These high schools were ranked the best in Phoenix

Arizona’s public schools don’t have the greatest reputation. Collectively, they rank 49th in the nation in per-pupil spending and 47th in dropout rate. But that doesn’t mean great schools aren’t out there.

Several public schools around the Valley buck the state’s trend, with high graduation rates and many Advanced Placement courses on offer.

U.S. News and World Report ranks the top schools in the state and the country. The publication ranked nearly 18,000 schools in every state and Washington, D.C., factoring in how well schools prepare students for college through AP or International Baccalaureate exams, state test scores, the proportion of students who took advanced classes and graduation rates.

While no Arizona schools cracked the national top 100, several Valley public schools fared well compared to others in the state. Here’s how Phoenix-area public schools rank among the best in the state.

(Note: Phoenix New Times filtered out charter schools for the purposes of this story. Schools with selective enrollment tended to do better than traditional schools in the U.S. News’ rankings, with BASIS Tucson North ranked as the best school in the county. BASIS schools dominate Arizona’s list of best schools, as the state’s top 10 schools are entirely affiliated with BASIS Charter Schools Inc.)

10. Basha High School

National rank: 2,127
State rank: 33
School district: Chandler Unified School District

This southeast Chandler school opened in 2002 as a comprehensive four-year high school with an emphasis on college prep curriculum. It even has a cybersecurity program, classes for accelerated middle schoolers and vocational programs, according to its website. There are more than 2,500 students enrolled in the school and 94% of them graduate, according to U.S. News and World Report.

9. Pinnacle High School

National rank: 2,121
State rank: 32
School district: Paradise Valley Unified School District

This north Paradise Valley four-year high school is the only school in the district, out of five, to make this list. It opened its doors in 2000 and serves more than 2,500 students. Nearly 97% of its students graduate.

8. Chaparral High School

National rank: 2,025
State rank: 31
School district: Scottsdale Unified School District

Located in north Scottsdale and established in 1972, Chaparral is a four-year public high school known for its rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum, as well as AP, Dual Enrollment and technical education programs, according to its website. Just fewer than 2,000 students attend Chaparral.

7. Sunnyslope High School

National rank: 1,878
State rank: 27
School district: Glendale Union High School District

This northern Phoenix high school became a part of the Glendale school district in 1953, making it one of the oldest high schools on this list. Nearly 2,000 students, grades attend Sunnyslope for grades 9-12, and 92% go on to graduate.

6. Hamilton High School

National rank: 1,624
State rank: 24
School district: Chandler Unified School District

Serving nearly 3,700 students in grades 9-12, this southeastern Chandler school graduates 92% of its students. It also has a strong STEM program and is ranked as the 224th-best “STEM High School,” according to the U.S. News and World Report.

5. Desert Mountain High School

National rank: 1,552
State rank: 23
School district: Scottsdale Unified School District

This northeast Scottsdale school, which opened in 1995, is the newest and best of the five in-person high schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District, according to U.S. News and World Report. Ninety-four percent of students graduate from the school and 50% of them have taken at least one AP exam.

4. Phoenix Union Bioscience High School

National rank: 543
State rank: 15
School district: Phoenix Union High School District

While fewer of Bioscience’s students take an AP class than those at the other schools on this list, its graduation rate is 100%, according to U.S. News and World Report. Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, the school is a small magnet school within the district that prospective students can apply to attend. Less than 400 students attend the school, which runs ninth through 12th grade.

3. Arizona College Prep – Erie Campus

National rank: 292
State rank: 14
School district: Chandler Unified School District

This east Chandler school is the district’s first “secondary school-of-choice” and aims to offer students a “safe and personalized touch to learning,” according to its website. It focuses on providing a rigorous, honors-level curriculum with small class sizes. The school is not exclusive to academically gifted students and does not have a boundary area. It accepts all students through Arizona’s open enrollment period, according to its website.

2. University High School – Tolleson

National rank: 126
State rank: 13
School district: Tolleson Union High School District

As the highest-ranking public school in the West Valley, University (or U-High) teaches advanced courses for all of its students’ core classes. According to U.S. News and World Report, 100% of its roughly 400 students have taken an AP class, while 91% of students have passed at least one of the exams.

1. Gilbert Classical Academy High School

National rank: 105
State rank: 12
School district: Gilbert Unified School District

This public honors school in north Gilbert focuses specifically on preparing students for college. If prospective student applications reach capacity, a lottery system — similar to a charter school — is used. Students in seventh through 12th grades attend Gilbert Classical and must take Advanced Placement in their “upper class core subject areas” while they are there. To graduate, students must also complete a senior thesis project and complete at least 80 hours of community service.