answrsnow
Schools · Top 10

Top 10 Public High Schools in California in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Whitney High School (Cerritos)
Direct answer

Whitney High School in Cerritos is the best public high school in California, ranked #1 in the state and #16 nationally in the U.S. News 2025-2026 Best High Schools list. Oxford Academy (#19 nationally) and Science Academy STEM Magnet (#20) follow.

At a glance

#PickU.S. News national rankBest for
1Whitney High School (Cerritos)16 (#1 in California, 2025-2026)A grade 7-12 public school with the top U.S. News rank in California
2Oxford Academy (Cypress)19 (#2 in California, 2025-2026)Orange County families who want a grade 7-12 magnet
3Science Academy STEM Magnet20 (#3 in California, 2025-2026)A STEM-focused grade 6-12 school inside Los Angeles Unified
4Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy29 (#4 in California, 2025-2026)Students who want college classes on a college campus
5California Academy of Mathematics and Science38 (#5 in California, 2025-2026)A science and math magnet in the South Bay
6Riverside STEM Academy43 (#6 in California, 2025-2026)Inland Empire students who want a STEM school of choice
7University High School (Fresno)63 (#7 in California, 2025-2026)A college-prep charter with strong music and academics
8Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy64 (#8 in California, 2025-2026)Students who want to earn college credit in high school
9Pacific Collegiate School70 (#9 in California, 2025-2026)Santa Cruz families who want a grade 7-12 charter
10Lynbrook High School86 (#10 in California, 2025-2026)A Silicon Valley neighborhood high school ranked in the top 100 nationally

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Whitney High School (Cerritos)
Best in Orange County
Oxford Academy (Cypress)
Best for a STEM focus
Science Academy STEM Magnet
Best for college classes on campus
Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy
Best in the Central Valley
University High School (Fresno)

The ranking

1

Whitney High School (Cerritos)

Whitney High School (Cerritos)
Answrs VerdictCalifornia’s #1 public high school.
U.S. News national rank: 16 (#1 in California, 2025-2026)Location: Cerritos, CaliforniaType: Public school, grades 7-12, in the ABC Unified School DistrictFounded: 1975

Whitney, a public school in Cerritos serving grades 7-12, was founded in 1975 and is #16 nationally.

Go ifA grade 7-12 public school with the top U.S. News rank in California
Skip ifYou want a smaller early-college or magnet program
Why #1 over #2: Its #16 national rank beats Oxford Academy’s #19.
2

Oxford Academy (Cypress)

Oxford Academy (Cypress)
Answrs VerdictThe Orange County magnet.
U.S. News national rank: 19 (#2 in California, 2025-2026)Location: Cypress, CaliforniaType: Public magnet school, grades 7-12, in the Anaheim Union High School DistrictEstablished: 1998

Oxford Academy, a public magnet school in Cypress serving grades 7-12, was established in 1998 and is #19 nationally.

Go ifOrange County families who want a grade 7-12 magnet
Skip ifYou live far from Cypress
Why #2 over #3: Its #19 national rank beats Science Academy’s #20.
3

Science Academy STEM Magnet

Science Academy STEM Magnet
Answrs VerdictThe newest school in the top three.
U.S. News national rank: 20 (#3 in California, 2025-2026)Location: North Hollywood, CaliforniaType: Public Los Angeles Unified school, grades 6-12, not a charterOpened: August 16, 2016

Science Academy STEM Magnet in North Hollywood, a Los Angeles Unified school for grades 6-12, opened on August 16, 2016 and is #20 nationally.

Go ifA STEM-focused grade 6-12 school inside Los Angeles Unified
Skip ifYou want a long-established school (it opened in 2016)
Why #3 over #4: Its #20 national rank beats Harbor Teacher Prep’s #29.
4

Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy

Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy
Answrs VerdictHigh school on a college campus.
U.S. News national rank: 29 (#4 in California, 2025-2026)Location: Wilmington, CaliforniaType: Middle College Program high school on the Los Angeles Harbor College campus, in Los Angeles UnifiedEstablished: 2002

The Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy in Wilmington, established in 2002 on the Los Angeles Harbor College campus, is #29 nationally.

Go ifStudents who want college classes on a college campus
Skip ifYou want a traditional stand-alone high school campus
Why #4 over #5: Its #29 national rank beats CAMS’s #38.
5

California Academy of Mathematics and Science

California Academy of Mathematics and Science
Answrs VerdictThe long-running science magnet.
U.S. News national rank: 38 (#5 in California, 2025-2026)Location: Carson, CaliforniaType: Public magnet high school, grades 9-12, focused on science and mathematicsOpened: 1990, on the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus

The California Academy of Mathematics and Science in Carson, a grade 9-12 magnet that opened in 1990 on the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus, is #38 nationally.

Go ifA science and math magnet in the South Bay
Skip ifYou want a grade 7-12 school
Why #5 over #6: Its #38 national rank beats Riverside STEM Academy’s #43.
6

Riverside STEM Academy

Riverside STEM Academy
Answrs VerdictThe Inland Empire STEM pick.
U.S. News national rank: 43 (#6 in California, 2025-2026)Location: Riverside, CaliforniaType: Riverside Unified school of choice with a STEM focus, grades 5-12Opened: Fall 2011

Riverside STEM Academy, a Riverside Unified school of choice for grades 5-12 that opened in fall 2011, is #43 nationally.

Go ifInland Empire students who want a STEM school of choice
Skip ifYou want a guaranteed neighborhood school
Why #6 over #7: Its #43 national rank beats University High School’s #63.
7

University High School (Fresno)

University High School (Fresno)
Answrs VerdictThe Central Valley’s top school.
U.S. News national rank: 63 (#7 in California, 2025-2026)Location: Fresno, CaliforniaType: Charter high school, grades 9-12, on the California State University, Fresno campusOpened: 2000

University High School in Fresno, a grade 9-12 charter on the California State University, Fresno campus that opened in 2000, is #63 nationally.

Go ifA college-prep charter with strong music and academics
Skip ifYou want a large comprehensive high school
Why #7 over #8: Its #63 national rank edges Gilroy Early College Academy’s #64.
8

Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy

Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy
Answrs VerdictThe early-college school.
U.S. News national rank: 64 (#8 in California, 2025-2026)Location: Gilroy, CaliforniaType: Early college high school, grades 9-12, in the Gilroy Unified School DistrictFounded: 2007, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy, founded in 2007 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is #64 nationally.

Go ifStudents who want to earn college credit in high school
Skip ifYou want a large campus with many sports
Why #8 over #9: Its #64 national rank beats Pacific Collegiate’s #70.
9

Pacific Collegiate School

Pacific Collegiate School
Answrs VerdictThe Santa Cruz charter.
U.S. News national rank: 70 (#9 in California, 2025-2026)Location: Santa Cruz, CaliforniaType: Public charter school, grades 7-12, admission by lotteryEstablished: 1999

Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, a public charter for grades 7-12 established in 1999, is #70 nationally.

Go ifSanta Cruz families who want a grade 7-12 charter
Skip ifYou need guaranteed admission (it admits by lottery)
Why #9 over #10: Its #70 national rank beats Lynbrook’s #86.
10

Lynbrook High School

Lynbrook High School
Answrs VerdictThe Silicon Valley comprehensive.
U.S. News national rank: 86 (#10 in California, 2025-2026)Location: San Jose, CaliforniaType: Public four-year high school in the Fremont Union High School DistrictFounded: 1965

Lynbrook High School in San Jose, founded in 1965 in the Fremont Union High School District, is #86 nationally.

Go ifA Silicon Valley neighborhood high school ranked in the top 100 nationally
Skip ifYou want a small school

How we ranked these

We took the ten highest-ranked California schools in the U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools 2025-2026 list, as reported by the Los Angeles FOX station, and ordered them by state rank. We show national ranks only; the source lists no scores. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best public high school in California?

Whitney High School in Cerritos is #1 in California and #16 nationally in the U.S. News 2025-2026 Best High Schools ranking.

Is Oxford Academy a public school?

Yes. Oxford Academy in Cypress is a public magnet school serving grades 7-12 in the Anaheim Union High School District, ranked #19 nationally.

Which California high school is on a college campus?

The Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy sits on the Los Angeles Harbor College campus in Wilmington, and University High School in Fresno is on the California State University, Fresno campus.

How is this ranking made?

We list the ten highest-ranked California schools in the U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools 2025-2026 list, ordered by state rank, and show each school national rank.

U.S. News national rank (2025-2026, lower is better) at a glance

Whitney High School (Cerritos)16 rank
Oxford Academy (Cypress)19 rank
Science Academy STEM Magnet20 rank
Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy29 rank
California Academy of Mathematics and Science38 rank
Riverside STEM Academy43 rank
University High School (Fresno)63 rank
Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy64 rank
Pacific Collegiate School70 rank
Lynbrook High School86 rank
U.S. News national rank (2025-2026, lower is better), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.