In this article, I will be sharing with you the top 10 high schools in California in terms of their ranking (national and state), and college readiness/acceptance rate, among other things.
Before then, let’s have a look at an overview of the educational system in California state. The State of California has about 945 districts and in these districts are 2,572 high schools.
California State is a great place to educate a child or get a high school education. The State has a variety of public and private high schools spread across various jurisdictions.
In California state, you have the option of choosing from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, homeschooling, and learning pods.
The total enrollment of all the high schools in California as of the time of this article is 2,143,885. The State also has 96,472 full-time teachers spread across the various schools in the districts.
Before graduating from a California high school, students must complete a minimum of 13 state-mandated courses, including three years of English, two years of math, and two years of science.
Students in California are tested on English language arts and mathematics using the Smarter Balanced assessments, and they also must take the California Science Test.
Let’s now get into the list of the top 10 high schools in California. Some of the details used in compiling the list were sourced from usnews.com
Post Contents
What are the top 10 high schools in California?
This compilation of top high schools in California is based on the following factors; rankings (national and state), college readiness index, student diversity, and gender distribution among other parameters.
This list is according to usnews latest rankings and may not contain private high schools. let’s get started;
1. Whitney High School
With a total enrollment of 691, Whitney High School is at top of my list of the top 10 high schools in California. The is ranked 14th in the national rankings and 1st in the California high school rankings.
It has a student diversity (minority enrollment ) of 95.8%. The school is female-dominated by a percentage of 55 and males at 45%.
2. California Academy of Mathematics and Science
Second, on my list is the California Academy of Mathematics and Science. The school is ranked 2nd in California high schools and 15th in the national rankings.
The total enrollment of the school is 669 with a student-teacher ratio of 27: 1. The student diversity is 93.3 minority enrollment. The school has a college readiness (district average) of 41.7.
3. Oxford Academy
Oxford Academy comes in third on my list of the top 10 high schools in California. The school is ranked 16th in the national rankings and 3rd in California high schools.
It has a student diversity of 93.4% (Minority Enrollment) and a total enrollment of 812 with a student-teacher ratio of 28:1.
4. Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy
Next on the top 10 high schools in California is Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy, ranked 4th. With a college readiness index of 88.3/100, the school has a total enrollment of 458 and is ranked 62nd in the national rankings.
The student diversity of the school is 97.6 of which 52% are female and 48% male.
5. Preuss School
Coming in at number 5 on my list of the top 10 high schools in California is Preuss School. The school is located on the University of California—San Diego campus.
The Preuss School aims to prepare low-income students for college. Many Preuss School students become the first in their families to attend a four-year university.
The school is currently ranked 71st in the national rankings and 5th among California high schools. The enrollment of the school is 474 with 51% of them females and 49% males.
The school also has a student diversity of 98.6 and a college readiness index of 92.2/100.
6. Lowell High School
Lowell High School is the 6th on my list of the top 10 schools in California. The school offers a rigorous curriculum focused on honors-level and Advanced Placement courses, including chemistry, calculus, and economics.
Lowell High School also offers a variety of foreign languages, and its athletic teams claim more city championships than any other public high school in San Francisco.
Distinguished Lowell alumni include three Nobel Prize winners and famed gorilla researcher Dian Fossey.
Lowell High School is ranked 82nd in the national rankings and 6th in California high schools.
The enrollment of the school is currently 2,786 and a student-teacher ratio of 25:1.
7. University High School
University High School is the 7th school on my list of the top 10 best high schools in California. The School is a liberal arts high school that offers a unique curriculum with courses such as zoology, Latin, and musicianship.
Located on the campus of California State University, Fresno, juniors, and seniors enroll in classes at the university, often earning college credit in the process. Admission to University High School is selective but does use a lottery system if applications exceed availability.
Applicants must have at least two years of musical experience to be considered, and every student at UHS is required to participate in band, orchestra, or choir for all four years.
The school is ranked 92nd in the national rankings and 7th in California high schools. The total enrollment of the school is 493 with a student-teacher ratio of 24:1.
8. Mission San Jose High School
The 8th school in my top 10 high schools in California is Mission San Jose High School. The School is ranked 94th in the national rankings and 8th in California high schools.
The enrollment of the school currently is 2,063 with 49% of them females and 51% males. The student-teacher ratio of the school is 26:1.
9. Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy
In the 9th position is Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy. The school is ranked 9th in California. in Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy, the total minority enrollment is 80%, and 43% of students are economically disadvantaged.
The enrollment of the school is 298 with a student-teacher ratio of 29:1. Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy is ranked 95th in the national rankings.
10. Riverside Stem Academy
Last on my list of the top 10 high schools in California is Riverside Stem Academy. The Academy is ranked 10th in California. The total minority enrollment is 70%, and 41% of students are economically disadvantaged.
Riverside Stem Academy is ranked 100th in the national rankings and 10th in California high schools. The enrollment of the school is 423 with 45% of them females and 55% males.
Summary of the 10 best high schools in California
All the Schools on this list were ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare students for college. As stated earlier, the rankings are based on USNEWS’s latest ranking of the top 10 high schools in California.
Also, check out our list of the most expensive high schools in California here.
Here’s a summary of all the schools in the list of the top 10 high schools in California. They are;
- Whitney High School
- California Academy of Mathematics and Science
- Oxford Academy
- Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy
- Preuss School
- Lowell High School
- University High School (Fresno)
- Mission San Jose High School
- Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy
- Riverside Stem Academy