2024 Niche Standout High Schools in America

• Philadelphia City School District, PA•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  274 reviews

Parent: Clubs and activities shouldn’t be C at all. The achievements that the students had received always surprise me. They just received the national championship in UPenn’s National Debate Tournament this year. Students do many different sports, clubs and activities and have received so many championships in the school district. Besides that, they are also qualified for regional, state and even Olympic qualification, such as tennis, swimming, ice skating, Science Olympia Debate…etc. I was told a Sophomore student won thousands of dollars in a computer programming competition this year. These are just what I know. Of course, there are more that I don’t even know. Its sports and activities ranking shouldn’t be “C” at all.... Read 274 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,180

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Free or reduced lunch 100%

• Philadelphia City School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  1,432 reviews

Senior: Central High School really challenged me academically and there were definitely times were I was struggling but there were so many resources and amazing faculty that helped me. Despite the large number of kids in my class the teachers still care and provide individual help to support me and my learning needs. The faculty here are amazing and really do care about me and my experience in high schools as there are countless fun and amazing events that allow me to destress and have fun. Also, the students here are amazing I have formed many lifelong friendships with my peers here at Central High. #Class 283! Go Birds!... Read 1,432 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,381

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Free or reduced lunch 100%

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  696 reviews

Sophomore: I'm a sophomore at Townsend Harris, and my experience has been great! I really like that every year there are some school "holidays" that are special to our school only! The school was quite challenging academically since it required me to change my studying habits (I used to procrastinate a lot). The classes were nice. You could choose if you wanted to choose AP classes. But during freshman year you get automatically put into Pre-AP World History. Then in sophomore year, it's required to take AP World History. The students, teachers, and staff are all friendly! There are so many extracurriculars too, so if you're looking to do stuff in your free time there are a lot of options. The sports department is great too because of the variety. There's basketball, soccer, table tennis, badminton, handball, swimming, and many more!... Read 696 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,347

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 54%

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

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  2,295 reviews

Sophomore: I've met many genuine people, both students and teachers who care about me and I care about them. Most teachers are some of the greatest people ever and do their job fantastically! Though the school may be tiny been uncoordinated at times, it is quite the unique one that I believe I am insanely lucky to be in. Perhaps in the future, I'd like to see more representation for the minorities of the very diverse student population. In fact, I am part of a club called the Hindu Students Council and one of our goals is to do exactly that and bring recognition to our religion and culture.... Read 2,295 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 5,966

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Free or reduced lunch 59%

• Long Beach Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  497 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 497 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 667

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Free or reduced lunch 34%

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  293 reviews

Senior: The Brooklyn Latin school is quite small, but this makes for a close-knit community. It is the the friendly atmosphere that I love the most. I see most of the same people in my classes and this has allowed me to make close friends. The teachers are kind and helpful; they always welcome questions and hold office hours for anyone who needs them. Due to low budgeting, the clubs and sports that the school offers may not be the best, but all clubs are student led and driven which makes them great nonetheless. Something else that gives Brooklyn Latin its mystique is the traditions that bring this community to life. Students learn latin all four years of high school and greet each other in the language within the school. Declamation is an honorable tradition in which students have the opportunity to share with the entire school something they are passionate about. And I have learned more about greek mythology at this school than I could have ever learned otherwise.... Read 293 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 844

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Free or reduced lunch 59%

• New York City Geographic District No. 4, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  240 reviews

Junior: As a student of Central Park East Highschool, that’s many roles as a Mentor, member of student government, and captain of my golf team there’s a lot I constantly see. What I love about the school is the vast diversity of kids. Wherever you go, every class has constant inclusivity and it’s also used in every class. An example of this is in my everyday mentorship class PGC (Peer-Group-Connections). Where we learn how to manage to mentor over 12 freshmen of different ethnicities and backgrounds. Although it’s a challenge to be so versatile, Central park east handles it like no other school. On the flip side, physical changes to our facilities would be very nice to see. For starters as an athlete, the gymnasium is always a constant issue. Whether it be the slippery floors in basketball or the old weights in the weight room when I have bodybuilding club, there’s always an issue! Places where many people want to work on their craft and develop their physical capabilities are vital!... Read 240 reviews

• grade A

• Students 507

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Free or reduced lunch 82%

• New York City Geographic District No. 22, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  1,477 reviews

Senior: With its diverse student body and strong academic programs, Midwood High School offers a fantastic learning environment. The teachers are super supportive and passionate about their subjects. Plus, there are plenty of extracurricular activities to get involved in, like sports teams, clubs, and even a theater programs like Sing or cultural festivals. The school also has a beautiful campus with modern facilities. Overall, Midwood High School provides a well-rounded education and a vibrant community. It's definitely a top-notch high school experience!... Read 1,477 reviews

• grade A

• Students 4,059

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Free or reduced lunch 73%

• Jersey City School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  304 reviews

Alum: I graduated class of 2023, and I can say hands down that McNair has been one of the most formative experiences I have had in my life. I have learned so much thanks to the teachers and friends that have supported me. There is truly a very collaborative environment here, and everyone is supported every step along the way. There are plenty of opportunities regarding AP courses and extracurriculars. I was part of the Epsilon Math Team, Mock Trial, and various honor societies, and I founded Mathemagicians Tutoring which connects McNair students to Cordero middle schoolers and offers free math tutoring. I highly recommend this school, it will change your life.... Read 304 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 704

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Free or reduced lunch 41%

• New York City Geographic District No. 26, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  900 reviews

Senior: Bayside High School is an amazing home to so many students and im excited to be going into my senior year of high school here at Bayside! While I have no changes in mind for the school, i would love to see more classes added to chooses from in our schedules and programming. Although we have multiple programs to choose from, our electives are very slim and don't offer a ton of experience for possible college majors. Other then that, Bayside is a great school with great opportunities for all students... Read 900 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 3,025

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 73%

• New York City Geographic District No. 3, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  193 reviews

Junior: As a student who went to charter school for majority of their academic career, the switch to public school was an interesting one. My overall experience at Hunter has been a positive one. There have only been a few problems that I have observed but those have been solved. Most students would say the work load is a lot. I personally don’t agree but if you are not used to getting homework at least every night then it will be an adjustment. Hunter is a school that is considered accelerated because all senior students are on Hunter College campus taking college classes, so they have to prep their students for college life.... Read 193 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 433

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Free or reduced lunch 69%

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  217 reviews

Alum: First I would like to mention that this school is a small community. At around 500 students this community is closely bonded and we all help each other around. However something I would like to mention is that out queens high school for the sciences is partner with York College. This means that we share some of the same buildings. To prevent any interference with the college students there are security measures. Overall, my experience was great and many of the teachers and faculties will help you throughout your time there.... Read 217 reviews

• grade A

• Students 520

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 65%

• New York City Geographic District No. 32, NY•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  103 reviews

Senior: All City Leadership is a very small school. They have their middle and high school students share the same building. Most kids have been in this school since 6th grade, me being one of them. I have known the staff and students for many years and have created strong bonds. Due to the small size of the school, it feels like a close knit community. However, the down-side of this tiny population is the limited amount of clubs. The kids are given little to no options for clubs which is bad news for those who want to explore hobbies and interests. Although this is the case, luckily, they are also given the chance to make their own clubs. It is just unfortunate that there aren't many options due to the size of the school. Overall, my high school experience has been more tolerable thanks to my guidance counselors and peers.... Read 103 reviews

• grade A

• Students 408

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Free or reduced lunch 76%

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  305 reviews

Senior: The overall experience was great in this school! There were good and bad parts about the school. The good part is that school provides lot of opportunities and resources, whereas the bad part was the cafeteria lunch.... Read 305 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,180

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 70%

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  620 reviews

Senior: This school is a caring environment where students feel comfortable and have the ability to express themselves. There are many opportunities in this school that allow students to explore career options and find out their true academic interests. The school has had issues with dealing with students and their lack of cleaning up after themselves. There have been instances of food on the floor which cause unhygienic situations to occur. Other than this issue, staff is very supportive and informed on proper protocol and in helping students excel. The school also has many activities that promote school spirit and try to have a sense of unity as Vipers!... Read 620 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,724

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Free or reduced lunch 80%

• New York City Geographic District No. 4, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  799 reviews

Senior: As a student attending Manhattan Center, I believe this school is the place for me. There are many things I love about this school. The school excels in diversity in students and staff. I also enjoy the school community, how most people are connected and create a social environment. The school offers many AP classes and extracurriculars. We have many clubs and sports. Teachers build strong relationships with the students, allowing us to feel comfortable in classes. They also provide lots of help, such as tutoring after school. This school also provides us with college preparation, by internship opportunities, college visits, mandatory AP classes, college counselor appointments, and more. Manhattan Center is affiliated with many institutions, such as Columbia University, NYU, Cornell, and Cuny. This is why I believe Manhattan Center is the perfect school, as it provides students with many resources needed to achieve success.... Read 799 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,550

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 77%

• New York City Geographic District No. 4, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  67 reviews

Senior: Park East High School has helped in many ways that I can't even imagine, I have attended all four years and it has been a blessing to receive the opportunity to come in every morning and learn new things each and every day. Park East High School students get lots of opportunities such as small internships, community service programs, and tutoring sessions for each class. Park East offers AP and honors classes for English, history, and Spanish. Even though park east is a small school we all stay and protect each other as a community family.... Read 67 reviews

• grade A

• Students 365

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Free or reduced lunch 81%

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  98 reviews

Freshman: I have only been here for a few weeks to be honest so I will talk from what I have experienced so far. However, this school is very clean, everyone seems very friendly, and the views from the windows are breathtaking. The Duel Enrollment system in this school is great, since you can literally go to the college next door for your class. Education here is a bit struggling sometimes, as if you don't keep up the minimum 3.5 GPA you get kicked out. However, most teachers seem understanding. Also, the school only has 6 periods and as a freshman, I didn't get to choose my specials which was quite upsetting. Now, I just take it in a positive note since those classes I received aren't that bad. Everything is very expensive and the dress code is quite strict. Not your normal high school experience, however it teaches you life is unfair. Last but not least, this school is very safe, because of strict security guards to make sure IDs are worn by students and if any intruders are in the building.... Read 98 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 454

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Free or reduced lunch 50%

• Philadelphia City School District, PA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  553 reviews

Alum: The Academy at Palumbo, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a public magnet school that offers student rigorous academic programs. The best parts of the Palumbo experience are the diversity. The diverse student body can provide a rich cultural and social experience. Interacting with peers from different backgrounds can be a valuable part of the school experience. Good teachers are a critical aspect of any school and the Academy of Palumbo often have a dedicated and supportive teacher who can help students achieve their needs in studies. The rigorous academic at a magnet school like Palumbo can sometimes create a highly competitive space for students. Some students may find this pressure to be challenging. The location of the school might not be convenient for all students, leading to long commute for some. This could be a drawback for those living far from the school.... Read 553 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,117

• Student-teacher ratio 41:1

• Free or reduced lunch 100%

• Alief Independent School District, TX•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  506 reviews

Senior: It’s a great school that offers the opportunity to get be a dual enrollment for free of charge. That’s thousands of dollars in a span of 4 years! The school offers three associate in partnership with Houston Community College- Science, Engineering and Arts. The down side of this system is since it’s a very education focused and small school (approx 400), sports on a competitive level and the “high school activities” don’t resemble the once from a regular school. Overall, like any good thing in life, you will be sacrificing somethings when you attend this school. Although, the school offers to give students a “typical” high school experience, somethings are simply not possible at a school so different from the norm. At the end of it all it will all be worth it, as attending this school shows how much hardworking and dedicated you are to your education. In addition, it’s almost like an head start for college education wise and financially.... Read 506 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 412

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Free or reduced lunch 81%

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

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  226 reviews

Senior: The Academy of Finance and Enterprise is a remarkable school with a small culture that makes it feel like a family. The students there are basically like my brothers and sisters and I would not go to another school for that. In addition to them, the teachers are great! They prepare you for college and make sure that you are on track to becoming successful people in the future. Overall, this school is outstanding, with amazing academics, preparedness, a culture that is great, and a perfect fit for any student including myself.... Read 226 reviews

• grade A

• Students 739

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 83%

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

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  124 reviews

Parent: Overall the school is good. The faculty are nice and understanding. My two children have had good education here. The college counselors are very active and well organized. The school needs to improve in clubs and afterschool activities. My older one is in high school and there are very few interesting clubs and if your kids are not good in sports, there is not much to do. For middle school, afterschool activities are more interesting and all are free. I am happy that there are uniforms because sometimes kids like to dress inappropriately if no enforcement. PTA is very active and involved. I’m glad to be part of the community.... Read 124 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 658

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Free or reduced lunch 45%

• Clayton County Schools, GA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  169 reviews

Senior: I have been at Elite Scholars since the 6th grade. This is my final year here and I am truly excited. Don't get me wrong Elite Scholars is good but the workload could be better. Since the 6th grade, I have been pulled with tons of work from all my classes. Now being a senior, the workload just got easier. For 7 years straight, the workload has been unbearable. I have had mental stress trying to complete assignments from six classes in one day. Currently, I am a dual enrollment student at Southern Cresent Technical College. I still attend Elite Scholars Academy but only for three classes then I go home or to my college classes. I am truly happy I decided to do dual enrollment, it gives me an escape. Elite Scholars is truly not bad, but it does need some improvements. I am grateful though because it helped me prepare for the college life.... Read 169 reviews

• grade A

• Students 684

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Free or reduced lunch 11%

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  283 reviews

Sophomore: Since I am a student at the school, I get to see the everyday events that occur. I enjoyed the teachers who knew that we were more than just teenagers and would push us to think about our future. They were actually worried for us and would help us achieve more than we thought we could! Overall, this school is amazing and I would recommend it.... Read 283 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 443

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Free or reduced lunch 62%

• New York City Geographic District No. 7, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  150 reviews

Junior: My time at University Heights High School has been truly enriching, offering a wealth of opportunities and a supportive environment. The school provides a diverse range of extracurricular activities and a dedicated faculty and staff. The best aspect has been the abundance of resources and the encouragement received from teachers. However, I have observed a pervasive competitiveness and anxiety surrounding grades and marks, which I believe could be improved. Creating a more balanced and holistic approach to education, emphasizing personal growth and learning beyond grades, would be a positive change for the school community.... Read 150 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 570

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Free or reduced lunch 86%