See the 2017 Best Public High Schools

Briana Boyington

Explore the Best High Schools

U.S. News evaluated more than 28,000 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia for the 2017 Best High Schools rankings. These 10 schools scored the highest among the 500 top-ranked national gold medal schools.

10. Pacific Collegiate Charter

Students who attend this California-based charter school are required to gain proficiency in at least one foreign language and take five Advanced Placement classes to graduate.

Learn more about Pacific Collegiate Charter.

9. School of Science and Engineering

This Texas school focuses on preparing its students to compete globally in science and engineering. Students can take accelerated classes in science, English, math and computer science.

Learn more about the School of Science and Engineering.

8. Carnegie Vanguard High School

Carnegie Vanguard High School is a Texas school for talented and gifted teens. Students can take either pre-Advanced Placement or AP courses. Juniors are required to take the Texas Performance Standard Project, a yearlong nontraditional course that helps students explore their talents.

Learn more about Carnegie Vanguard High School.

7. BASIS Chandler

Located in Chandler, Arizona, BASIS Chandler serves students in grades 5-12. Students at BASIS schools are required to take a minimum of six AP exams.

Learn more about BASIS Chandler.

6. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

In Virginia, TJHSST offers a curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering and math -- or STEM -- and houses 15 specialized research labs, including ones dedicated to astrophysics, microelectronics and oceanography.

Learn more about Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

5. BASIS Peoria

Seniors at BASIS Peoria in Arizona took more than 500 AP exams, obtaining an 85 percent pass rate and earning an average score of 3.68 in 2016.

Learn more about BASIS Peoria.

4. School for the Talented and Gifted

This Dallas high school follows Texas' Distinguished Achievement Program. Most of the academic courses are Advanced Placement, including electives.

Learn more about the School for the Talented and Gifted.

3. BASIS Oro Valley

BASIS Oro Valley, founded in 2010, is located in Oro Valley, Arizona. All of the 67 seniors from the Class of 2017 scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam taken during their junior year. The class took a total of 504 exams.

Learn more about BASIS Oro Valley.

2. BASIS Tucson North

In Arizona, BASIS Tucson North is the first and largest campus of the BASIS charter schools. All seniors in the Class of 2017 were accepted to four-year colleges and universities.

Learn more about BASIS Tucson North.

1. BASIS Scottsdale

BASIS Scottsdale is one of more than a dozen BASIS charter schools located in Arizona. The Class of 2017 includes 28 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

Learn more about BASIS Scottsdale.

Learn More About the Top High Schools

For more Best High Schools rankings and data, check out the top STEM schools.

Read our High School Notes blog to stay up to date on high school news. Connect with U.S. News Education on Facebook, or tweet @USNewsEducation using the hashtag #BestHighSchools to share your thoughts on the rankings.

Briana Boyington is an education digital producer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at bboyington@usnews.com.