Best public high schools in Arizona
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ’96 commencement address at Wellesley College, “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” If that’s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It’s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in Arizona using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.
You may also like: Best scenic drives in Arizona
#30. Great Hearts Academies – Lincoln Prep
– Location: Chandler, AZ
– Enrollment: 546 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#29. Presidio School
– Location: Tucson, AZ
– Enrollment: 392 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#28. Great Hearts Academies – Trivium Prep
– Location: Goodyear, AZ
– Enrollment: 904 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#27. Hamilton High School
– Location: Chandler Unified School District No. 80, AZ
– Enrollment: 3,926 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#26. ASU Preparatory Academy – Casa Grande High School
– Location: Casa Grande, AZ
– Enrollment: 194 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
You may also like: Demand for these health care jobs is increasing most in Arizona
#25. Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center – Estrella
– Location: Avondale, AZ
– Enrollment: 454 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#24. Phoenix Union Bioscience High School
– Location: Phoenix Union High School District, AZ
– Enrollment: 392 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#23. Paragon Science Academy
– Location: Chandler, AZ
– Enrollment: 524 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#22. Horizon Honors Secondary School
– Location: Phoenix, AZ
– Enrollment: 714 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#21. BASIS Goodyear
– Location: Goodyear, AZ
– Enrollment: 269 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
You may also like: How syringe exchanges in Arizona reduce the spread of disease
#20. Great Hearts Academies – Anthem
– Location: Phoenix, AZ
– Enrollment: 1,022 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#19. Great Hearts Academies – Glendale Prep
– Location: Peoria, AZ
– Enrollment: 593 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#18. Great Hearts Academies – Veritas Prep
– Location: Phoenix, AZ
– Enrollment: 792 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#17. Gilbert Classical Academy High School
– Location: Gilbert Public Schools, AZ
– Enrollment: 712 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#16. University High School
– Location: Tolleson Union High School District, AZ
– Enrollment: 405 (24:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
You may also like: Where refugees in Arizona are arriving from
#15. Great Hearts Arete Preparatory Academy
– Location: Gilbert, AZ
– Enrollment: 550 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#14. BASIS Flagstaff
– Location: Flagstaff, AZ
– Enrollment: 785 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#13. Great Hearts Academies – Chandler Prep
– Location: Chandler, AZ
– Enrollment: 694 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#12. Arizona College Prep High School
– Location: Chandler Unified School District No. 80, AZ
– Enrollment: 1,225 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#11. Great Hearts Academies – Scottsdale Prep
– Location: Scottsdale, AZ
– Enrollment: 851 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
You may also like: Best lookout points in Arizona
#10. Tempe Preparatory Academy
– Location: Tempe, AZ
– Enrollment: 447 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#9. BASIS Peoria
– Location: Peoria, AZ
– Enrollment: 943 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#8. BASIS Chandler
– Location: Chandler, AZ
– Enrollment: 1,154 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#7. BASIS Ahwatukee
– Location: Phoenix, AZ
– Enrollment: 720 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#6. BASIS Oro Valley
– Location: Oro Valley, AZ
– Enrollment: 575 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
You may also like: States sending the most people to Arizona
#5. University High School
– Location: Tucson Unified School District, AZ
– Enrollment: 1,129 (23:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#4. BASIS Mesa
– Location: Mesa, AZ
– Enrollment: 808 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#3. BASIS Scottsdale
– Location: Scottsdale, AZ
– Enrollment: 1,057 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#2. BASIS Phoenix
– Location: Phoenix, AZ
– Enrollment: 730 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#1. BASIS Tucson North
– Location: Tucson, AZ
– Enrollment: 863 (student to teacher ratio not available)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
You may also like: Counties receiving the most SBA loans in Arizona
By Stacker
Arizona has great high schools! Exploring the surrounding communities is fun for families, too!
It’s cute that you think Arizona has great high schools, but have you even looked into the actual rankings? Not all neighborhoods are created equal, you know. Are you really considering moving there for the schools, or are you just caught up in the hype? *eye roll*