Best Public Schools in America 2026 (Data Ranked)

We rank every U.S. public school using a DataScore — a composite of what students actually achieve, not what schools spend. Here are the 25 highest-scoring schools based on proficiency rates, growth trends, and graduation rates from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Top 25 Public Schools by DataScore

What the Top Schools Have in Common

• High proficiency rates: Top schools have 85-99% of students at or above grade level in reading and math
• Strong growth: Even high-performing schools continue to improve year over year
• Near-universal graduation: High schools in the top 25 have graduation rates above 95%

Selective vs. Non-Selective Schools

Many schools in the top 25 are selective-admission magnet or exam schools. While their outcomes are impressive, the selection process means they serve a different student population than neighborhood schools. We include both types but note the distinction. Schools that achieve high DataScores without selective admissions are particularly noteworthy.

For state-level analysis, see school quality by state. For charter vs. public comparison, see charter vs. public schools. For schools improving the fastest, see our most improved schools.

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