Best public high schools in Los Angeles for 2026

Key terms

• The Los Angeles area's top 10 public high schools span 10 cities and three school types — traditional, magnet and charter.
• School type matters for homebuyers: Traditional schools are tied to attendance zones, while magnet and charter schools use application-based enrollment.
• College readiness is the biggest factor in the U.S. News rankings, accounting for 30% of each school's score. Its focus on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate participation and performance tends to favor schools with extensive advanced-course offerings.

The best public high schools in the Los Angeles metro area are scattered across a patchwork of cities and school districts, from Cerritos and Cypress to North Hollywood and Wilmington. For families considering a move, school quality remains one of the biggest factors shaping where they choose to live.

"School quality options are often a primary consideration for families considering a move," said Ryan Cox, vice president of consumer marketing and resident moving expert at North American Van Lines.

"Education is typically viewed as an investment in their children's future. For that reason, families tend to gravitate toward communities with desirable schools."This article highlights the 10 highest-ranked public high schools in the Los Angeles metro area based on the latest U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, with neighborhood and housing information for families weighing a move.

U.S. News evaluates high schools using six weighted indicators, with college readiness carrying the most influence at 30%. State assessment proficiency in math, reading and science accounts for 20% of the score, while state assessment performance relative to expected outcomes contributes another 20%. College curriculum breadth, underserved student performance and graduation rate each make up 10%.

College readiness is based largely on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate participation and performance. Schools earn credit both for the share of seniors who take AP or IB exams and for the share who earn qualifying scores. Most of the data used in the rankings comes from the 2022-23 school year.

Rankings can provide a useful starting point, but they don't tell the whole story. Because college readiness is the largest component of the methodology, schools with extensive AP and IB offerings often have an advantage. Smaller schools with strong outcomes but fewer advanced courses may not rank as highly.

The rankings also don't capture factors many families care about, including school culture, extracurricular opportunities, arts programs, parent satisfaction and day-to-day classroom experiences.

"School quality options are often a primary consideration for families considering a move," said Ryan Cox, vice president of consumer marketing and resident moving expert for North American Van Lines. "Education is typically viewed as an investment in their children's future. For that reason, families tend to gravitate towards communities with desirable schools."

Still, Cox said schools are only one piece of the equation.

"While top high schools in LA can be a big draw, families also need to take into account their needs and wants. Safety, activities and amenities, jobs, cost of living, and fit are also important factors," he added.

For homebuyers, rankings can help narrow the search, but experts recommend pairing them with school visits, conversations with local families and a broader look at the community before deciding where to live.

All three school types appear in this list, but they differ in how students enroll and whether a home address affects admission.

Traditional public schools assign students based on attendance-zone boundaries. In most cases, families must live within the school's designated area to attend.

Magnet schools accept applications from students across a school district and often focus on specialized programs such as STEM, performing arts or teacher preparation. Admission may be based on a lottery, academic criteria or other district requirements, and living nearby does not guarantee a seat.

Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated. Most use open enrollment that isn't tied to a home address, though high-performing charters frequently have waitlists.

The type of school can have a significant impact on a family's home search.

For buyers targeting a traditional public school, housing options are typically limited to the school's attendance zone, making the school and neighborhood part of the same decision.

For families interested in a magnet or charter school, there is often more flexibility in where they live, but admission is less certain. Some buyers address that uncertainty by purchasing a home near a strong traditional public school while also applying to magnet or charter programs elsewhere.

This distinction can help families determine whether access to a particular school requires buying in a specific neighborhood or simply navigating the admissions process.

The following rankings come from the U.S. News & World Report 2025–2026 Best High Schools list and cover public schools in the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metro area. The table below shows all 10 schools at a glance, followed by individual profiles.

Whitney High School is a public magnet school in the ABC Unified School District and ranks #16 nationally. The school serves grades 7 through 12, with 691 students in grades 9-12, a 99% graduation rate and a 96.8 college readiness score.

Whitney offers a variety of honors and Advanced Placement courses, including computer science, physics and foreign languages. Admission is competitive and requires students to live within the ABC Unified School District. Families interested in Whitney can explore homes in Cerritos, a suburban community in southeastern Los Angeles County.

Oxford Academy is a public magnet school in the Anaheim Union High School District and ranks #19 nationally. The school serves grades 7 through 12, with 831 students in grades 9-12, a 99% graduation rate and a 97.5 college readiness score.

Oxford follows an intensive honors curriculum and requires students to complete at least four Advanced Placement courses before graduating. Students can also pursue career pathways in biomedical science, engineering, business and entrepreneurship, and software systems and development. Homebuyers interested in the school can browse homes in Cypress, a city in northwestern Orange County.

Science Academy STEM Magnet is a public magnet school within the Los Angeles Unified School District and ranks #20 nationally, making it the highest-ranked LAUSD school on this list. The school serves grades 6 through 12, with 226 students in grades 9-12, a 91% graduation rate and a perfect 100 college readiness score.

The school's AP participation rate is 100%, and every AP test taker earned a score of 3 or higher on at least one exam. Because Science Academy is a magnet school, students from across LAUSD can apply regardless of where they live. Families interested in living nearby can explore homes in North Hollywood, a San Fernando Valley neighborhood known for its mix of apartments, condos and single-family homes.

Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy is a traditional public school within the Los Angeles Unified School District and ranks #29 nationally and #4 in California. The school enrolls 447 students in grades 9-12, boasts a 98% graduation rate and posts a 98.8 college readiness score.

Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy has a 100% AP participation rate and serves a diverse student body, with 98% minority enrollment and 64% of students classified as economically disadvantaged. Unlike many of the other top-ranked LAUSD schools, Harbor Teacher Prep follows a traditional public-school enrollment model tied to attendance boundaries. Families considering the school can browse homes in Wilmington, a harbor-area community that generally offers lower home prices than many of the other neighborhoods featured on this list.

The California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS) is a public magnet school within the Long Beach Unified School District and ranks #38 nationally. The school enrolls 667 students in grades 9-12, has a 98% graduation rate and a 94.5 college readiness score.

Located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, CAMS emphasizes math and science education and posts a 100% AP participation rate. Because it is a magnet school, admission is based on an application process rather than attendance boundaries. Families interested in living nearby can explore homes in Carson, a suburban city in southern Los Angeles County.

Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science is a traditional public school within the Long Beach Unified School District and ranks #112 nationally. The school enrolls 502 students in grades 9-12, has a 96% graduation rate and a college readiness score of 85.7. The AP participation rate is 96%.

Unlike many of the specialized schools on this list, Eunice Sato follows a traditional enrollment model tied to attendance-zone boundaries. Families considering the school can browse homes in Long Beach, a large coastal city that offers a diverse housing stock ranging from historic Craftsman homes near downtown to newer developments in eastern neighborhoods.

Girls Academic Leadership Academy Dr. Michelle King School STEM is a public magnet school within the Los Angeles Unified School District and ranks #154 nationally. The school serves grades 6-12, with 367 students in grades 9-12, a 100% graduation rate and a college readiness score of 75.0. The AP participation rate is 100%.

As its name suggests, GALA is an all-girls school, with a student body that is 100% female. The school enrolls students from across LAUSD through the district's magnet application process rather than attendance boundaries. Families interested in the school can explore homes in Los Angeles' Mid-City neighborhood, which offers convenient access to many of the city's major employment and cultural centers.

La Cañada High School is a traditional public school within the La Cañada Unified School District and ranks #180 nationally. The school enrolls 1,359 students in grades 9-12, has a 99% graduation rate and a college readiness score of 75.2. The AP participation rate is 85%.

La Cañada High is the district's only high school, meaning enrollment is generally tied to residency within the La Cañada Unified School District. Just 6% of students are classified as economically disadvantaged, the lowest share among the schools featured on this list. Homebuyers interested in the school can browse homes in La Cañada Flintridge, an affluent foothill community near Pasadena known for its highly regarded schools and higher-than-average home prices.

Troy High School is a traditional public school in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District and ranks #215 nationally. The school enrolls 2,545 students in grades 9-12, has a 94% graduation rate and a college readiness score of 71.7. The AP participation rate is 75%.

The largest school on this list by enrollment, Troy offers students access to both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Because it follows a traditional public-school enrollment model, attendance is generally tied to residency within the district. Families interested in the school can explore homes in Fullerton, an Orange County suburb known for its established neighborhoods and predominantly single-family housing stock.

Orange County School of the Arts is a public charter school and the only charter school among the Los Angeles area's 10 highest-ranked public high schools. Ranked #281 nationally, OCSA enrolls 1,718 students in grades 9-12, has a 100% graduation rate and a college readiness score of 75.7. The AP participation rate is 82%.

Unlike traditional public schools, enrollment at OCSA is not tied to a home address. Students attend from across Orange County and parts of Los Angeles County, although admission can be competitive and waitlists are common. The school also has the lowest student-teacher ratio on this list at 17:1. Families who want to live near campus can browse homes in Santa Ana, a central Orange County city that generally offers more affordable housing options than many neighboring communities.

Homes near highly rated schools often command a price premium because families compete for access to those school zones. This effect is especially pronounced for traditional public schools, where enrollment is tied to a home address.

"Families considering a move are often willing to make financial sacrifices in order to settle in a community with desirable schools," said Ryan Cox, vice president of consumer marketing and resident moving expert for North American Van Lines. "It is very common for them to evaluate trade-offs between the cost of living and the educational opportunities as well as the overall fit for their family."

The size of the premium varies by community. Areas served by highly ranked schools, such as La Cañada High School, often have higher home prices than neighborhoods served by schools in Carson or Wilmington. Buyers should consider how school-zone demand may affect affordability and consult a local real estate professional for current market conditions.

The Los Angeles metro area offers a wide range of family-friendly communities and some of the highest-ranked public high schools in California. Families can choose from urban neighborhoods, suburban communities and coastal cities, each with distinct advantages.

Beyond school quality, factors such as commute times, housing costs, parks, recreational opportunities and neighborhood amenities can vary significantly from one community to another. The best fit depends on a family's priorities, budget and lifestyle.

Yes. Unlike traditional public schools, magnet and charter schools generally do not require students to live within a specific attendance zone.

Magnet schools typically use an application process, lottery system or other district-specific enrollment criteria. Charter schools such as Orange County School of the Arts accept students from a broad geographic area, although admission may be competitive and waitlists are common. While location does not usually affect eligibility, families should consider transportation and commute times before applying.

U.S. News updates its Best High Schools rankings annually. Schools can move up or down from year to year based on changes in factors such as college readiness, graduation rates, state assessment results and Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate participation.

Because rankings can fluctuate, families should view them as one tool among many when evaluating schools rather than relying solely on a school's position in a given year.

That often depends on the type of school.

For traditional public schools, enrollment is typically tied to a student's home address, meaning the school and neighborhood decisions are closely connected.

Magnet and charter schools offer more flexibility because admission is not based on residence within a specific attendance zone. Families interested in those options may have a wider range of neighborhoods to consider but should verify enrollment requirements before purchasing a home.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional before making real estate or financing decisions.