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The 15 Best Public High Schools in the U.S.

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Your child's education is one of the greatest investments you will ever make. Choosing the right school will help your child through their high school years, but how do you choose the 'right' school? There are so many things to consider, and it seems wherever you look you will find someone claiming to be the 'best'. There are multiple lists published every year ranking schools on a wide range of criteria, including academic or sporting performance, college acceptance rates, student satisfaction and teacher/student ratio. So which list is right and how do you decide the best school for your child? Several of these lists have been compared and below you will find the public high schools which feature consistently across them all.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) regularly features strongly in many lists of top schools. In fact, this school was the only one named in all lists compared for this article.

Location: Alexandria, Virginia

Graduation Rate: 99%

Reading Proficiency: 99%

Math Proficiency: 99%

Student Population: < 2,000

Student to Teacher Ratio: 17:1

College Readiness Index: 100%

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

While Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology was only founded in 2007, it has quickly gained a reputation as a quality school, regularly ranking highly across a number of categories.

Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Graduation Rate: 95%

Reading Proficiency: 97%

Math Proficiency: 96%

Student Population: < 1,000

Student to Teacher Ratio: 17:1

College Readiness Index: 98.9%

BASIS Oro Valley

Opening in 2010, BASIS Oro Valley has quickly gained an enviable reputation as a quality school. A diverse range of extracurricular activities are available in this school which has regularly featured in the top 10 of American High Schools since it opened in 2010.

Location: Oro Valley, Arizona

Graduation Rate: 90%

Reading Proficiency: 92%

Math Proficiency: 88%

Student Population: < 600

Student to Teacher Ratio: 6:1

College Readiness Index: 100%

BASIS Scottsdale

BASIS Scottsdale has been named the number one Charter School in America every year since 201Students begin taking Advanced Placement courses in or before the 10th grade and the school's commitment to excellence is shown in their very impressive results.

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Graduation Rate: 95%

Reading Proficiency: 92%

Math Proficiency: 86%

Student Population: < 800

Student to Teacher Ratio: 11:1

College Readiness Index: 100%

Bergen County Academies

Bergen County Academies' curriculum is based on the International Baccalaureate structure and offers courses in Science and Technology, Medical Science Technology, Visual and Performing Arts, Business and Finance, Technology and Computer Science, Culinary Arts and Hotel Administration, and Engineering and Design Technology. Students of BCA are encouraged to pursue a personal interest rather than a career objective.

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Location: Hackensack, New Jersey

Graduation Rate: 99%

Reading Proficiency: 88%

Math Proficiency: 96%

Student Population: < 1,100

Student to Teacher Ratio: 11:1

College Readiness Index: 96.3%

Bronx High School of Science

The Bronx High School of Science has a large number of students (approximately 3,000) and a higher than average student to teacher ratio (22:1), but this is not reflected in the excellent results they achieve year after year.

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Location: Bronx, New York

Graduation Rate: 99%

Reading Proficiency: 99%

Math Proficiency: 99%

Student Population: > 3,000

Student to Teacher Ratio: 22:1

College Readiness Index: 92.2%

International Academy of Macomb

The International Academy of Macomb is the highest ranked high school in Michigan and offers an International Baccalaureate curriculum. Lower than average student numbers (less than 500) mean extremely competitive entrance requirements.

Location: Clinton Township, Michigan

Graduation Rate: 99%

Reading Proficiency: 98%

Math Proficiency: 98%

Student Population: < 500

Student to Teacher Ratio: 93:1

College Readiness Index: 100%

Liberal Arts and Science Academy

With challenging classes, a wide range of courses to choose from and a variety of extracurricular activities, the Liberal Arts and Science Academy strive to nurture the leaders of tomorrow.

Location: Austin, Texas

Graduation Rate: 99%

Reading Proficiency: 99%

Math Proficiency: 99%

Student Population: >1,000

Student to Teacher Ratio: 16:1

College Readiness Index: 100%

Staten Island Technical High School

Focussing on college preparation, Staten Island Technical boasts an impressive 100% Advanced Placement participation rate. As the name indicates, there is a focus on technology however arts are supported and encouraged for all students.

Location: Staten Island, New York

Graduation Rate: 99%

Reading Proficiency: 99%

Math Proficiency: 99%

Student Population: > 1,200

Student to Teacher Ratio: 22:1

College Readiness Index: 97.1%

Stuyvesant High School

Offering a wide selection of academic, athletic and arts opportunities, Stuyvesant High School has remained a symbol of excellence in education for over 100 years. The curriculum is designed to instill a sense of purpose for all students, so they may grow into responsible global citizens.

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Location: Manhattan, New York

Graduation Rate: 99%

Reading Proficiency: 99%

Math Proficiency: 99%

Student Population: > 3,000

Student to Teacher Ratio: 22:1

College Readiness Index: 91%

Walter Payton College Preparatory

Independent studies show 100% of students feel safe at Walter Payton College Preparatory. Providing world-class education and facilities to students, this school focuses on developing each child as an individual.

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Location: Chicago, Illinois

Graduation Rate: 95%

Reading Proficiency: 92%

Math Proficiency: 95%

Student Population: < 1,000

Student to Teacher Ratio: 16:1

College Readiness Index: 93.4%

High Technology High School

High Technology High School follows an engineering-centric curriculum with many students earning college credits through a range of courses developed with universities and colleges. The school encourages active parental participation, creating a high achieving environment with a community feel.

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Location: Lincroft, New Jersey

Graduation Rate: 95%

Reading Proficiency: 94%

Math Proficiency: 95%

Student Population: < 300

Student to Teacher Ratio: 14:1

College Readiness Index: 100%

The Early College at Guilford

With an accelerated curriculum, The Early College at Guilford sees many students graduating with up to two years of college credits. A very small school, competition is high and with a focus on academic goals, the school has no sporting teams.

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Location: Greesnboro, North Carolina

Graduation Rate: 90%

Reading Proficiency: 90%

Math Proficiency: 90%

Student Population: 200

Student to Teacher Ratio: 25:1

College Readiness Index: 100%

Baccalaureate School for Global Education

Small class sizes help the Baccalaureate School for Global Education develop students' social and intellectual skills. Teachers and Instructors regularly participate in professional development activities, ensuring engaging and up-to-date content at all times.

Location: Long Island City, New York

Graduation Rate: 95%

Reading Proficiency: 98%

Math Proficiency: 99%

Student Population: > 500

Student to Teacher Ratio: 16:1

College Readiness Index: 100%

Carnegie Vanguard High School

Carnegie Vanguard High School is committed to providing a unique and diverse learning experience for every student. 100% of all students have been identified as gifted or talented academics, students' results regularly exceed national and state averages.

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Location: Houston, Texas

Graduation Rate: 95%

Reading Proficiency: 99%

Math Proficiency: 90%

Student Population: > 700

Student to Teacher Ratio: 19:1

College Readiness Index: 100%