Explore the best schools in your area based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.
Senior: Coming from a graduating eighth grade class of 58 students, the culture shock was definitely humbling when arriving at Stevenson with its student body of 4000 students. My peers broadened my horizons everyday not only through their diverse cultures and backgrounds but also in the way they encountered and dealt with problems. While my classes were definitely a step-up from my middle school rigor, Stevenson's teachers were not only dedicated to their subject but passionate for helping their students as well. I am grateful for the environment that I found in Stevenson, which allowed me to pursue the unexplored and the unchartered within the context of the familiar.Read 944 Reviews
Junior: I love IMSA! There is a great balance of academic and social opportunities. The people that you meet and the opportunities/experience you will gain is priceless Personally, I feel like the academic support for minorities could definitely be stronger, nevertheless it's still a great institution.Read 206 Reviews
Senior: Indiana Academy does an excellent job of preparing its students for higher education. A rigorous curriculum, highly qualified faculty, and diverse student body all contribute to an outstanding academic experience. Many AP and dual credit courses are available to students, and these courses are arguably more difficult than even their Ball State equivalents–that is, Academy students are studying at a higher level them some college students. Additionally, most of Academy instructors have either a master's or doctorate degree, and they sincerely care about the success of every one of their students. Finally, students come all over Indiana, bringing with them unique backgrounds, identities, and worldviews. I have had a wonderful two years here, and I am proud to graduate from such an esteemed institution.Read 255 Reviews
Alum: Yes, Stuyvesant definitely does have a reputation of being competitive and while ther are those students who are cut-throat, throughout my time there, I have also met many kind-hearted and genuine students who are not only ambitious, driven, and hard-working, but are also extremely interested in helping out their fellow classmates. Studnets are not only passionate about academics but about a variety of sports, and other activities as well which can be showcased by our annual SING! performance. Becuase of the school's location, Stuyvesant students become independent and learn more than just academics by attending the school.Read 795 Reviews
Alum: A very tight knit high school with high national standing, my high school is top ranked in academics, studies and college preparedness. We have a nationally recognized Robotics program. The school's small size is perfect and allows all student to focus and help each other. The school cafeteria conversations range from high school games to national science and possible solutions to space and science mysteries and issues. I love my high school and would recommend everyone to try to make it in!Read 522 Reviews
Sophomore: Northside is an interesting school. It is one of Top Schools in the US, which makes it infamous for it being academically challenging and difficult. Tales of despair and struggling make every 8th grader scared to join this small school. However when I entered it I was smacked with the truth, it is a visually intriguing school. The shape is very strange and the inside is even stranger, with art hanging everywhere and colors splashed on every wall. But the best part is the people; the students, teachers, and staff are amazing people! They are open with whatever you believe in and everyone shares their interests and make stereotypical high schools (High School Musical, Mean Girls, the whole gag) look like lies. It is an awesome school, and I'm glad that I am academically challenged for I get to meet people who changed my life.Read 468 Reviews
Sophomore: I am a sophomore who has been attending Whitney Young for 4 years now and I truly believe it is the best school in the city of Chicago. It offers a wide range of challenging courses for students with all different types of interests. The principal Dr. Joyce Kenner strives to give all students the best high school experience possible and definitely succeeds. The diverse environment is very welcoming and fun. The students are very involved in the school community while managing to focus on academics and sports/extra-curricular activities (with the help of our fellow teachers). Speaking of sports, we have had 12 city championships in the past 2 years, and 9 in 2014! The school could use a few upgrades, but that's really up to the city (and we already get a ton of funding since we're a selective enrollment school). Overall, Whitney Young is a great high school and I encourage all prospective high school students in Chicago to apply.Read 880 Reviews
Niche User: Andover truly is a special place! The opportunities for learning within the self are endless. I have adopted a true growth mindset at this community, learned from my peers, which represent youth from every quarter. This community is equitable, kind, generous, and truly incredible. My teachers believe in my potential to succeed. #SayYesToAndover #BigBlueNice #WelcomeHome #SmartWithHeartRead 47 Reviews
Freshman: Very vigorous workload, and it's difficult to achieve straight-As. The teachers are average, as well. Nonetheless, the students are incredibly down-to-earth and amazing! There's something about staying up till 2am with your peers that makes the entire school closely bonded. You'll have a high school experience like no other.Read 419 Reviews
Senior: Walter Payton College Prep is a fantastic school with great academic, sports and extracurricular programs. Anyone who gets in would be very lucky to attend. It is a great school to foster community and grow as a person regardless of your background or identity. Being a Grizzly is awesome!Read 279 Reviews
Junior: GSMST is a very diverse and open-minded. The students and teachers here are very accepting of all races, religions, sexualities, and genders. Prejudice is not tolerated at all. GSMST is also a very rigorous school. Graduation requirements include: successfully completing a science fair project, a junior fellowship experience (semester-long internship), and a senior capstone experience (year-long internship), as well as having four elective units including two foreign language, five science units including chemistry, physics, and AP biology, four math units including AP calculus, four social studies units including AP macro- and micro- economics, and four language arts units including AP lang or lit. This is a hard school, but the perfect one for hardworking students, and it really prepares students for college.Read 338 Reviews
Alum: I really loved the academics at this school. The classes that I wanted to take were really amazing, well taught, with plenty of interesting trips and research. The field classes that I took were especially fun to be a part of. I also really enjoyed being part of the sports teams there as a player on a team. The coaches I encountered were fantastic and the sense of family within teams was huge. I struggled a little socially there, but the athletics gave me a chance to connect. Some of the atmosphere of the school can be difficult to manage, it is not for everyone and it takes some adjusting, but it is well worth the effort. I came out well prepared for college academics and challenges.Read 176 Reviews
Senior: The Lawrenceville School is considered one of the best high schools in the country for a reason. The academics are among the best. The teachers are all qualified and have extensive experience from the best high schools and colleges. In terms of diversity, Lawrentians are from around the world. At Lawrenceville, students are taught manage the many aspects of their lives, and I feel prepared to transition into college. The facilities are one of a college, including a STEM lab with VR and 3D printing, a building for every subject, and a huge library. The sports are also good here. The mandatory sport for each term brings out a lot of talent in students who would have never tried a sport otherwise. Also, students can participate in clubs, sports, and school sponsored volunteer activities. There is much more that could be said about how good the Lawrenceville School is. But I hope from what you have read, you can see how great a school it is.Read 95 Reviews
Freshman: Harvard-Westlake truly changed my life. Since coming to H-W as a new seventh grader and still, I have had experiences impossible anywhere else. The competitive nature of the community pushes me to go further than I thought I could, and I have become interested in so many topics that I never thought I would be interested in. Due to the large class sizes, I have met and made so many friends with similar interests as I have, and many with different interests that opened me to even more experiences. If you are considering applying, there is definitely something for you here, and you will not regret your decision!Read 97 Reviews
Niche User: I'd be completely lying if I said I loved my whole time at SPS. I transferred as a new sophomore and wasn't accustomed to the whole idea of what a prep school actually entailed. I felt very lost in athletics, academics, extracurriculars, socializing, and even myself. But that was because I hadn't utilized all my resources. And anybody currently at the school will know who this is when I say this: I became best friends with Humanities IV teacher and he changed my life. Every bit of success I encounter in this lifetime is because of him and his willingness to always be there for me. So before I get all mopey, I'll say this - it wasn't easy at first (but what really is?) but my experience did a full 180 once I started taking advantage of the resources and people St. Paul's had to offer.Read 46 Reviews
Junior: After being accepted in 10th grade, my transition could not have been more easier than with the attention and friendliness of my teachers and fellow colleagues. As I walk into the school, each morning I hear a warm welcome. This contributes to the five core values of the school, which are life of the mind, mature behavior, mutual respect, a secure and healthful environment, and a balance between individual achievement and a caring community. These values aren't just stapled to the walls of the building, but they are shared among all the people of the community. Even in a great school, there are things that should be given more attention. More specifically, as a Russian speaking student, I think that it would be nice to be able to take a language in school that isn't offered in most high schools. It would not only give students the chance to try out another language, but it would also give native speakers the chance to maintain their knowledge of the Russian culture.Read 97 Reviews
Alum: Great student to faculty ratio. The teachers and staff really make every attempt to make sure you understand the lessons, they offer after school tutoring, free-period lessons, and really to above and beyond to take care of their students. From athletics, extracurriculars, and the wide array of choices for electives; the choice is really on the students hand. GNS offers a wide selection of languages, Latin, Mandarin, Hebrew and ASL ( to name the more unique ones). You are Truro you given every opportunity to succeed and the alumni really show you that they've taken every step towards facilitating the success of their future.Read 187 Reviews
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
High School Senior: I love my school! One of the best things about the school is the community. The school tries to make freshmen feel as welcome as possible when they first start at school. Freshmen are assigned to a CAP group (Connections and Advisory Program) which consists of a faculty advisor, 8-9 other freshmen, and three senior mentors. During the summer, senior mentors write letters, call, and hang out with their freshmen, which helps the freshmen meet their fellow CAP group freshmen and seniors. Also, freshmen have orientation and Freshmen Retreat together before school starts with everyone else, so they really get to know the school and each other before the year begins. Even after freshmen year, everyone is so kind and inviting. I joined sports and dance and met a lot of upperclassmen and, as I got older, younger students, that have continued to be my friends even after they've graduated. I love the students' welcoming nature (I can pretty much have a conversation with anyone) and the overall nice feeling.Read 58 Reviews
Senior: The school is great. It's in a wonderful location, everyone is extremely friendly and supportive. The quality of academics and athletics are both through the roof! There is every possible type of resource available and the school constantly gets improvements every year, in fact next year all students will get their own chromebooks! This school is everything and more of what a high school should offer, it is truly the best of the best. If you are thinking about sending your child there, all I have to say is: Expect Greatness.Read 275 Reviews
Sophomore: Everyone you talk to about this school is gonna say it is a struggle. It makes or breaks students. All I can really say is that everyone here is super friendly teachers and students alike. Both the teachers and students are all friendly and nice enough to become great friends for a lifetime. A tip for incoming students is to get connected with teachers fast. The more connected you are to your teachers, the better you will be off.Read 391 Reviews
Niche User: We have two children at Harker, both in lower school. Our fifth grader has been here since grade 2, our second grader started in Kindergarten, and we are constantly amazed at the level of support teachers provide to students, both academically and emotionally, in terms of character building. When our fifth grader has struggled with academics, teachers reached out to us with concrete advice, invitations to come to extra help in the morning and other suggestions for helping him thrive --and he has done so! Along with kind, calm, sensible *intelligent and thoughtful* teachers who brigh their humanity to the classroom, there is a lower school-wide program that helps students understand their emotions at times of frustration to help them understand how to deal with their concerns effectively. The after school care staff is incredibly polite, attentive and sharp, I've never had any concerns about playground misbehavior as the staff are super vigilant and the equipment is top-notch and well maintained. The kitchen is outstanding and provides healthy snacks (included) before and after school, and students can choose to have a nutritious school lunch prepared on site, or bring their own food from home. Just a great experience all around!Read 93 Reviews
Alum: Lakeside is not for the fainthearted. I attended the school from the 5th-12th grade. The academics are of course top notch and prepare you well for college courses, but you should study HARD to keep up everything. Fortunately, teachers are more than accommodating and open to meeting with students during their free time. It is all too common to walk into the math office during any hour and see teachers helping students with homework, test/quiz corrections, etc. You must take the initiative to do well at Lakeside, though. You can't be embarrassed to ask questions when you're confused. Sensitivity has no place in the classroom, or at Lakeside in general. The school has a very competitive atmosphere- particularly when applying for colleges. That being said, students are mostly amicable. Sports are big Lakeside, and we generally do well.Read 68 Reviews
Senior: My experience at the Academy for Allied Health Sciences has been rewarding and one that I know has prepared me for the next four years of my life beyond its doors. With top notch academics, rigorous courses and top of the line teachers and administration, it is no wonder why alumni return and express upon current students how prepared they were for the work load and rigor that college students face. In addition to academics, Allied Health and the rest of the schools on its campus are home to many active clubs and activities, specifically including the Student Movement Against Cancer and Multicultural Club, which displays our school's diversity and drive toward helping others, and also encourages a multitude of parent involvement. Back in the classroom, students have access to many resources and are never a step behind in innovations in technology. Besides our average cafeteria food, Allied Health is an extraordinary, safe, diverse and academically challenging place to go to school.Read 89 Reviews
Niche User: My daughter has found her learning community- an exceptional group of students and educators pushing the boundaries of educational technology! The classes are rigorous and the students are competitive, but also kind, engaged, and respectful. While the schedule can be grueling, most students thrive in the OHS environment because they feel like they are learning so much that the hours laboring away are well worth it. Even for highly gifted students, getting straight A's at OHS is difficult. Students, however, seem to care more about the effort they put in to a class, and the passion they have for learning than the grade received. All in all, I would highly recommend Stanford OHS!Read 75 Reviews