Schools
Gunn Ranked Best Public High School In California In 2022: Niche
Palo Alto's Henry M. Gunn High School was ranked the state's best high school, and Palo Alto High School wasn't far behind.
![Niche's 2022 rankings factored in academic and student life data from thousands of schools across the country. The most important factor was academics, but Niche also looked at culture and diversity, teachers, clubs and activities, sports and more.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/24074589/20220422/085610/styles/patch_image/public/screen-shot-2022-04-22-at-54816-pm___22204829081.png)
PALO ALTO, CA — Palo Alto’s Henry Gunn High School was ranked the top public high school in California and the 35th best in the country, according to new rankings from Niche.com.
“The Gunn High School community is enriched by the challenges and treasures of diversity, the aptitude of our staff, and the critical importance of partnerships with parents and trusted adults,” Principal Wendy Stratton told Patch in an email. “Committed to the values and opportunities of a world class education offers, we continuously learn from and are sharpened by our students. We are a highly collaborative, adaptive, and service oriented community who are willing in this post-pandemic world to let our students boldly claim their own reinvented future.”
Palo Alto High School, Gunn’s longtime rival, scored 5th in California, and 50th nationally. Patch reached out to the school for comment.
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Niche's 2022 rankings factored in academic and student life data from thousands of schools across the country. The most important factor was academics, but Niche also looked at culture and diversity, teachers, clubs and activities, sports and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
The top-ranked public high school in the country was The Davidson Academy, located in Reno, Nevada. Nine other Silicon Valley schools earned top spots as well:
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- Saratoga High School, Saratoga (3rd in state)
- Lynbrook High School, San Jose (12th)
- Los Altos High School, Los Altos (14th)
- Mountain View High School, Mountain View (19th)
- Homestead High School, Cupertino (35th)
- Aragon High School, San Mateo (38th)
- Cupertino High School, Cupertino (39th)
- Mills High School, Millbrae (40th)
- Los Gatos High School, Los Gatos (47th)
There were 10 California public schools that made it into the top 100 best schools in the nation. Many more were listed among the best in the Golden State. Here are the top 50 schools in the state as ranked by Niche:
- Henry M. Gunn High School, Palo Alto (33rd nationally)
- Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego (34th nationally)
- Saratoga High School, Saratoga (36th nationally)
- California Academy of Mathematics & Science, Carson (44th nationally)
- Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto (50th nationally)
- Troy High School, Fullerton (55th nationally)
- Orange County School of the Arts, Santa Ana (68th nationally)
- Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates (82nd nationally)
- Torrey Pines High School, San Diego (86th nationally)
- University High School, Irvine (93rd nationally)
- La Canada High School, La Canada
- Lynbrook High School, San Jose
- Northwood High School, Irvine
- Los Altos High School, Los Altos
- Whitney High School, Cerritos
- Academy of the Canyons, Santa Clarita
- Lowell High School, San Francisco
- Carmel High School, Carmel
- Mountain View High School, Mountain View
- Mt. Everest Academy, San Diego
- Campolindo High School, Moraga
- Westview High School, San Diego
- University High School, Fresno
- Redwood High School, Larkspur
- Del Norte High School, San Diego
- Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton
- Riverside STEM Academy, Riverside
- South Pasadena Senior High School, South Pasadena
- Arcadia High School, Arcadia
- Foothill High School, Pleasanton
- San Marino High School, San Marino
- Piedmont High School, Piedmont
- Miramonte High School, Orinda
- Woodbridge High School, Irvine
- Homestead High School, Cupertino
- Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon
- Oxford Academy, Cypress
- Aragon High School, San Mateo
- Cupertino High School, Cupertino
- Mills High School, Millbrae
- Westlake High School, Westlake Village
- Davis Senior High School, Davis
- Walnut High School, Walnut
- Granada Hills Charter, Granada Hills
- Sage Creek High School, Carlsbad
- West Ranch High School, Valencia
- Los Gatos High School, Los Gatos
- Arnold O. Beckman High School, Irvine
- Helix Charter High School, La Mesa
- Irvine High School, Irvine
View the full list of the best high schools in the country.
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