If You Want to Raise a Genius, Send Your Kids to This High School

A good education can completely flip someone’s life around and impact a student’s future success. Quality schools typically have well-trained teachers, good facilities, and high academic expectations. Sadly, not all students have access to this kind of education, however. Students attending underperforming schools often experience disruptions, lower academic standards and test scores, fewer college prep […] The post If You Want to Raise a Genius, Send Your Kids to This High School appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Feb 13, 2025 - 14:11
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If You Want to Raise a Genius, Send Your Kids to This High School

A good education can completely flip someone’s life around and impact a student’s future success. Quality schools typically have well-trained teachers, good facilities, and high academic expectations. Sadly, not all students have access to this kind of education, however. Students attending underperforming schools often experience disruptions, lower academic standards and test scores, fewer college prep courses and extracurricular activities, and less experienced teachers. These disadvantages can severely limit even the smartest students and their future opportunities, making it harder to get into college or pursue their desired careers.

The National Assessment of Education Progress, a U.S. Department of Education program, found that in 2019, just 37% of high school seniors were proficient in reading, and only 24% were proficient in math. Still, despite the apparent deficiencies of the education system at large, many public schools across the country have distinguished themselves through exceptional student outcomes. It is these schools where students most often excel — and set a standard for the rest of the country to look up to. Using data compiled by Niche, an education and community research platform, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s 50 best public high schools for 2024. Niche ranked schools based on a weighted index of multiple measures, including standardized test results, graduation rates, AP enrollment, student-teacher ratios, and parent and student surveys. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here. Charter and magnet schools were excluded from the analysis. (If you’d prefer to learn about private schools, these are the nation’s top private high schools.)

Why We’re Sharing the Importance of Education

Kid napping at school

Education plays a large role in how the country works, including how people get more money and the efficiency of businesses and corporations. For those looking to have their kids do well as they grow up, it’s imperative that they have a fighting chance at success. These top 50 high schools offer students the education and resources they need to get into great colleges. As you know, that’s a great step towards achieving a high-paying job and life-long career.

These are undoubtedly America’s 50 best public high schools:

50. Radnor Senior High School

  • Location: Radnor, PA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 98%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 83.0%
  • Total enrollment: 1,165

49. Weston High School

  • Location: Weston, MA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 61.9%
  • Total enrollment: 638

48. Winston Churchill High School

  • Location: Potomac, MD
  • Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 96%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 73.2%
  • Total enrollment: 2,212

47. Jericho Senior High School

  • Location: Jericho, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 58.3%
  • Total enrollment: 1,205

46. Great Neck South High School

  • Location: Great Neck, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 97%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 46.0%
  • Total enrollment: 1,222

45. Conestoga Senior High School

  • Location: Berwyn, PA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 98%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 51.3%
  • Total enrollment: 2,335

44. Hinsdale Central High School

  • Location: Hinsdale, IL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 94%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 40.4%
  • Total enrollment: 2,544

43. University High School

  • Location: Irvine, CA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 94%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 44.5%
  • Total enrollment: 2,097

42. Palo Alto High School

  • Location: Palo Alto, CA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 97%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 42.5%
  • Total enrollment: 2,010

41. Walt Whitman High School

  • Location: Bethesda, MD
  • Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 96%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 65.0%
  • Total enrollment: 2,029

40. Lexington High School

  • Location: Lexington, MA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 44.6%
  • Total enrollment: 2,273

39. Westwood High IB World School

  • Location: Austin, TX
  • Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 98%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 49.6%
  • Total enrollment: 2,781

38. Glenbrook North High School

  • Location: Northbrook, IL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 98%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 31.0%
  • Total enrollment: 2,052

37. High School Math, Science & Engineering at The City College of New York (CCNY)

  • Location: New York, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 96.0%
  • Total enrollment: 524

36. River Hill High School

  • Location: Clarksville, MD
  • Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1370 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 61.8%
  • Total enrollment: 1,508

35. Glenbrook South High School

  • Location: Glenview, IL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 98%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 31.4%
  • Total enrollment: 3,080

34. Neuqua Valley High School

  • Location: Naperville, IL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 98%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 44.4%
  • Total enrollment: 3,297

33. New Trier Township High School

  • Location: Winnetka, IL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 98%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 29.3%
  • Total enrollment: 2,995

32. The College Academy at Broward College

  • Location: Davie, FL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 27:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 100%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 466

31. Bergen County Technical High School – Teterboro

  • Location: Teterboro, NJ
  • Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 66.2%
  • Total enrollment: 678

30. Aspire, Deer Valley’s Online Academy

  • Location: Phoenix, AZ
  • Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 94%
  • Avg. SAT score: N/A
  • Avg. ACT score: N/A
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 370

29. West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School

  • Location: West Lafayette, IN
  • Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 35.0%
  • Total enrollment: 1,100

28. Carroll Senior High School

  • Location: Southlake, TX
  • Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 61.8%
  • Total enrollment: 1,394

27. Ladue Horton Watkins High School

  • Location: St Louis, MO
  • Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 97%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 48.6%
  • Total enrollment: 1,324

26. Bard High School Early College Queens

  • Location: Long Island City, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 675

25. Half Hollow Hills High School West

  • Location: Dix Hills, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 93%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1290 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 85.5%
  • Total enrollment: 1,035

24. Academy of the Canyons

  • Location: Santa Clarita, CA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 28:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 395

23. Westlake High School

  • Location: Austin, TX
  • Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 68.8%
  • Total enrollment: 2,823

22. Canyon Crest Academy

  • Location: San Diego, CA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 28:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 56.7%
  • Total enrollment: 2,346

21. School for Advanced Studies – Wolfson

  • Location: Miami, FL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 41:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1330 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 29 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 99.1%
  • Total enrollment: 123

20. University High School

  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 100.0%
  • Total enrollment: 1,129

19. Henry M. Gunn High School

  • Location: Palo Alto, CA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 96%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 40.2%
  • Total enrollment: 1,868

18. Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts

  • Location: Hot Springs, AR
  • Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 100%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 30 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 255

17. High School of American Studies at Lehman College

  • Location: Bronx, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 70.5%
  • Total enrollment: 408

16. School for Advanced Studies – Homestead

  • Location: Homestead, FL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 33:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 28 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 99.1%
  • Total enrollment: 133

15. Scarsdale Senior High School

  • Location: Scarsdale, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 1,471

14. Biotechnology High School

  • Location: Freehold, NJ
  • Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1490 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 22.6%
  • Total enrollment: 315

13. Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science

  • Location: Manahawkin, NJ
  • Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 274

12. Troy High School

  • Location: Fullerton, CA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 67.0%
  • Total enrollment: 2,614

11. A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School

  • Location: Boca Raton, FL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 30:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 100%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1370 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 1,294

10. Adlai E. Stevenson High School

  • Location: Lincolnshire, IL
  • Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 97%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 50.6%
  • Total enrollment: 4,392

9. High Technology High School

  • Location: Lincroft, NJ
  • Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1530 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 43.6%
  • Total enrollment: 287

8. Stuyvesant High School

  • Location: New York, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1500 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 55.7%
  • Total enrollment: 3,304

7. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology

  • Location: Lawrenceville, GA
  • Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 71.7%
  • Total enrollment: 1,165

6. Townsend Harris High School

  • Location: Flushing, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 89.9%
  • Total enrollment: 1,347

5. Bronx High School of Science

  • Location: Bronx, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 68.7%
  • Total enrollment: 2,985

4. Staten Island Technical High School

  • Location: Staten Island, NY
  • Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 95.5%
  • Total enrollment: 1,355

3. South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics

  • Location: Hartsville, SC
  • Student-teacher ratio: N/A
  • Avg. graduation rate: 95%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: 98.5%
  • Total enrollment: 270

2. Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics

  • Location: Oklahoma City, OK
  • Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 100%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 120

1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

  • Location: Durham, NC
  • Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
  • Avg. graduation rate: 99%
  • Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
  • Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
  • Students enrolled in at least one AP course: N/A
  • Total enrollment: 976

The post If You Want to Raise a Genius, Send Your Kids to This High School appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..