U.S. News & World Report high school rankings

U.S. News & World Report has released its Best High Schools rankings for the 2026-2027 cycle, evaluating approximately 18,000 to 27,000 public institutions nationwide.

The ranking methodology is based on a national percentile score derived from six weighted factors: College Readiness (30%), State Assessment Proficiency (20%), State Assessment Performance (20%), College Curriculum Breadth (10%), Underserved Student Performance (10%), and Graduation Rate (10%).

Regional results show varying outcomes. New Jersey emerged as a leader with eight schools in the top 100 nationally, including High Technology High School, which was recognized as the top STEM school in the United States. In New York, Brooklyn Latin School was identified as the top institution, though state rankings were impacted by the exclusion of AP exam data due to a lack of state authorization for the College Board. In Minnesota, the rankings highlight the state’s strong educational reputation following a record-high graduation rate for the class of 2025.

Recent updates regarding New York indicate that several schools from the Hudson Valley secured spots on the state list. However, the exclusion of AP exam data remains a concern, as it prevents schools from receiving full credit in two categories that account for 40 percent of the total score.

In New Jersey, Columbia High School experienced a decline, dropping to 72nd in the state rankings for 2026 from 53rd in 2025. School officials, including Superintendent Jason Bing and Principal Frank Sanchez, noted that the rankings rely on 2023-2024 assessment data. They stated that recent initiatives, such as a new Freshman Academy and increased AP offerings, have since improved graduation rates to 93.2 percent and increased the proportion of students scoring 3 or higher on AP exams to 91 percent.