to college apps), and also somewhat of a culture of cynicism and negativity. Still, I’ve met some amazing people, and I wouldn’t swap my experience for a more typical high school one. I’d say the biggest advantage of Uni is the breadth of opportunities offered by our connection with the U of I, from enrolling in college classes to working with professors to attending undergrad events to grabbing boba on Green St. during free period.... Read 176 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 314

• Student-teacher ratio —

• New York City Geographic District No. 10, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  1,017 reviews

Parent: Excellent academics, almost every AP possible offered, lots of students taking post AP classes. Large school (~2800 kids), but brilliant student body with a wide range of interests and passions. This is the school where one can find high performing athletes with interests in performing arts and computers science or biology or math or physics or engineering. As one of the Specialized high school of the city, students come from all boroughs, making a 2-4 hours daily commute a regular part their 4-year high school journey. Very large number of clubs, sports, student activities. Teachers and administrators are top notch and dedicated. Perfect? Of course not, as it is after all a public school, but the Alumni foundation and the Parent Association are extremely active and generous both with time and resources to make up for what the Dept of Education budget does not cover. Go Wolverines!... Read 1,017 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,937

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• New York City Geographic District No. 2, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  1,110 reviews

Senior: I enjoy the environment that Stuyvesant promotes especially with the students that particularly create the experience. The student agency allows for an interwoven network of clubs that host movie nights, guest appearances, and musical performances. Moreover, I feel as if the Tribeca area adds a lot to the Stuyvesant experience. Being, in the heartland of Manhattan, local delis, as well as Battery Park and the harbor makes for unique experiences. Clubs such as the Environmentalist Club takes advantage of this by breeding oysters and releasing them out into the sea. Not only that, but teachers play well into the Stuyvesant culture. Many, while unorthodox relate to students through popular media, music, modern events, and even video games. The staff as well continually show support for students with free water bottles and even allowing the entire student body to vote for where $2000 funding could go towards waterbottle refilling, printing, or charging stations!... Read 1,110 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,357

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Bergen County Vocational Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  537 reviews

Senior: Bergen County Academies is a school for intellectual and talented students with numerous opportunities and resources. The school has a wide variety of classes in all sorts of fields including different sciences, medicine, engineering, business, computer science, culinary, visual art, theatre as well as music. The school has highly trained and educated teachers as well as facilities more advanced than a normal high school. Students are given the opportunity to do high-level research starting in their freshman year and even have programs abroad where students can learn about other cultures, lifestyles and learn from mentors that are quite successful and well-known. Overall, Bergen County Academies is an excellent, rigorous school that provides its students with many opportunities and resources that give them an advantage moving forward in college.... Read 537 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,118

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Hartsville, SC•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  153 reviews

Alum: I attended GSSM from 2015-2017 and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. During my tenure, there was not a heavy presence of arts and humanities, however, now it is my understanding that they have a new focus on this at the school to create a more well-balanced curriculum. The professors and staff were so supportive of my academic trajectory and were able to help out whenever I needed them. I spent many hours completing homework in my professors' offices, as well as studying for their exams and attending study sessions. I am forever grateful for my time at this institution, although sometimes, the workload was overwhelming for a 16-18 year old, it prepared me for college more than I knew. College was extremely easy compared to the stress and rigor of GSSM and that allowed me more freedom for self-expression. Following graduation, I still keep in touch with some professors to this day! If you are on the fence-- go!... Read 153 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 261

• Student-teacher ratio —

• New York City Geographic District No. 31, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  756 reviews

Junior: You will be exposed to a multitude of resources during your time here and welcomed into a great community! While this school may not be for those unwilling to take on a rigorous academic experience, you will certainly be given the choices to take easier classes. The courseload can demanding at times, but most teachers are reasonable as long as you communicate with them. Ultimately, Tech will offer you many things to enhance and enrich your high school experience, but it is up to YOU to take advantage, whether that be through an internship, mentorship, sport, club, SING, etc.... Read 756 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,336

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Oklahoma City, OK•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  46 reviews

Senior: OSSM is a place that I am proud to tell people that I attend, but the stress of being there makes it hard to appreciate in the moment. Just like any school, there are things that I wish were different, but they are severely amplified because we live with them every day. Even so, the stress and difficulties are what bring everyone together and make a strong supportive community of intelligent individuals. There have been many moments where I consider giving up, dropping out, and going back to my home high school. Whether it is for pride or for completion, most of us stay and finish. Coming to OSSM was one of the best, but also most difficult, decisions that I have ever made and I have never regretted it.... Read 46 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 150

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Dallas Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  189 reviews

Junior: When I first applied to the school, I was not too keen on attending. A lot of my friends from middle school were going to a different school that was also a lot closer to my home. I thought I was going to regret the decision of going here. However, I was totally wrong! The workload may not be easy but the teachers are very understanding and I am sure I learned more here than I would have been able to at any other high school. The (relatively) small class size that does not feel too small is perfect, especially within the positive environment that TAG is so proud of. I have grown unbelievably within the few years I have spent at this school and I am proud to say that this is the high school I attended.... Read 189 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 464

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  1,233 reviews

Freshman: My experience at SHS was pretty good this year as a freshman! Having this be my first year, I was pretty scared and a bit hesitant to continue the next 4 years at this huge school. But Stevenson is a super welcoming place, with amazing teachers, staff and students. They have this thing called freshman orientation, which is the day before school starts. A bunch of our juniors and seniors come in to guide us through the school, and answer questions we have. These same Fmp leaders are the main people for advisory, which is another program assisted to help freshmen meet new people. Advisory takes place during half our lunch, and in my opinion was pretty fun, we played games, did activities and I met a lot of close friends in it. I didn’t mind advisory, but I know a lot of other people didn’t like the fact that it was a whole year, so maybe a suggestion would be making it only for the 1st semester so we can have full lunch 2nd semester. But overall I thank shs for such a great first year!... Read 1,233 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 4,315

• Student-teacher ratio —

• New York City Geographic District No. 25, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  670 reviews

Junior: The townsend harris high school is an excellent source of rigor without the restraint of standardize tests deeming admissions. Not only does this school have an excellent collaboration of humanities and stem it also has unique traditions including an ephebic oath and classical language classes. Overall, this school is a testament to the public school system and how normal teenagers can thrive in an environment!... Read 670 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,270

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Gwinnett County Public Schools, GA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  489 reviews

Junior: As a current junior at GSMST, I can say first-hand that it is truly such an amazing school to prepare students for college and even for life after college! With an extremely rigorous and demanding curriculum, students learn valuable time management and cooperative skills. For any students living in Gwinnett who are considering attending this school, I would completely recommend it if you're looking to challenge yourself and grow to be stronger academically. We Are GSMST!... Read 489 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,197

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Monmouth County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  118 reviews

Senior: I really enjoyed the academics at Biotech, although the classes were definitely difficult. I felt that I was being pushed past my limit at times, feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. Some of my friends had bad experiences with staff members, and the mental health and morale of the school could definitely be improved. I would like to see some change in those areas, possibly through more peer meetings to talk about mental health or something similar. Overall, I think my experience was very good, because my overall experience was something that I will always have with me and to remember happy times.... Read 118 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 315

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Austin Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  500 reviews

Alum: I graduated in 2020 at the LBJ campus. Great school, great staff, great people. I encourage every prospective freshman to apply, do not be intimidated by the academics! Yes, LASA will be more difficult than your typical high school as most courses taken will end up being AP or Pre-AP (not counting some liberal arts courses). The college readiness this school provides is very strong.... Read 500 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,254

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Union County Vocational-Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  142 reviews

Senior: Magnet is a school that is very near and dear to me. Throughout my time here, I have made many friends that I will stay in touch with for the rest of my life. I relish the opportunity to interact with so many intelligent people and feel that the culture is one that stimulates growth and improvement. The teachers are above average and it feels like they truly care about their students. I would highly recommend any students in the Union County area to apply to Magnet. It will absolutely be worth it.... Read 142 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 297

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1