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RTI collects, analyzes data for U.S. News & World Report 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings

Highlights
  • RTI analyzed data using U.S. News' methodology across six factors.
  • Massachusetts and New Jersey had the highest proportion of schools ranked in the top 5% nationally.

 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — U.S. News & World Report today published its 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings, which are informed by data collection and analysis conducted by RTI International, an independent scientific research institute.

Nearly 18,000 public high schools were evaluated for the national rankings. Central Magnet School (Tennessee), Signature School (Indiana) and Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School (Pennsylvania) earned the top three spots in the rankings.

Massachusetts and New Jersey had the highest proportion of schools ranking in the top 5% nationally, with 13% and 12% of their public high schools making the list, respectively. Other states with strong representation included Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

RTI collaborated with U.S. News to implement a methodology with six factors: (1) state assessment proficiency, (2) state assessment performance, (3) underserved student performance, (4) graduation rate, (5) college readiness and (6) college curriculum breadth. Specifically, college readiness measures participation and performance on Advanced Placement® (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) tests.

In addition to the national rankings, charter schools are ranked separately and available in the Best Charter Schools section. U.S. News also released state-by-state rankings for public high schools across 51 states and jurisdictions.

Media Contact for U.S. News & World Report: Jessica Young (jlyoung@usnews.com).  


Learn more about RTI’s data collection solutions 
 
Learn more about RTI’s K-12 education work

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RTI International Media Relations:

As an independent, scientific research institute with a mission to improve the human condition, RTI International is engaged by clients and partners to conduct evidence-based research and project implementation. We share our work in line with journalistic and scientific standards and maintain a record in RTI’s Newsroom.

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RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems. 

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