The top two public high schools in the nation are charter schools.
U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News) released the 2023-2024 rankings of the best public high schools in the country. Nineteen charter schools are recognized in the top 100 schools, including the top two spots going to BASIS Peoria in Peoria, Arizona (#1) and Signature School in Evansville, Indiana (#2). Although charter schools make up only about 8% of the nation’s public schools, they account for about 1 in 5 of the nation’s top 100 high schools.
“The 2023-2024 U.S. News ranking reaffirms the significant impact of public charter schools on our nation’s education landscape. With an impressive 19 out of 100 spots in the prestigious US News national ranking of the top high schools, charter schools continue to demonstrate their commitment to excellence and innovation in preparing our students for success. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of charter school educators, administrators, and students across the country who are driving positive change and raising the bar for academic achievement. We celebrate their hard work and unwavering commitment to providing quality education options for all students,” said Eric Paisner, Acting CEO for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
The report ranked 24,386 high schools based on criteria including college readiness, state assessment proficiency and performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rate.
Charter Schools in U.S. News Top 100 Best Public High Schools
- #1: BASIS Peoria in Peoria, AZ
- #2: Signature School in Evansville, IN
- #15: Haas Hall Bentonville in Bentonville, AR
- #17: BASIS Oro Valley in Oro Valley, AZ
- #20: Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science in Albuquerque, NM
- #32: BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ
- #33: BASIS Tucson North in Tucson, AZ
- #34: BASIS Ahwatukee in Phoenix, AZ
- #45: BASIS Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ
- #56: BASIS Mesa in Mesa, AZ
- #64: BASIS San Antonio- Shavano Campus in San Antonio, TX
- #66: Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville, AR
- #69: Haas Hall Academy at the Lane in Rogers, AR
- #75: BASIS Prescott in Prescott, AZ
- #80: Pacific Collegiate Charter in Santa Cruz, CA
- #84: BASIS Chandler in Chandler, AZ
- #94: BASIS Flagstaff in Flagstaff, AZ
- #97: Haas Hall Academy Jones Center in Springdale, AR
- #100: Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School in Hadley, MA
The public charter school model offers communities across the nation high-quality public education options tailored to meet the diverse needs of students and families. By fostering a culture of innovation, flexibility, and accountability, charter schools empower educators to implement creative teaching approaches and personalized learning strategies. This enables them to address the unique needs of their students, whether through specialized programs, smaller class sizes, or community partnerships. As a result, public charter schools play a vital role in serving communities by providing equitable access to educational opportunities that prepare students for success in college, career, and beyond.
Visit U.S. News for the complete 2023-24 report and rankings.
