What is the best public high school in the US?

There's no single "best" public high school, as rankings vary by source and criteria (academics, diversity, college prep), but top contenders consistently include specialized schools like North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJHSST), and charter schools like BASIS Tucson North, often excelling in STEM and standardized testing, while traditional magnet schools like NYC's Stuyvesant also rank highly due to selective enrollment and intense academic focus.

What is the #1 high school in the US?

The #1 high school in the U.S. depends on the ranking source, but for the 2025-2026 U.S. News rankings, it's BASIS Tucson North (AZ) for public schools, while Niche places the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NC) at #1 for public schools, with private options like Phillips Academy also highly ranked by others like PolarisList. These rankings assess factors like college readiness, AP/IB scores, and graduation rates, often highlighting STEM-focused magnet or charter schools.
 

Who has the best public schools in the US?

Massachusetts has the best-ranked public schools in the United States and is the second-most educated state, just behind the District of Columbia. About 90.40% of Massachusetts adults have a high school diploma, and 42.90% have a Bachelor's degree or higher.

What is rank 1 in high school?

Rank 1 in high school typically refers to the student with the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) in their graduating class, often designated as the Valedictorian, who usually gives a speech at graduation, while the #2 student is the Salutatorian. Class rank is determined by comparing GPAs (weighted or unweighted), but many schools now offer alternatives like deciles or don't rank at all due to complexity, though the top student remains the class leader.
 

What high school sends most kids to Harvard?

Boston Latin School consistently sends the most students to Harvard, with a long-standing tradition, though other top feeders include Phillips Academy (Andover), Phillips Exeter Academy, and the specialized public school Stuyvesant High School in NYC, with recent data showing strong numbers for all three. Proximity, a strong college prep culture, and selective programs make these schools consistent sources for Harvard, with some nearby public schools like Cambridge Rindge and Latin also benefiting from their location. 

25 Best Public High Schools in USA

Is a 3.7 GPA enough for Harvard?

A 3.7 GPA is generally considered low for Harvard, as most admitted students have near-perfect GPAs (around 3.9-4.0 unweighted) and rank in the top 10% of their class, but Harvard's holistic review means exceptional extracurriculars, essays, recommendations, and a rigorous course load (AP/IB) could still make an application competitive, though it's a significant hurdle. 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

What is the #1 school in the world?

There isn't one single "top 1 school" as rankings vary by methodology, but the University of Oxford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently lead global university rankings for 2025-2026, with Oxford often #1 in Times Higher Education (THE) and MIT often #1 in QS rankings, alongside strong showings from Harvard, Cambridge, and Stanford. Oxford is top for THE (2026), focusing on research/teaching, while MIT leads QS (2026) for overall reputation, followed by MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge in various top spots across different lists.
 

What are 9 10 11 and 12 graders called?

In the U.S. education system, 9th graders are freshmen, 10th graders are sophomores, 11th graders are juniors, and 12th graders are seniors, representing the four years of high school. These terms are used to describe the specific year of study, similar to how they're used in colleges, with "senior" marking the final year.
 

Is 20% class rank good?

Being in the top 20% of your class is generally considered a strong position, but its importance depends on the specific school to which you're applying and the relative competitiveness of your high school.

What is the hardest high school to get into?

The hardest high school to get into is often cited as Stuyvesant High School in NYC, a public magnet with ~3% acceptance via a tough test (SHSAT). Other highly competitive schools include other NYC specialized schools (Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech), elite charter networks like BASIS (AZ, TX) and IDEA (TX), and top magnet schools like Stanton College Prep (FL), known for rigorous academics and low acceptance rates, often under 15%. 

What state is #1 in public education?

There isn't one single #1 state for education, as rankings vary by focus (K-12 vs. Higher Ed) and source, but Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida consistently rank at the top, with Massachusetts leading K-12, New Jersey overall (K-12 & Higher Ed), and Florida for higher education affordability/completion.
 

What is the #1 top public school?

The #1 top public university depends slightly on the ranking source, but University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) consistently ranks at or near the top, often trading the #1 spot with UCLA, with U.S. News & World Report 2026 naming UC Berkeley #1 and UCLA #2 among public schools. Other top contenders frequently mentioned include University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Virginia, and UNC Chapel Hill.
 

Are public or private schools better?

Neither private nor public school is universally "better"—it depends on a child's needs, but private schools often show higher test scores and offer smaller classes, more parent involvement, specialized programs, and greater resources, while public schools provide accessible education for all, with top districts offering excellent outcomes, but private schools often have more flexibility in curriculum and a stronger sense of community. Student success is also heavily influenced by family background, not just school type, with factors like parental education and income playing significant roles. 

What is the most elite private high school in America?

The most prestigious US private high schools consistently include Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Groton School, known for rigorous academics and strong college placement, alongside others like Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy, and The Lawrenceville School, with top NYC schools like Trinity School, Horace Mann, and Brearley School also highly ranked for feeder programs into elite universities. These schools are celebrated for demanding programs, small classes, and alumni networks leading to top universities.
 

Why can't we say freshman anymore?

We can still say "freshman," but many colleges are replacing it with "first-year student" because "freshman" contains "man," making it seem gendered and less inclusive for non-male students, and because the term "freshman" (meaning novice) doesn't always fit diverse students (older, non-traditional) entering college; "first-year" is more neutral and flexible, fitting modern universities better.
 

What is a good GPA in the US?

A good college GPA on a standard 4.0 scale can fall between 3.0 and 4.0—or between a B and the highest GPA, an A+. However, “good” often depends on context.

What grade is 2028?

For the 2024-2025 school year, the High School Class of 2028 is in their Sophomore (10th) year, while for the 2025-2026 school year, they will be Juniors (11th grade), progressing towards graduation in the spring of 2028, meaning they were likely in 7th grade around 2022-2023.
 

What GPA do you need to get into UCLA?

UCLA requires California freshmen to have at least a 3.0 GPA and non-residents a 3.4 GPA in college-preparatory (A-G) courses, but successful applicants often have much higher GPAs (around 3.9-4.0 unweighted) and strong courses, while transfer students need a 3.2+ in transferable courses. Admission is holistic, considering course rigor and other factors, not just GPA, with strong applicants exceeding minimums and taking challenging classes.
 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into in the world?

While rankings shift slightly, Harvard University is consistently cited as the #1 hardest school to get into globally, known for its extremely low acceptance rates (around 3%) due to immense prestige, top-tier applicants worldwide, and rigorous criteria for grades, scores, leadership, and essays. Other top contenders for difficulty include Stanford University, MIT, Yale University, and Princeton University. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

Is Oxford harder than Harvard?

Neither Oxford nor Harvard is definitively "harder"—they are both exceptionally difficult but in different ways, with Harvard generally having lower acceptance rates (making it tougher to get in) while Oxford's intense, subject-focused structure, particularly its final exams, presents a unique academic challenge. Harvard emphasizes a holistic review for well-rounded leaders, while Oxford focuses intensely on deep academic merit and subject mastery. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.