2024 Best College Prep Public High Schools in California

• Long Beach Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  498 reviews

Parent: After sending our son for a year, we are happy to tell that the school is filled with wonderful people. CAMS students are kind, friendly, supporting each other across grades, and caring younger students very well. Parents are very nice and supportive, too. Most teachers have decent backgrounds/careers. It's easy to communicate with teachers and school staffs. Minimal donation/volunteer requests. The school is for students like Engineering, Computer Science, or Bio-technology. Required courses include manufacturing with CNC machines & industrial 3D printers, computer programming, CAD designing, and college level Bio-tech curriculum. Located on CSUDH campus, junior/senior students may take the college classes at reasonable cost. More than 50 clubs to choose from. 1/5 students join FRC or VEX Robotics teams. While sports teams are limited, good players compete at tournaments. Dancing teams actively perform at various school events. A lot of fun and exciting opportunities at CAMS!... Read 498 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1340

• Average ACT 30

• Fullerton Joint Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  968 reviews

Senior: I have loved my time at Troy High School these past four years. Even though my sophomore year was Covid, my school has prepared me for everything I can imagine college will possibly be. I have great relationships with my teachers, they are truly in my corner and encouraging me to dream so much farther than I ever was when I started freshman year. I feel challenged in what I am learning but excited about what it to come. and I am a little restless, just ready to get going for what is next after high school. I think my time at Troy really got me ready for that! Troy has been so much fun with clubs and my soccer team and kept things balanced while keeping school going and life got busy. My favorite each year is the halloween rally when our sports teams dance and the pink game each year. Our student body takes over! I am definitely ready for the next chapter of life to start, but I will always love my time in highschool- go warriors!... Read 968 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 32

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  639 reviews

Sophomore: I am now becoming a sophomore at this school. I believe that this school is perfect for more academically oriented people who are willing to challenge themselves. Because the scheduling is double the speed as other schools, it can be difficult for some to adjust to the fast-paced learning and homework load. However, the teachers are very professional/great at teaching, and the community is very supportive of each other. I would argue that the school does not have as much school spirit as other nearby schools, but I have yet to experience anything bad yet! There are also conservatories at our school, something unique to only CCA. The arts/film/dance conservatories are amazing and quite well-funded.... Read 639 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1420

• Average ACT 32

• Palo Alto Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  331 reviews

Senior: Honestly not terrible. Can at times be a bit hit and miss (i.e. got unlucky with teachers, but at what school is that not a thing), but for the most part you can get a pretty good experience out of this school if you stay optimistic. Which brings me to the main downside: (it feels like) everyone goes to college. And because of that, there are great resources to go to college! Which means you can get lulled into a false sense of security around knowing what you need to do for college even though you don't because so much has been handed to you. But as long as you're aware of that you can avoid those pitfalls and have a pretty good time.... Read 331 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1430

• Average ACT 32

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  522 reviews

Alum: University High School has a competitive atmosphere that is highly taxing on students' mental and physical health. To begin with, there is a concerning divide between CP and AP classes. On one hand, the AP classes at UHS are ridiculously challenging. For example, UHS's AP physics class crams the content of two AP exams into a single school year, differing from every other school in the district. On the other hand, CP classes lack organization. Therefore students who hope for a constructive learning atmosphere but don't wish to pack their schedules with AP classes will find themselves in an impossible situation.... Read 522 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 31

• Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  216 reviews

Sophomore: As a high school student who moved from Korea to start my first experience in an American high school at Saratoga High School, I consider my experience incomparable to any other high school I might have gotten into. Saratoga High School has a broad diversity where most students are first-generation immigrants from many different cultures. Although many people comment that our school is putting immense pressure on students, I think the pressure actually motivates many students. However, sometimes this pressure and high expectations on students might be too much.... Read 216 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1450

• Average ACT 33

• William S. Hart Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  242 reviews

Senior: Academy of the Canyons is a very academic-oriented school, as it has no sports. It has high offerings in the STEM fields, so you can take advantage of a lot of opportunities there. The clubs and activities are lacking in terms of their breadth, but that is to be expected from a school of 400, so most of what you do outside the classroom is in reality outside the school. The teachers and staff there are amazing and always ready to support you, in & out of the classroom! Overall, a great school to recommend to academically focused, mature students ready to challenge themselves in a college environment.... Read 242 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1330

• Average ACT 30

• Anaheim Union High School District, CA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  672 reviews

Sophomore: The school puts a lot of emphasis on academics and its curriculum is very advanced, but creates a negative school environment. Bullying and school violence is at a minimum, but socially, the school is extremely competitive. So far, there is not much student support to lessen student stress, especially from staff. However, teachers push the kids to learn as much as possible and provides good college preparation; a course focused on college prep is required freshman year. Teachers in all subjects are tough on students but willing to work with students, they are fair with their grading. Most core classes offered are by default honors classes, but if it is not fit for the student, regular courses are also available. The school has low funds but they are in the process of renovating, they have a very modern library and choir/band room. Student run organizations, like ASB, have fun events and keep in touch with students trends, to make events more personalized to the students' interests.... Read 672 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 33

• Palo Alto Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  353 reviews

Junior: The overall spirit in the school is great! Academics are on quite a high level and students are competitive. Teachers are not always the best though. But the most important part for me, as a passionate future engineer, are extracurricular activities -- clubs and academic teams. The system of setting up a really strong club and finding right people to help is messed up. I would love to see a change in school's approach to this. Maybe they can hire specific people who will be in charge of helping setting up and funding clubs... Read 353 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 31

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  1,087 reviews

Senior: I'm a graduating senior and my experience at Lowell was great. The workload honestly depends on what classes and teachers you take, but if you take a demanding course load make sure to stay on top of your work. Take advantage of the resources that Lowell offers like clubs and sports, but also college and career resources like the college center! Also try experimenting with creating your own schedule which is similar to what you'll do in college and how you spend your time in and outside of school. Tbh COVID and distance learning helped me find what I'm passionate about although it was quite isolating, it was an overall positive experience for me.... Read 1,087 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1360

• Average ACT 30

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  62 reviews

Sophomore: Academics are truly great! Many teachers are excellent, but some are definitely not great. Some school spirit is lacking in high school due the widespread consensus among GALA high school students and parents that more resources and energy are put towards middle school students. Great counselors and college counselors! Many opportunities for AP classes! Students' opinions are not always considered in certain imported decisions.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1240

• Average ACT 28

• ABC Unified School District, CA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  399 reviews

Sophomore: Whitney has little social conflict and is arguably a little boring. The teachers excel at teaching despite that some are questionable in terms of character. Every space has its share of bad influence, but I would argue that, compared to other high schools, Whitney promotes good character; some of my favorite teachers are Whitney alumni. In terms of size, Whitney is not winning. They built a new science building, but there are still not enough tables for everyone to sit at, forcing the majority of the underclassmen to sit on the ground during lunch. We also do not have a football field. Whitney's extracurriculars tend to be shifted towards the arts, creating a diverse culture among students. The biggest clubs are service and culture clubs. Each year on International Day, the culture clubs go all out with performances and food. In my opinion, Whitney's theatre productions are the most amazing part of our extracurriculars, especially 2023's Anything Goes performance.... Read 399 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1420

• Average ACT 32

• Antelope Valley Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  808 reviews

Senior: My experience with Soar High has been pleasant. The amount of opportunities presented to me is astounding with offers to visit colleges, perform at school and city-hosted events, and of course, the ability to take college courses that can prep me or be used as transfer credits for other colleges. Soar High is the best high school to apply to in Lancaster!... Read 808 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1140

• Average ACT 26

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  451 reviews

Senior: It's not as big as other LA high schools, so it's a tight-knit community. Everybody knows everybody, so it's nice to always have people to talk to in my classes. With most of the teachers, it's easy to tell they care about their subject, but sometimes you might end up with a few that don't so much. Our sports programs have been colossally improving over the past few years, and it's so easy to join any team that interests you. LACES is diverse and inclusive, and dozens of student-led clubs dominate. The campus is small and easy to navigate. There are color coded buildings for different subjects! There's also a quaint garden where we're starting to grow vegetables and herbs. A big loss at LACES is school spirit. It's hard to come across with no football team, so cheerleaders step in on basketball games and tennis matches. The leadership team does a great job of organizing fun events for the whole student body to participate in.... Read 451 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1300

• Average ACT 29

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  665 reviews

Sophomore: PVPHS is a great choice for kids who are willing to challenge themselves and prepare for college. Most of the teachers are excellent and well-qualified, and I’ve had amazing experiences with many of them. The majority of students are also very kind, vibrant, and accepting, compared to my last school in LA—they put extra effort into making you feel welcome. Along with that, the school spirit is fun and contagious, and kids here feel a lot of pride to be Peninsula students. However, the student culture here sometimes gets overwhelming—many feel pressure to get perfect grades and be involved in extracurriculars. While kids here are really polite, there’s always an underlying message: you need to do well and maintain your grades, or else. The pros outnumber the cons significantly: supportive people everywhere you look, some of the best academics in the state, and endless valuable experiences and opportunities. Final tip: Just be sure to find good friends and a decent work-life balance!... Read 665 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1370

• Average ACT 30

• Riverside Unified School District, CA•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  57 reviews

Alum: As someone who was a student from 5th through 12th, I had a great experience in the middle school. Great teachers, fun activities and a unique experience that made it very different from any other school I could go to. Going into high school, it was a bit more disorganized and not as innovative with the experience, and rather felt lacking compared to a normal high school. Despite this the smaller environment, and the excellent teachers made the school and overall great experience.... Read 57 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 29

• Granada Hills, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  1,529 reviews

Sophomore: Granada Hills Charter High School has an intellectually enhancing curriculum that is unique to any other LAUSD or charter school that allows students to succeed further in life. From things such as the STEM program (which I am in) allowing opportunities for AP Physics and Honors Chemistry in freshman year, to increased amounts of extracurriculars from service hour opportunities to endless amounts of successful sports!... Read 1,529 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1280

• Average ACT 29

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  569 reviews

Junior: Between the freshman and sophomore years, classes are locked under an "integrated" system, where History and English are joined, Math becomes "integrated Math," and science, likewise, becomes integrated, making it difficult to study for. Students, every semester, must write an "anchor" constituting roughly 40-50% of their grade, and teachers can barely hand out unbiased judgments, which often leads to a reputation-based grading system. The Math course, in particular, is immensely fast paced, with no remediation available on tests worth 10-20% of your grade. And science, there is nothing to show; the curriculum is dependent on the teacher, and in some cases, you may learn nothing. While there are many electives, students have little information about them until the time of course requesting, and as such, only find out at the end of their first years. Nonetheless, as competitive as NHS is, their academics are extremely strong, and has an extensive arts program offered as electives.... Read 569 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 32

• Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  342 reviews

Senior: I am currently a senior in high school, and overall my experience in high school has been really great! The school provides students with incredible opportunities in STEM (robotics, and Advanced Science Investigation (basically an independent research class)). The arts and journalism programs are also very talented and I'm happy to say I've been a part of all of these things. This school helps prepare students for the future. Additionally, there are many classes to help students who don't have English as their native language and who have learning disabilities which are very helpful. Some things that make LAHS rough are the competitive environment (which is pretty much ubiquitous throughout the Bay Area high schools) and some of the administration. The competitive environment, while it does kind of help motivate you to push your limits, is very tiring. I also heard complaints about some students coming to admin with issues that they don't resolve or ignore. Overall, the LAHS is great!... Read 342 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1370

• Average ACT 31

• Fresno, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  255 reviews

Junior: I'm so glad that I made the choice to come to University High School! On first day of Freshman orientation, I was immediately welcomed with kind and supportive peers. The staff are incredibly nice and fun to be around! There are lots of clubs, organizations, and school activities at UHS that are bound to make any student love the school! The school itself is also not a very big campus, so almost everyone knows each other. However, we also have access to Fresno State campus! Being on a college campus really allows students to have their own freedom and experience what it's like to be a college student. At UHS, students take college classes through Fresno State along with AP classes for Junior and Senior year. While being a college prep school, UHS also puts emphasis on music education as well! The academics at University High are definitely not for everyone, as they are pretty rigorous compared to other schools. However, the fun that happens at University High is definitely worth it!... Read 255 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1300

• Average ACT 29

• La Canada Unified School District, CA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  358 reviews

Senior: The teachers are some of the best parts of the school, they care deeply for their students while also supplying them a good education opportunity to each and every student. The sanitation can be improved, but the access to food is fantastic, with vending machines for between classes, to the 'cafe' that opens during break and lunch. It gives students so many options to choose from, so you can always find something that you might like or want to try. The pacing of the classes isn't bad, it's good timing, though the participation could be better that's more of a student than a school issue. The sports are highly competitive here which is appreciated, you can definitely tell the school spirit during spirit week, although more prominent with seniors. Overall, it's a fantastic school if you're looking for an education, but diversity can be improved on.... Read 358 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1390

• Average ACT 31

• La Jolla, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  316 reviews

Sophomore: This is a really great school! I am currently a sophomore and have had many great experiences. Although we aren’t widely known for our sports, we do offer a variety such as soccer, basketball, golf, etc. Preuss does provide more academically; they provide more advanced classes and prepare students for college. Since Preuss has a smaller population of students, it allows teachers to focus and actually help out students. All teachers are more than willing to help if needed. Also, the Preuss community is very open and active. There are a variety of clubs which put on multiple events for the school. If you are looking for an academically friendly school with a friendly community, the Preuss School UCSD is the school for you!... Read 316 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1170

• Average ACT 23

• Santa Ana, CA•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  604 reviews

Senior: I think over the 6 years I've spent at Ocsa in both middle and high school, overall I've really enjoyed my experience here. Something I think I'm going to miss and take for granted in the future is the community and culture that is so prominent at my school. People are like minded and passionate about the arts, and good at it too! It's difficult to find another high school where students are SO driven and creative. Most people here are very supportive of individuality and expression, and it's a unique culture of acceptance that I think is rare in a high school setting. Something I think Ocsa can improve on is their transparency and communication between administration and students directly. I feel like we have a limited relationship with the people actually running our school, and it makes it difficult to advocate for things when we have problems.... Read 604 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1310

• Average ACT 30

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  489 reviews

Alum: My experience with Torrey Pines was really quite wonderful. I started attending Torrey Pines during COVID which I'm sure detracted from the experience and still have good things to say. Their math department is awesome! I was able to take linear algebra and a project based course in Mathematica both taught by an excellent teacher. Both for SDSU credit I might add. They have a lot of extracurricular opportunities as well. Their sports program is strong as well the coaches are excellent.... Read 489 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 30

• Fremont Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  499 reviews

Alum: Overall, my experience at Lynbrook was great. I think a lot of that positivity comes from my involvement in the school's extracurricular activities. I participated in Lynbrook's golf team for two years and their soccer team for all four years. I enjoyed my time in both sports. Through these sports I was able to build connections with students I may not have otherwise, and made memories that added a lot to my overall high school experience. I also joined a couple clubs and attended one of them consistently. That also gave me a larger sense of community within Lynbrook. The rallies were always fun, Homecoming week is something everyone looks forward too, and the food isn't that bad either (in my opinion). One thing a lot of students say about Lynbrook is that it's really competitive. I know many amazing students who felt overwhelmed by school. Lynbrook is aware of this, and the school does make many efforts to help students, be it through counseling, stress-relief animal days, and more.... Read 499 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1460

• Average ACT 33