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Best High Schools in California
(2026 List)

Moonpreneur’s rating is based primarily on the STEM performance of the School using the Math Score of the School. We also take into account the Student teacher ratio, the review and rating by others. Read more on how STEM ranking was calculated.

The California K–12 public school system is the biggest in America, with 5.8 million students enrolled in approximately 10,000 schools during the 2024–25 school year. The graduation rate of 87.5% represents an increase since 2017 due in part to the introduction of accountability systems through the California School Dashboard. Even though the quality rankings of California schools are still in the middle of the national rankings, there are a variety of innovative methods used, including advanced coursework opportunities and strong performances by private schools, which set California apart from other states within the nation. These innovations create the academic rigor and performance tracking mechanisms and competitiveness that define the top high schools in California. Along with that, you can also explore the best middle schools in California.