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U.S. News & World Report dropped its 2026-27 Best High Schools list, and this year’s results are giving California some serious bragging rights. Between STEM-heavy magnet programs, intensive AP tracks, and campuses most people outside their district have probably never heard of, the state’s top performers are proof that some of the country’s best education is happening in classrooms most Angelenos drive past without a second thought.
U.S. News evaluated roughly 27,000 public high schools nationwide, ultimately ranking nearly 18,000 of them. Schools were scored across six factors: college readiness, state test performance, underserved student outcomes, curriculum breadth, and graduation rate. It’s a big, data-heavy process, but the takeaway is simple: these are the campuses producing the strongest outcomes in the country.
California’s top 10 high schools
Science Academy STEM Magnet (North Hollywood) — No. 10 nationally
Whitney High School (Cerritos) — No. 11 nationally
Oxford Academy (Cypress) — No. 17 nationally
Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy (Wilmington) — No. 24 nationally
Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy (Gilroy) — No. 37 nationally
University High School (Fresno) — No. 64 nationally
California Academy of Mathematics and Science (Carson) — No. 69 nationally
Pacific Collegiate Charter (Santa Cruz) — No. 82 nationally
Lynbrook High School (San Jose) — No. 92 nationally
Mission San Jose High School (Fremont) — No. 98 nationally
The school that stole the show
California’s No. 1 spot went to Science Academy STEM Magnet, a tiny North Hollywood campus with just 260 students across grades 9-12. Small doesn’t mean modest, though — the school posted a 100% graduation rate, a 97% AP exam pass rate, and a mean SAT score of 1,334, all while 36% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Several other top schools on the list, including Whitney High School and Oxford Academy, are similarly known for AP-heavy course requirements that push students hard from day one. California continues to lead the nation in STEM-focused schools, with 96 statewide, more than any other state in the country.