Metro Areas With the Most Top-Ranked High Schools

As part of its revamped Best High Schools rankings, U.S. News has broken the results into metro areas. Using the same methodology as the national rankings, schools are grouped into metro areas according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Following standards set by the Office of Management and Budget, this means a metro area may include neighboring cities and states. In all, U.S. News ranked 17,245 public high schools in 2019. The top 20 metro areas – which spread from coast to coast – represent those with the highest proportions of schools ranking among the top 25% nationally. The following metro areas display in ascending order of representation.

Ranked schools: 102

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 41

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 40%

Highest-ranked school nationally: West Campus High School (243)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Sacramento.

Ranked schools: 37

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 15

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 41%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Longmeadow High School (1,125)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Springfield.

Ranked schools: 71

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 29

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 41%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Liberal Arts and Science Academy (28)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Austin.

Ranked schools: 105

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 43

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 41%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Eastern Technical High School (185)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Baltimore.

Ranked schools: 219

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 92

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 42%

Highest-ranked school nationally: The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (152)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Houston.

Ranked schools: 49

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 21

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 43%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Raleigh Charter High School (111)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Raleigh.

Ranked schools: 54

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 24

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 44%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Osceola County School of Arts (358)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Orlando.

Ranked schools: 59

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 26

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 44%

Highest-ranked school nationally: City High Middle School (38)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Grand Rapids.

Ranked schools: 33

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 15

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 45%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Cape Elizabeth High School (369)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Portland.

Ranked schools: 56

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 25

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 45%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Grassfield High School (690)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Virginia Beach.

Ranked schools: 78

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 37

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 47%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Achievement First Hartford Academy Inc. (285)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Hartford.

Ranked schools: 43

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 21

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 49%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Middleton High School (409)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Madison.

Ranked schools: 156

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 78

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 50%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Lowell High School (54)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in San Francisco.

Ranked schools: 39

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 20

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 51%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Darien High School (150)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Bridgeport.

Ranked schools: 154

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 78

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 51%

Top school: School for Advanced Studies Homestead (26)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Miami.

Ranked schools: 218

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 112

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 51%

Top school: Boston Latin School (33)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Boston.

Ranked schools: 81

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 42

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 52%

Top school: Cedarburg High School (121)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Milwaukee.

Ranked schools: 188

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 97

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 52%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (4)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Washington, D.C.

Ranked schools: 463

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 259

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 56%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Whitney High School (14)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in Los Angeles.

Ranked schools: 61

Schools ranked in the top 25%: 39

Proportion of schools in the top 25% nationally: 64%

Highest-ranked school nationally: Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy (42)

Learn more about the Best High Schools in San Jose.

Families can explore the overall 2019 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings, along with the Best Charter Schools and Best Magnet Schools rankings. Connect with U.S. News Education on Facebook, or tweet @USNewsEducation using the hashtag #BestHighSchools to share your thoughts on the rankings.

• San Jose, California
• Los Angeles
• Washington, D.C.
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Boston
• Miami
• Bridgeport, Connecticut
• San Francisco
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Hartford, Connecticut
• Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Portland, Maine
• Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Orlando, Florida
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Houston
• Baltimore
• Austin, Texas
• Springfield, Massachusetts
• Sacramento, California