News Summary
Recent rankings by U.S. News & World Report reveal that several high schools in New Jersey and New York are among the best in the nation. High Technology High School in New Jersey ranks 27th, while two New York institutions follow closely at 25th and 26th. The analysis includes nearly 18,000 high schools, focusing on measures such as graduation rates, college readiness, and academic performance, highlighting the strength of education in these regions.
Newark, NJ – The 2025-2026 Best High Schools rankings, recently released by U.S. News & World Report, reveal that several high schools in New Jersey and New York have excelled, with many making it into the top 100 nationwide. High Technology High School in Lincroft, New Jersey, stands out at rank 27, while New York’s Queens High School for the Sciences at York College and the High School Math Science and Engineering at CCNY follow closely at positions 25 and 26, respectively.
New Jersey has a notable presence in the rankings, with approximately 40% of its schools landing in the top quartile of American high schools. Within the state, additional highly ranked institutions include:
- Bergen County Academies: 41st
- Edison Academy Magnet School: 59th
- Dr. Ronald E. McNair High School: 77th
In New York, the rankings highlight the academic excellence of both Queens high schools. Notably, both Queens High School for the Sciences at York College and High School Math Science and Engineering achieved a perfect 100% graduation rate. The ongoing analysis includes nearly 18,000 public high schools across the country, assessing critical factors such as state test scores, college preparedness, and graduation rates.
The top-ranked school in the nation is BASIS Tucson North, located in Arizona. In total, New Jersey had 411 schools recognized in these rankings, with most of them categorized as specialized magnet schools. For instance, High Technology High School offers a curriculum focused on engineering, preparing students rigorously for future academic endeavors.
Schools were evaluated using various criteria, including college readiness, proficiency in state assessments, performance of underserved students, and graduation rates. Other significant schools in New Jersey include:
- Union County Magnet High School for Science, Mathematics, and Technology
- Biotechnology High School in Freehold, known as an International Baccalaureate World School
- Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro
- Woodbridge Academy Magnet School
- Academy for Information Technology in Scotch Plains
The New York City metropolitan area boasts the highest concentration of ranked schools, exceeding 1,000 in number, with nearly 41% of those identifying in the top quarter of the national rankings. The list of top-performing schools in the NYC and Long Island area includes:
- Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
- High School Math Science and Engineering at CCNY
- Stuyvesant High School (Manhattan)
- Staten Island Technical High School
- Bronx High School of Science
- High School of American Studies at Lehman College
- Brooklyn Latin School
- Brooklyn Technical High School
- Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts
- Townsend Harris High School
The rankings also consider advanced placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test outcomes, along with subject-specific performance metrics for disadvantaged student groups, underlining the commitment to educational equity and excellence across diverse school environments.
Overall, the impressive results for high schools in New Jersey and New York reflect a concerted focus on academic rigor and college readiness, confirming these regions as leaders in secondary education within the United States.
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Additional Resources
- Fox 5 NY: New York and New Jersey High Schools Rank Top 100 Nationwide
- APP: 2025 Best Public High Schools in New Jersey
- NJ Family: Best New Jersey High Schools in the US
- CBS News: Best High Schools in New York and Long Island
- Statesman: US News Best High Schools in Texas 2025
- Wikipedia: High School
- Google Search: Best High Schools in America
- Google Scholar: High School Education
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School
- Google News: High School Rankings
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