Think you or your loved one's high school is one of the best in the country?
U.S. News & World Report released its 2026-2027 rankings of the best high schools in the country, with 1,267 Florida high schools on the list.
The rankings evaluate around 27,000 eligible public high schools at the national, state and local levels, with nearly 18,000 ranked. Officials evaluated these public schools based on six key performance indicators, including student achievement on state-required assessments, strong graduation rates and college readiness measures.
"Every student deserves a pathway to success, and that journey often begins with selecting the right school,” LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for education at U.S. News, said in a press release. “The
2026-2027 Best High Schools rankings empower families with the valuable data and transparency they need to help make the best educational choices for them. We are proud to offer this essential resource to help shape the next generation of college-ready students."
Did Florida place in the top 10 national high schools?
No, Florida did not have any schools place among the top 10 public high schools in the country. Here's which ones ranked:
- Central Magnet School (Tennessee)
- Signature School (Indiana)
- Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Pennsylvania)
- Davidson Academy (Nevada)
- School Without Walls High School (Washington, DC)
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Virginia)
- Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (Georgia)
- The School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) (Texas)
- Nikola Tesla STEM High School (Washington)
- Science Academy STEM Magnet (California)
What is the top high school in Florida?
Pine View School in Osprey was determined to be the best school in Florida, ranking 13th nationally. It received an overall score of 99.93 out of 100.
According to its description, the curriculum at Pine View School "mixes traditional classroom learning with independent study, mini-courses and ungraded classes." It serves grades 2 through 12, with a student body of roughly 703.
"Pine View School places a strong emphasis on parent involvement through volunteering and fundraising opportunities, open houses, newsletters and field trips," the overview continues. "Students must maintain a minimum grade point average and complete advanced foreign language courses to graduate."
Pine View School also sees a 100% graduation rate.
Top 25 high schools across Florida, with their national rankings
- Pine View School, Osprey — 13
- Marine Academy of Science and Technology, North Miami — 31
- Neocity Academy, Kissimmee — 35
- Archimedean Upper Conservatory Charter School, Miami — 39
- West Shore Junior/Senior High School, Melbourne — 47
- Jose Marti Mast 6-12 Academy, Hialeah — 55
- Stanton College Preparatory School, Jacksonville — 63
- Suncoast Community High School, Riviera Beach — 81
- I Preparatory Academy — 86
- Terra Environmental Research Institute — 87
- Millennium 6-12 Collegiate Academy — 93
- Edgewood Jr/Sr High School — 94
- Design and Architecture Senior High School, Miami — 96
- MAST Academy, Key Biscayne — 111
- Alexander W. Dreyfoos Junior School of the Arts, West Palm Beach — 125
- International Studies Charter High School, Miami — 130
- Magnet Innovation Center, Inlet Beach — 136
- International Studies Preparatory Academy, Coral Gables — 144
- Doral Performing Arts and Entertainment Academy, Doral — 149
- Mater Performing Arts and Entertainment Academy, Hialeah Gardens — 150
How do Florida high schools compare to other states?
The ranking found that Florida ranked fourth in the countryfor the most high schools in the top 25%, with 42.6% of its schools in the top 25%.
This year, 46.7%, or nearly half, of Massachusetts' eligible high schools ranked in the top 25%. New Jersey came in second with 44.1% of its schools in the top 25%, Maryland in third with 42.7%, then Florida in fourth and Connecticut in fifth place with 42.5%.
Additionally, Florida saw 8.6% of its schools place within the top 5% and 18.4% place within the top 10%.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida's best high schools for 2026-27 ranked by U.S. News. See the list
