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The cream of California’s academic crop has been crowned — with SoCal schools cleaning up.
Southern California STEM powerhouses, dual-enrollment standouts and ultra-selective public academies dominate the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of the nation’s best public high schools.
The annual rankings evaluated thousands of schools nationwide based on college readiness, graduation rates, AP participation, state assessment performance and how well schools serve underserved students.
In California, Los Angeles claimed the top spot, with SoCal schools dominating the 2026-27 rankings.
Science Academy STEM Magnet in North Hollywood was crowned California’s No. 1 public high school — and No. 10 in the nation.
The small, STEM-focused Los Angeles Unified School District magnet boasts a 100% graduation rate, a 97% AP exam pass rate and a mean SAT score of 1,334.
Just 260 students are enrolled in grades 9-12, with 36% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Last year’s California champ, Whitney High School in Cerritos, came in at number two in California, and 11 nationally. Operating within the ABC Unified School District, this highly selective campus admits students in grades 7-12 on a merit based system.
Known for its rigorous academics and ambitious curriculum, it boasts a massive AP exam participation and near 100% state testing proficiency.
In Orange County, Oxford Academy in Cypress rounded out California’s top three, and ranked number 17 nationwide.
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Part of the Anaheim Union High School District, Oxford requires students to pass a demanding entrance exam, and all upperclassman enrolled in the honors curriculum have to take at least four AP classes to graduate — with 99% of them passing at least one of the AP exams.
Plus, 9th and 10th graders can pick from a specialized pathway to supplement their core curriculum, giving students a pre-professional training boost.
Situated on the Los Angeles Harbor Campus in Wilmington, Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy is an LAUSD early college marvel that allows students to take high school and college classes at the same time.
The school ranks number four in California, and number 24 nationally. The AP participation rate is a jaw-dropping 100%, with 96% of students passing at least one AP exam.
Known colloquially as CAMS, the California Academy of Mathematics and Science in the South Bay area of LA County is ranked number seven in California, and 69 nationally. The Long Beach USD magnet is on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, where students have access to university labs.
About 91% of students participate in the AP program, and 83% passed at least one AP exam.
Outside of SoCal, the other top 10 public high schools in California include Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy at number five, University High School (Fresno) at number six, Pacific Collegiate Charter at number eight, Lynbrook High School at number nine, and Mission San Jose High School at number 10.
