The Most Popular High School, Ranked

Choose the high school you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 8, 2024 06:40
Choosing the right high school can be a pivotal decision in a student's educational journey. With each school offering a unique mix of academic rigor, extracurricular opportunities, and community environment, the popularity of these institutions becomes a focus of interest. A comprehensive list that ranks high schools based on widespread appreciation provides a clear picture of where these schools stand in public opinion. By participating in the voting process, users contribute to a greater understanding of what makes a high school appealing to students, parents, and educators. This ongoing interaction ensures the rankings reflect current trends and preferences, helping future students and their families make informed decisions. Each vote helps shape a dynamic overview of which schools are meeting the expectations and needs of their communities.

What Is the Most Popular High School?

  1. 1
    50
    votes
    Phillips Exeter Academy
    JWilliams · CC BY-SA 2.5

    Phillips Exeter Academy

    John Phillips
    A prestigious private school located in New Hampshire, USA, that offers rigorous academics and a diverse range of extracurricular activities.
    Phillips Exeter Academy is a prestigious, private co-educational independent boarding school in Exeter, New Hampshire, United States. It is renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum and highly selective admission process. Founded in 1781, it has a long history of providing a top-notch education to students from around the world.
    • Location: Exeter, New Hampshire, USA
    • Founding Year: 1781
    • Type: Private, Co-educational, Independent Boarding School
    • Admission Selectivity: Highly selective
    • Curriculum: Rigorous and comprehensive
    Phillips Exeter Academy in other rankings
  2. 2
    47
    votes
    Juilliard School
    Yair Haklai · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Juilliard School

    Dr. Frank Damrosch
    A performing arts school in New York City that offers world-class training in dance, drama, and music.
    The Juilliard School is a prestigious performing arts conservatory located in New York City. Founded in 1905, it is widely recognized as one of the leading institutions for education and training in music, dance, and drama.
    • Location: New York City, USA
    • Year Founded: 1905
    • Programs Offered: Music, Dance, Drama
    • Famous Alumni: Yo-Yo Ma, RenĂ©e Fleming, Kevin Spacey, Patti LuPone
    • Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate
  3. 3
    16
    votes
    A magnet school in Virginia, USA, that focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
    Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is a highly regarded public magnet school located in Fairfax County, Virginia. It is known for its rigorous academic program with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The school offers a challenging curriculum designed to prepare students for college and careers in STEM fields.
    • Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
    • School Type: Public Magnet School
    • Focus: Science and Technology
    • Academic Program: Rigorous with emphasis on STEM
    • Curriculum: Designed to prepare students for college and STEM careers
  4. 4
    12
    votes
    Stuyvesant High School
    Jim.henderson · CC0
    A selective public school in New York City that specializes in math and science education.
    Stuyvesant High School is a prestigious public high school located in New York City. It is known for its rigorous academic curriculum and competitive admissions process.
    • Location: New York City
    • Type: Public high school
    • Admissions: Highly competitive
    • Curriculum: Rigorous academic program
    • Mascot: Pegleg Pete
    Stuyvesant High School in other rankings
  5. 5
    10
    votes
    Eton College
    Kaihsu · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Eton College

    King Henry VI
    A British boarding school that has educated many famous politicians, writers, and royals.
    Eton College is one of the most prestigious and well-known independent boarding schools in the United Kingdom. Located in Berkshire, England, it has a long and distinguished history dating back to its foundation in 1440 by King Henry VI. Eton College is renowned for providing an exceptional education to its students, who typically range in age from 13 to 18. The school fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and a strong sense of tradition and community.
    • Location: Berkshire, England
    • Year Founded: 1440
    • Education Level: High School
    • Boarding Type: Independent
    • Age Range: 13-18
    Eton College in other rankings
  6. 6
    5
    votes
    Phillips Academy Andover
    Daderot · Public domain

    Phillips Academy Andover

    Samuel Phillips Jr.
    A private school in Massachusetts, USA, that offers a rigorous academic curriculum and a wide range of extracurricular activities.
    Phillips Academy Andover is a prestigious high school located in Andover, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1778, it is one of the oldest and most renowned independent boarding schools in the country. The school follows a rigorous academic curriculum and aims to cultivate intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a sense of responsibility in its students. It provides a supportive and challenging environment where students can excel academically, artistically, and athletically.
    • Year Founded: 1778
    • Location: Andover, Massachusetts, United States
    • Type: Independent boarding school
    • Curriculum: Rigorous academic curriculum
    • Focus: Intellectual curiosity and critical thinking
  7. 7
    15
    votes
    A private school in California, USA, that offers a challenging academic curriculum and a variety of athletic and artistic programs.
    Harvard-Westlake School is a prestigious and highly selective high school located in Los Angeles, California. It was formed in 1989 through the merger of two renowned institutions, the Harvard School for Boys (founded in 1900) and the Westlake School for Girls (founded in 1904), both of which have outstanding academic legacies. The merger created a coeducational college preparatory school renowned for its rigorous curriculum, exceptional faculty, and high academic standards.
    • Grade Levels: 7-12
    • Location: Los Angeles, California
    • Year Founded: 1989
    • Type of School: Private
    • Gender: Coeducational
    Harvard-Westlake School in other rankings
  8. 8
    5
    votes
    Punahou School
    Sr13 · Public domain

    Punahou School

    Hiram Bingham
    A private school in Hawaii, USA, that is known for its strong academic program and its famous alumni, including Barack Obama.
    Punahou School is a private college preparatory school located in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was founded in 1841, making it one of the oldest schools in the United States. Punahou School offers a comprehensive curriculum and strives to provide a well-rounded education to its students, focusing not only on academics but also on character development and extracurricular activities.
    • Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
    • Year Founded: 1841
    • Type: Private
    • Grade Levels: K-12
    • Curriculum: College preparatory
  9. 9
    2
    votes
    A network of schools around the world that promote international understanding and peace.
    The United World College (UWC) is a network of international schools offering educational programs for high school students. It aims to promote global understanding, peace, and sustainability through education. UWC schools provide a unique and rigorous curriculum, emphasizing academic excellence, experiential learning, and intercultural engagement.
    • Location: Multiple countries around the world
    • Number of schools: 18
    • Student age range: 16-19
    • Admission process: Competitive and merit-based
    • International student body: Students from over 155 countries
  10. 10
    4
    votes
    A private school in Switzerland that offers an international education and has a diverse student body.
    The International School of Geneva (known as Ecolint) is a renowned international school based in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in 1924 and is considered one of the first international schools in the world. Ecolint follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and focuses on providing an internationally-minded education to its diverse student body.
    • Location: Geneva, Switzerland
    • Foundation Year: 1924
    • Curriculum: International Baccalaureate (IB)
    • Language of Instruction: English
    • Number of Campuses: 3

Missing your favorite high school?

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Ranking factors for popular high school

  1. Academic performance
    This includes standardized test scores, graduation rates, and the percentage of students who go on to attend college or other post-secondary education programs. High-performing schools often have rigorous curricula, experienced and dedicated teachers, and strong support systems in place to help students achieve their academic goals.
  2. Extracurricular activities
    A variety of clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities can enrich students' educational experiences and provide opportunities for personal growth and skill development. Popular schools typically offer a wide range of options to engage students in their interests and passions outside of the classroom.
  3. School culture and environment
    A positive school culture and safe environment can significantly impact students' experiences and overall satisfaction. This can include factors such as staff and student relationships, diversity, and tolerance, as well as initiatives to prevent bullying and promote mental health and wellness.
  4. Facilities and resources
    Well-maintained facilities, sufficient classroom space, and access to modern technology can enhance students' learning experiences and contribute to a school's popularity.
  5. Teacher quality
    Experienced, highly-qualified teachers can have a significant impact on student learning and achievement. A popular school may have a large percentage of teachers with advanced degrees or certifications in their subject areas.
  6. Reputation
    A school's overall reputation in the community, including word-of-mouth recommendations from parents and students, can significantly influence its popularity. A strong reputation may be based on factors such as academic performance, athletics, extracurricular activities, and success of alumni.
  7. Parent and community involvement
    High levels of parent involvement and support from the local community can contribute to a school's popularity by demonstrating that it is a valued and integral part of the community.
  8. College and career readiness
    A popular high school should offer resources and programs to help prepare students for successful transitions to college or the workforce, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses, vocational training opportunities, and partnerships with local colleges and universities.
  9. Location and accessibility
    The physical location of a school, as well as its accessibility via public transportation or other means, can play a role in its popularity.
  10. Student outcomes
    Ultimately, the success of a high school's graduates in terms of college admissions, scholarship awards, career achievements, and overall satisfaction with their high school experiences can serve as a strong indicator of the school's overall popularity.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular high school. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or School is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1933 views
  • 170 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each School once every 24 hours. The rank of each School is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular high school

High school is a crucial time in every student's life, where they not only learn academic subjects but also develop social skills and personal growth. In the United States, there are over 24,000 public high schools, each with its own unique features and characteristics. With so many options available, it's no surprise that students and parents often wonder which high school is the most popular. While popularity can be subjective and vary from region to region, there are certain high schools that have gained national recognition for their academic excellence, sports programs, or extracurricular activities. Some of the most popular high schools in the country include Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, Stuyvesant High School in New York, and Whitney High School in California. Factors such as location, resources, and student body diversity can also play a role in determining a high school's popularity. However, it's important to note that popularity doesn't necessarily equate to the best fit for every student. Ultimately, the most important factor when choosing a high school should be finding a school that offers the support and opportunities that align with the student's goals and interests.

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