2023 Best College Prep Public High Schools in New York

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  1,117 reviews

Senior: Stuyvesant High School is a very rigourous school, requires a high score in a very difficult entrance exam (SHSAT), and maintains a strong academic environment to support students. Many of the facilities and programs that are developed are meant to aid students in gaining acceptance to top universities. Additionally, Stuyvesant High School students have a strong sense of community with alumnis returning year after year to provide their own scholarships, aid, and knowledge to current students. Stuyvesant High School has a lack of diversity but is able to still support minorities with clubs that draws students with common backgrounds together.... Read 1,117 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1490

• Average ACT 33

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  1,023 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 1,023 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1440

• Average ACT 33

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  138 reviews

Senior: The High School of American Studies has created a rigorous academic environment in which students are pushed to do their best academically, striving for success on the daily. Teachers are always willing to help students with questions and test preparation, making it clear that they wish for each and every student to succeed. The history program is unmatched, as a curriculum of US History that would regularly take up one year is stretched into 3, allowing the students to truly learn the complexities of American history. Although the school is incredibly small, this acts as a positive in the overall experience. Students become incredibly comfortable with their peers and can easily trust anyone around them for help. The class size being small allows teachers and students to foster a closer relationship with much more daily specialized attention. The facilities are not exceptional in the high school itself, however the ability to use Lehman College's facilities makes up for any faults.... Read 138 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1420

• Average ACT 32

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  765 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 765 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1430

• Average ACT 32

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  672 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 672 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 31

• New York City Geographic District No. 5, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  198 reviews

Junior: I love the overall attention every individual student receives at HSMSE. Being a small school of 150 students a grade, HSMSE is able to provide every student the help they may need. Students are given the opportunity to create a closer bond with their teachers, making them more likely to participate during class and approach teachers after class. Additionally, every teacher is more than willing to offer students assistance. Being the rigorous school that it is, students may feel the need to seek review or extra clarification on a topic. This assistance is extremely easy to receive as there is a schedule handed out to every student regarding the teacher's office hours. Conveniently, teachers offer both morning office hours and afternoon office hours. Creating a tight knit community makes the school environment a safer and more comfortable place for everyone.... Read 198 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 31

• Edgemont Union Free School District, NY•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  99 reviews

Senior: The education at Edgemont was fantastic, and I feel extremely prepared to go into college and then post-college whatever job I may search for. The teachers are passionate and knowledgeable and there are lots of opportunities to expand beyond the curriculum offered. Although it is a small school, there are still a decent variety of classes, and I've never found myself searching for something that wasn't there. However, Edgemont's community is generally very stressed out and sleep deprived, leading to a depressed student body and a generally not great vibe. There are plentiful resources for students mental and emotional healthy, but I've found that most students choose not to participate in those resources. Personally, I've had no issues with the culture in Edgemont, as I have plenty of friends and family who helped me get through the tough parts of high school, but I know a number of people who had a very different experience at Edgemont.... Read 99 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1370

• Average ACT 32

• Jericho Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  179 reviews

Sophomore: I really like the supportiveness at Jericho High School. The wide variety of classes caters to students interested in pursuing many paths in the future, from music to STEM to literature. I feel comfortable exploring opportunities with the support of my teachers, who go the extra mile to ensure that I'm always doing my best. The competitive environment is also very different from most schools, so it is not just the teachers encouraging you to do your best, its peers and classmates. Combined, all of this makes a healthy environment that ensures success!... Read 179 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 31

• Great Neck Public Schools, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  262 reviews

Senior: Very, very academically toxic environment, it's not really competitive until you realize it is by having interactions with — normal people. Certain people here can be complete jerks, but others are nice. This school has a variety of types of people in it despite low racial diversity. The only very good sports teams are in badminton, fencing and track & field. Some other programs like tennis and swim are good sometimes, but they are generally just average. All the other sports are embarrassingly bad. (Core subject) teachers here are either average or very, very good. The largest redeeming factor for this school is that some of the teachers are world-class, and even perspective-changing, if their teaching method resonates with you. If you challenge yourself and take difficult classes, school will be hard. Some of the competition clubs are very good, some overfunded, others not funded at all. If you want to give your life for a grade and don't have bad social experiences, it's a 10/10.... Read 262 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1390

• Average ACT 31

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  160 reviews

Sophomore: ELRO is a small school allows easier community building and working together for similar goals (different classes, respect for others…). I enjoy weekly advisories that go over the topic of the month or week(s) such as: Lunar New Year, Black traditions, etc. These subjects are respectfully and collaboratively spoken, while understanding the differences between each and every person. It’s crucial for a community that’s trustworthy in order to dive deeper into quite sensitive topics such as violence, politics, and personal opinions. Adding on, from my two years at ELRO, I saw that it used to be a white dominated or majority high school. But, I see the changes for acceptance of students that grew to a diverse range of backgrounds in these two years. In addition, one change can be showing respect or speaking on different religions that shouldn’t only be in history-based classes. I see hostility and bias that sees others as dangerous and unfriendly like the historical people and events.... Read 160 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1360

• Average ACT 31

• New York City Geographic District No. 13, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  2,237 reviews

Senior: Brooklyn Technical High School is the quintessential NYC school. The largest public high school in the state if not the country. While smaller schools advertise their student-teacher ratio and other such statistics Tech holds different strengths. In my experience, Tech is more akin to a medium-sized college than a high school. As a magnet students will need adequate testing skills and prep for admission. Accountability is everything. Making friends, bonding with teachers, and receiving help demands communication skills. Like our city, you need to know how to speak up. Tech's size is a double-edged sword; while it means less individual attention, slower and less organized bureaucracy, it also means a plethora of opportunities, communities, and even academic majors! Tech builds character and prepares you for the real world by demanding self-sufficiency, dedication, and confidence. Ambitious, driven, and adventurous students will thrive at Tech. Freshman, learn your cardinal directions!... Read 2,237 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1380

• Average ACT 31

• Chappaqua Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  129 reviews

Alum: Class of 2019 Review: Pros: Academics - has a very academically stimulating environment - teachers push students to pursue their curiosities, particularly through the school's science research and independent study programs. Clubs - there are a wide variety of clubs and extracurriculars supported by the school. Reputation - the school is very well recognized for its academic rigor by top universities. Cons: Competitive atmosphere - the competitiveness of the school's students can be stifling at times, as it seems people care more about getting into college than the students around them. Stress - a natural product of the school's atmosphere and academic rigor - it can be a very stressful environment at times. I overall did enjoy my four years at Greeley - best of luck to all incoming students!... Read 129 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1360

• Average ACT 31

• Roslyn Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  133 reviews

Sophomore: I am a current sophomore at Roslyn High School. So far, feel very prepared for college thus far and I can't even imagine what could come next! I love all the opportunities that this school has given me whether it comes to sports, clubs, or even classes. I have had the opportunity to take various levels of courses, which has been great in challenging me. The teachers are always there to help, with office hours, extra help, email, and even after class. They have stayed lenient and understanding during the Covid-19 pandemic, which I am extremely grateful for. Although we have great opportunities the there is a lack of POC and culture from those communities, however, there is no divide between any of the communities, anyone can be friends with anyone. Overall I have had a very good experience so far.... Read 133 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1370

• Average ACT 31

• Scarsdale Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  123 reviews

Alum: In terms of academics, this school is great. Most of the teachers I had were amazing and I felt sufficiently prepared for college. In terms of the school environment, it can be difficult for international students because of lack of diversity. It is also very competitive, which prepares you better for college but could potentially cause a lot of stress. Other than that, it is a great school to attend!... Read 123 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 32

• New York City Geographic District No. 30, NY•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  235 reviews

Senior: BSGE is a very very good high school. You will learn a lot from the rigorous coursework and high expectations. To all the middle school students who are considering this high school, I would definitely recommend it. The teachers are very respectful, nice, and caring. However, the coursework load can be really demanding, but it is manageable. As you go higher in the grade, you will face different types of challenges and learn new things from all your classes. You will need to work hard, sometimes you have to give it your all. You will find this school to be very rewarding!... Read 235 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 31

• Manhasset Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  73 reviews

Senior: Manhasset is quite a wealthy area, and its affluence is clear in our abundant resources. We have a very strong sports presence, seen in the large portion of the budget goes there. Our academia is quite rigorous, to the point that there is very stiff competition. A large percentage of the student body takes honors/AP courses. A 4.0+ weighted gpa (we have a 4.33 unweighted system) is quite common. However, the teachers are usually pretty willing to help you out whenever you need; I have personally sent quite a few 2 AM emails to them on the verge of a breakdown begging for extra help and they are quite ready to supply it. Socially, it is quite cliquey (athletes, geniuses, theatre kids, miscellaneous) but it is possible to make very good friends here. Clubs and the fine arts are ok; they're pretty overshadowed by sports but are still mediocre. Lots of college obsessions (some kids do ecs just for college). Overall, there's a lot of good people here and the academia is hard enough :)... Read 73 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1360

• Average ACT 30

• New York City Geographic District No. 24, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  388 reviews

Junior: Bard was created to combat New York's deeply-segregated school system, so it provides great opportunities for low-income students. Students graduate in four years not only with a high school diploma but also with sixty college credits and an associate's degree in the arts. The literature and humanities programs are very eye-opening and life-changing. In the college program, they offer very interesting college courses such as anthropology, cinemas of South Asia, philosophy in science fiction, and so on. Students often complain about the fast-paced math classes, but the teachers are very kind, caring, and will always offer office hours. It's a small school (I've had only 9 students in one of my classes!) and the students are mostly friendly and welcoming. The school is very welcoming to undocumented students, is LGBTQ-friendly, and accepting of racially and religiously diverse students. The workload is very heavy and will be stressful at times, but you have a great team to help you!... Read 388 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1340

• Average ACT 30

• Bronxville Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  78 reviews

Junior: I have been going to Bronxville for 12 years and although it is an extremely competitive environment, teachers are so helpful and it is all super manageable. The social life in Bronxville is super fun and seeing all the comments about drinking and drugs makes me sad because that is not necessarily true and honestly most high schools have more drinking and drugs than we do. Bronxville is so unique and it's such a great school! There's something there for everyone whether it is sports or the arts (which have become much more prominent in student life).... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1340

• Average ACT 31

• Syosset Central School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  365 reviews

Parent: I used this same review for Baylis Elementary, but it also applies to the middle and high school...our oldest went through the system as well. Our taxes are a bit higher than most other areas , but we get great schools like this and great families as well. Many of the parents may have accents and speak not-so-perfect English, but their values are the same as all Syosset residents. Schools are more than just teachers, programs and facilities. It's who your child is sitting next to and what they bring to your child's life. When so many of our friends in Queens and Manhattan are stressed and scrambling to find schools for their kids to attend, it's nice to know that we don't have to worry about anything for 12 years. +++We were just notified by email that Syosset will be offering Mandarin ESL to incoming 1st and 2nd graders in 2023. This will really help transition the little ones with becoming proficient in English.... Read 365 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1360

• Average ACT 30

• New York City Geographic District No. 28, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  209 reviews

Sophomore: I'm a current student at QHSS and I do like the school. Everyone, from the students to the teachers, are all extremely nice and caring towards people in the school. The major problems lie in the fact we are borrowing a building from York College. I mean for one of the highest ranked high schools in the state and even the country, we really don't have a good budget. All our classes are mainly on one floor that's a small rectangle. Our cafeteria is the size of a classroom so many people eat outside or in the college's cafeteria when it's cold. We have to borrow the college's gym, which is one block away from the main building. We don't have an auditorium and the clubs aren't that good. But since we have only 500 students, this is all manageable.... Read 209 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1420

• Average ACT 31

• New York City Geographic District No. 1, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  291 reviews

Junior: In a nutshell, Bard High School Early College reflects its motto exactly... it is "a place to think." Both inside and outside classes, there are intellectual, stimulating discussions taking place between faculty and students. The Bard experience is unique in that everyone takes their education very seriously and actually enjoys learning! That being said, the work (and workload) is rigorous, challenging, even competitive, and requires a lot of time and energy. This means that students can collectively become exhausted, stressed, obsessive, competitive, and overwhelmed. As a result, many students tend to not prioritize socializing or partying. Rather, they have a few close friends but their life is mainly concerned with schoolwork and extracurriculars. The faculty are similar in nature as well. They are passionate, dedicated professors who love to learn and teach. Many, however, are so invested in their profession that their social life is neglected. Overall, Bard is what you make it!... Read 291 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1320

• Average ACT 31

• New York City Geographic District No. 14, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  287 reviews

Alum: The Brooklyn Latin School is a great school for academics since it offers the rigorous IB program. The teachers at the school are passionate and kind, they also write great recommendation letters for college. The school has a close-knit community due to its smaller class population and it is generally easy to find your community at the school. This school will push you to participate in group discussions and public speaking which is a great way for students to step out of their comfort zone. One setback of the school is that the options for extracurriculars are not so diverse therefore students often look for extracurricular offers outside of the school. Overall, this is an excellent school for students who are dedicated to academics.... Read 287 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1340

• Average ACT 30

• East Williston Union Free School District, NY•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  111 reviews

Junior: I’m a junior and although the year was crazy hectic and stressful, most of my teachers helped make it less chaotic. Although, there were a few teachers who made the stress even worse by not teaching well or overloading work. Specifically, one of my teachers never knew what they were teaching about and never responded to emails. In addition the teacher was very unreasonable with every assignment and every grade. Overall, I do love Wheatley though. It’s such a small school that everyone knows every and I love that!... Read 111 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1310

• Average ACT 30

• Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  54 reviews

Senior: Blind Brook High School was an amazing experience for me. The classes and teachers were so helpful and definitely prepared me for each upcoming year. Extra classes are being added to Blind Brook so that there are more options for students to choose from, which can possibly lead to finding a new passion or future career. I would want to see a change in the number of students attending Blind Brook, the school is really small which causes only around one hundred students to be in each grade, this can be hard for people who move here to make new friends since everyone has known each other since kindergarten. Overall, Blind Brook was a really great high school that taught me a lot and made me feel safe coming into school every day.... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1340

• Average ACT 31

• Rye City School District, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  86 reviews

Senior: The class sizes are moderate to small which allows you to have great connections with your peers. By the end of high school you know your entire grade whether it be by having classes together or even participating on sports teams together, there’s a great feeling of companionship. The teachers put their all in to their curriculums and will always reach out to you with help if they see you struggling - whether school related or personal. They really care about their students and are willing to do anything to give them the best education they can receive. The sports community at Rye is also very tight-knit and the student section at the football games is the place to be to build companionship.... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1310

• Average ACT 31