25 Best High Schools in the West
We used six indicators culled from school surveys to compare public high schools in the U.S., with graduation and college acceptance rates weighed most heavily. Other criteria included college-level courses and exams, as well as SAT and ACT scores. Here are the top schools in the West. See full results here.
Scottsdale, Arizona
Overall Rank: 2
FINAL SCORE: 9.5353
School Type: Charter
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 96%
AP/IB Tests per student: 3.04
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.94
SAT: 2109
ACT: 31
BASIS Scottsdale
Oro Valley, Arizona
Overall Rank: 5
FINAL SCORE: 9.2270
School Type: Charter
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 99%
AP/IB Tests per student: 2.37
AP/IB Pass Rate: 1.00
SAT: 1856
ACT: 27.1
BASIS Oro Valley
Cerritos, California
Overall Rank: 13
FINAL SCORE: 8.6991
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 99%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 63%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.46
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.95
SAT: 1967
ACT: 29.8
Gretchen Whitney High School
Kirkland, Washington
Overall Rank: 16
FINAL SCORE: 8.5617
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 54%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.59
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.81
SAT: 2024
ACT: 30.03
International Community School
Cypress, California
Overall Rank: 19
FINAL SCORE: 8.5094
School Type: Magnet
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 56%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.65
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.82
SAT: 1906
ACT: 28.5
Oxford Academy
Tucson, Arizona
Overall Rank: 25
FINAL SCORE: 8.3392
School Type: Charter
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 96.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 80%
AP/IB Tests per student: 2.65
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.86
SAT: 1986
ACT: 30
BASIS Tucson North
Bellevue, Washington
Overall Rank: 28
FINAL SCORE: 8.2813
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 94%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 71%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.65
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.76
SAT: 1877
ACT: 27.9
International School
Reno, Nevada
Overall Rank: 30
FINAL SCORE: 8.1889
School Type: Magnet
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 0%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.89
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.97
SAT: 2226
ACT: 32.8
The Davidson Academy of Nevada
Fullerton, California
Overall Rank: 33
FINAL SCORE: 8.1342
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 59%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.98
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.89
SAT: 1830
ACT: N/A
Troy High School
San Ramon, California
Overall Rank: 37
FINAL SCORE: 8.0326
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.7%
College Bound: 98%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 39%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.81
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.94
SAT: 1840
ACT: 27.5
The Daily Beast
Flagstaff, Arizona
Overall Rank: 40
FINAL SCORE: 8.0192
School Type: Charter
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 100%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 43%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.67
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.78
SAT: 1785
ACT: 27.6
Northland Preparatory Academy
Palos Verdes Estates, California
Overall Rank: 44
FINAL SCORE: 7.9469
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.6%
College Bound: 98.7%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 42%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.82
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.78
SAT: 1703
ACT: 26
Palos Verdes High School
Santa Ana, California
Overall Rank: 48
FINAL SCORE: 7.8862
School Type: Charter
Enrollment: Selective
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 99%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.59
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.78
SAT: 1713
ACT: 25.4
Orange County School of the Arts
Denver, Colorado
Overall Rank: 51
FINAL SCORE: 7.8369
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 99.7%
College Bound: 99%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 33%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.58
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.83
SAT: N/A
ACT: 26.4
D'Evelyn Jr./Sr. High School
Diamond Bar, California
Overall Rank: 54
FINAL SCORE: 7.8114
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.8%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 40%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.93
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.86
SAT: 1742
ACT: 27.2
Diamond Bar High School
San Diego, California
Overall Rank: 65
FINAL SCORE: 7.7000
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 99.1%
College Bound: 90%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 53%
AP/IB Tests per student: 1.09
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.88
SAT: 1862
ACT: 27
Canyon Crest Academy
Westlake Village, California
Overall Rank: 72
FINAL SCORE: 7.6539
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 98.7%
College Bound: 97%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 40%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.89
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.85
SAT: 1754
ACT: 25.88
Westlake High School
Danville, California
Overall Rank: 88
FINAL SCORE: 7.5264
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.7%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 25%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.37
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.89
SAT: 1769
ACT: 26.2
Monte Vista High School
Walnut, California
Overall Rank: 97
FINAL SCORE: 7.4748
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 98.2%
College Bound: 95%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 36%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.88
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.91
SAT: 1717
ACT: 26.2
Walnut High School
Phoenix, Arizona
Overall Rank: 99
FINAL SCORE: 7.4617
School Type: Charter
Enrollment: Lottery
Graduation Rate: 100.0%
College Bound: 99%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 20%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.28
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74
SAT: 1674
ACT: 24.81
Horizon Honors High School
Goleta, California
Overall Rank: 115
FINAL SCORE: 7.3871
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.0%
College Bound: 98%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 31%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.57
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.66
SAT: 1696
ACT: 26.4
Yorba Linda, California
Overall Rank: 116
FINAL SCORE: 7.3850
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 98.4%
College Bound: 98%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 29%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.57
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.87
SAT: 1660
ACT: 25.2
Yorba Linda High School
San Diego, California
Overall Rank: 118
FINAL SCORE: 7.3812
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.0%
College Bound: 94%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 36%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.95
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.70
SAT: 1709
ACT: 26
Westview High School
Rolling Hills Estates, California
Overall Rank: 121
FINAL SCORE: 7.3523
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.0%
College Bound: 98%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 41%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.90
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.85
SAT: 1781
ACT: 27.1
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Torrance, California
Overall Rank: 139
FINAL SCORE: 7.2292
School Type: Regular
Enrollment: Open
Graduation Rate: 99.6%
College Bound: 94%
% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 25%
AP/IB Tests per student: 0.47
AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.77
SAT: 1657
ACT: 24.08
South High School
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