Where are the best public high schools in Pennsylvania? These topped the list in 2024

Matt DiSanto
·12 min read

Where can you find the best public high schools in Pennsylvania? You might get a better idea by browsing the latest rankings published by Niche, a website offering data on schools and colleges across the country.

Niche’s rankings are annually developed using reviews and data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, Civil Rights Data Collection and more. Niche, headquartered in Pittsburgh, ranks public high schools through the following major categories:

  • An academics grade, which is based on state assessment proficiency, college enrollment data and student and parent survey responses regarding academics

  • A culture and diversity grade, which is based on racial and economic diversity and student and parent survey responses regarding school culture and diversity

  • A teachers grade, which is based on teacher salary, teach absenteeism, state test results and student and parent surveys regarding teachers

Overall, Niche breaks down its overall grades for public high schools using the following segments and weights:

  • Academics grade: 60%

  • Culture and diversity grade: 12.5%

  • Parent/student surveys on overall experience: 10%

  • Teachers grade: 10%

  • Clubs and activities grade: 2.5%

  • Resources and facilities: 2.5%

  • Sports grade: 2.5%

Following the Keystone State’s top-rated public elementary schools and middle schools, Pennsylvania’s premier high schools are mostly located near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, just as they were in Niche’s 2023 rankings.

State College Area High School ranked the highest among all Centre County public high schools by receiving an “A+” overall grade and checking in as the No. 15 public high school in Pennsylvania. Bellefonte Area High School (B overall) and Penns Valley Area Junior/Senior High School (B- overall) followed.

Each of the public high schools ranked within Pennsylvania’s top 25 performers in 2024 received an overall “A” grade or better, according to Niche’s analysis. Here’s a brief look at how the top-ranked performers compared this year.

25. South Fayette Township High School

Location: McDonald, Pa.

Grades: A overall, A academics, A teachers, A clubs and activities, B diversity, B+ college prep, B+ administration, A sports, A food and B- resources and facilities

This Pittsburgh-area school instructs roughly 1,074 students between the ninth and 12th grades, according to Niche, and offers a 16-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent standardized test scores indicate roughly 89% of those students are at least proficient in math, while about 93% are at least proficient in reading.

24. Spring-Ford Senior High School

Location: Royersford, Pa.

Grades: A overall, A academics, A- teachers, A+ clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A- college prep, A- administration, A sports, A- food and B resources and facilities

Out in the Philadelphia suburbs, this high school has a student body of 2,631 students spread between the ninth and 12th grades and offers a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Spring-Ford students recently produced proficiency rates of 91% in math and 86% in reading, Niche says.

23. Central Bucks High School — South

Location: Warrington, Pa.

Grades: A overall, A academics, A teachers, A- clubs and activities, B diversity, A- college prep, A- administration, A sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

Roughly 1,720 students attend this high school, which instructs between the 10th and 12th grades and boasts a 17-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent standardized test scores showed proficiency rates of 77% in reading and 77% in math.

22. Central Bucks High School — West

Location: Doylestown, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, A clubs and activities, B- diversity, A- college prep, B+ administration, A sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

You can find a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio at this Bucks County high school, which instructs 1,504 students between the 10th and 12th grades. Those students were responsible for proficiency rates of 75% in math and 82% in reading, Niche reports.

21. Plymouth-Whitemarsh Senior High School

Location: Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A- college prep, A+ administration, A- sports, A food and B resources and facilities

Approximately 1,552 students between the ninth and 12th grades attend this high school, which offers a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The latest batch of standardized testing scores showed proficiency rates of 77% in math and 82% in reading.

20. Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy

Location: Erie, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, B clubs and activities, A- diversity, A- college prep, A- administration, A- food and C+ resources and facilities

Ranked the top public high school in the Erie area, this magnet school teaches 753 students between the ninth and 12th grades and offers a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. At least 82% of the school’s students are at least proficient in math, while 87% can say the same for reading.

19. Wissahickon Senior High School

Location: Ambler, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, B+ clubs and activities, A- diversity, A college prep, B administration, B sports, C food and C+ resources and facilities

This Philadelphia-area school instructs 1,459 students between the ninth and 12th grades and offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The latest test scores indicate high proficiency rates in math (94%) and reading (91%).

18. Strath Haven High School

Location: Wallingford, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A college prep, B administration, A sports, B- food and C+ resources and facilities

Out in Delaware County, this school offers a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 1,159 students in grades nine through 12. Recent state test scores produced proficiency rates of 77% in math and 87% in reading.

17. Garnet Valley High School

Location: Glen Mills, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, A- clubs and activities, B diversity, A- college prep, A administration, A sports, B+ food and B resources and facilities

This school, also located in Delaware County, instructs 1,546 students between the ninth and 12th grades and offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Roughly 92% of the school’s students are at least proficient in math, while about 91% are at least proficient in reading.

16. Great Valley High School

Location: Malvern, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, B clubs and activities, A- diversity, A college prep, B administration, B sports, B- food and C+ resources and facilities

This high school in the Philadelphia suburbs hosts 1,403 students between the ninth and 12th grades and boasts a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent standardized test scores indicate proficiency rates of 92% in math and 89% in reading.

15. State College Area High School

Location: State College, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A- college prep, B+ administration, A sports, A+ food and B+ resources and facilities

More than 2,400 students attend this Centre County school, which offers a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The latest batch of available standardized test scores indicate proficiency rates of 91% in math and 86% in reading.

14. Hershey High School

Location: Hershey, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, A- clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A- college prep, B administration, A- sports, A- food and B resources and facilities

Ranked the top public high school in Dauphin County, this school offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 1,093 students between the ninth and 12th grades. Those students produced proficiency rates of 83% in both math and reading.

13. Unionville High School

Location: Kennett Square, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A- teachers, B+ clubs and activities, B diversity, A college prep, B- administration, A sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

Out near Philadelphia, this high school instructs 1,306 students between the ninth and 12th grades while offering a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent standardized test scores indicate proficiency rates of 85% in math and 82% in reading.

12. Upper St. Clair High School

Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B- diversity, A- college prep, A- administration, A sports, A food and B+ resources and facilities

You’ll find a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio at this high school, which instructs 1,288 students between the ninth and 12th grades. Those students produced proficiency rates of 92% in math and 91% in reading, Niche reports.

11. Central Bucks High School — East

Location: Doylestown, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A- clubs and activities, B- diversity, A- college prep, B+ administration, A sports, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

Nearly 1,400 students attend this high school, which offers a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio between the 10th and 12th grades. According to state test scores, roughly 83% of the school’s students are at least proficient in math, while about 80% can say the same for reading.

10. Fox Chapel Area High School

Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B diversity, A- college prep, A- administration, A- sports, A food and B+ resources and facilities

Ranked the third-best high school in the Pittsburgh area, this school hosts 1,283 students between the ninth and 12th grades while offering a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent test scores indicate the school’s students produced proficiency rates of 92% in math and 89% in reading, according to Niche.

9. Mt. Lebanon Senior High School

Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A+ clubs and activities, B- diversity, A- college prep, B+ administration, A sports, A food and B+ resources and facilities

Another Pittsburgh school, Mt. Lebanon Senior High School hosts a student body of 1,840 students between the ninth and 12th grades with a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The latest batch of test scores indicate proficiency levels of 93% in math and 91% in reading, Niche reports.

8. Central High School

Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, A diversity, A college prep, A- administration, B sports, B+ food and C+ resources and facilities

Ranked No. 2 among Niche’s Standout High Schools in America, this Philadelphia magnet school instructs 2,364 students between the ninth and 12th grades while offering a 20-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Its students tested well and produced proficiency rates of 96% in math and 99% in reading.

7. Lower Merion High School

Location: Ardmore, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A college prep, A- administration, A sports, A food and B+ resources and facilities

Out in the Philadelphia suburbs, this school boasts a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 1,721 students between the ninth and 12th grades. Those students produced proficiency rates of 80% and 94% in math and reading, respectively.

6. Harriton Senior High School

Location: Rosemont, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A college prep, A- administration, B sports, A food and B+ resources and facilities

Ranked the top public high school in Montgomery County, this school instructs 1,261 students between the ninth and 12th grades while offering an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent test scores indicate proficiency rates of 81% in math and 91% in reading.

5. North Allegheny High School

Location: Wexford, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A+ clubs and activities, B diversity, A college prep, A- administration, A+ sports, A- food and B resources and facilities

Nearly 2,700 students attend this Pittsburgh-area high school, which offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio from the ninth through 12th grades. The latest batch of standardized test scores indicated proficiency rates of 88% in math and 91% in reading, Niche reports.

4. Downingtown STEM Academy

Location: Downingtown, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A- clubs and activities, A- diversity, A+ college prep, A- administration, B+ food and B- resources and facilities

This public magnet school in the Philadelphia suburbs instructs 924 students between the ninth and 12th grades while offering a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. At least 95% of those students are proficient in math and reading, according to Niche.

3. Radnor Senior High School

Location: Radnor, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A+ college prep, B+ administration, A sports, A food and B resources and facilities

More than 1,100 students attend this school, which boasts a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio between the ninth and 12th grades. The latest batch of state test scores indicate proficiency rates of 87% and 95% in math and reading, respectively, for the school’s students.

2. Conestoga Senior High School

Location: Berwyn, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, A clubs and activities, B+ diversity, A+ college prep, A- administration, A sports, B food and B- resources and facilities

This Philadelphia-area school instructs 2,347 students between the ninth and 12th grades and offers a 16-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent state test scores showed proficiency rates of 97% in math and 92% in reading.

1. Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School

Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers, C+ clubs and activities, A diversity, A+ college prep, B administration, B- sports, B- food and C- resources and facilities

Just like last year, this Philadelphia school claimed the top spot among Pennsylvania’s public high schools in 2024. According to Niche, the magnet school instructs 1,186 students between the fifth and 12th grades with a 22-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. According to state test scores, roughly 84% of the school’s students are at least proficient in math, while about 98% can say the same for reading.

You can find more rankings, data and reviews for Pennsylvania’s top public high schools by visiting niche.com/k12/search/best-public-high-schools/s/pennsylvania.