25 Best High Schools in the South

We used six indicators culled from school surveys to compare public high schools in the U.S., with graduation and college acceptance rates weighed most heavily. Other criteria included college-level courses and exams, as well as SAT and ACT scores. Here are the top schools in the South. See full results here.

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Bowling Green, Kentucky

Overall Rank: 1

FINAL SCORE: 9.6627

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.25

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.98

SAT: 2040

ACT: 31.7

Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky

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Dallas, Texas

Overall Rank: 3

FINAL SCORE: 9.4330

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 4.08

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.73

SAT: 1903

ACT: 28

School for the Talented and Gifted

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Bartow, Florida

Overall Rank: 4

FINAL SCORE: 9.3079

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.81

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.67

SAT: 1840

ACT: 28.8

Iternational Baccalaureate School at Bartow High

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Dallas, Texas

Overall Rank: 7

FINAL SCORE: 8.9816

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.90

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.55

SAT: 1746

ACT: 25.9

School of Science/Engineering Magnet High School

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Hot Springs, Arkansas

Overall Rank: 8

FINAL SCORE: 8.9674

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.92

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.79

SAT: 1853

ACT: 28.8

Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts

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Miami, Florida

Overall Rank: 9

FINAL SCORE: 8.8707

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 2.46

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.62

SAT: 1785

ACT: 28

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Richmond, Virginia

Overall Rank: 10

FINAL SCORE: 8.8350

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 99%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 65%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.54

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.98

SAT: 2095

ACT: 31

Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government & International Studies

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Irondale, Alabama

Overall Rank: 11

FINAL SCORE: 8.8237

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 69%

AP/IB Tests per student: 2.61

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74

SAT: 1908

ACT: 29.6

The Daily Beast

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Durham, North Carolina

Overall Rank: 12

FINAL SCORE: 8.7263

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 99.7%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 76%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.06

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.90

SAT: 2059

ACT: 31

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

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Jacksonville, Florida

Overall Rank: 18

FINAL SCORE: 8.5427

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 100%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.39

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.27

SAT: 1758

ACT: 28

Lifetouch Photography

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North Charleston, South Carolina

Overall Rank: 21

FINAL SCORE: 8.4817

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 58%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.48

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.83

SAT: 1918

ACT: 28.1

Academic Magnet High School

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Fayetteville, Arkansas

Overall Rank: 22

FINAL SCORE: 8.3806

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.90

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.95

SAT: 2010

ACT: 28

Haas Hall Academy

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Greenville, South Carolina

Overall Rank: 23

FINAL SCORE: 8.3686

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 76%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.28

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.79

SAT: 1688

ACT: 24.8

SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities

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Wilmington, Delaware

Overall Rank: 26

FINAL SCORE: 8.3206

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 46%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.16

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.91

SAT: 1888

ACT: N/A

The Charter School of Wilmington

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Raleigh, North Carolina

Overall Rank: 29

FINAL SCORE: 8.2579

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 98.4%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 64%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.55

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.94

SAT: 1914

ACT: 28.1

Raleigh Charter High School

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Merritt Island, Florida

Overall Rank: 31

FINAL SCORE: 8.1754

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 68%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.31

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.62

SAT: 1732

ACT: 25.8

Edgewood Junior Senior High School

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Nashville, Tennessee

Overall Rank: 32

FINAL SCORE: 8.1431

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 99%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 65%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.56

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.68

SAT: 1904

ACT: 27.4

Hume-Fogg Academic High School

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Irving, Texas

Overall Rank: 36

FINAL SCORE: 8.0594

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 40%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.97

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.63

SAT: 1758

ACT: 25

Uplift North Hills Preparatory

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Columbus, Georgia

Overall Rank: 38

FINAL SCORE: 8.0254

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 63%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.96

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74

SAT: 1722

ACT: 25

Columbus High School Liberal Arts Magnet

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Mobile, Alabama

Overall Rank: 39

FINAL SCORE: 8.0214

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 87%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.61

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.56

SAT: 1280

ACT: 28.6

Alabama School of Mathematics and Science

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Avondale, Louisiana

Overall Rank: 46

FINAL SCORE: 7.9233

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 34%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.49

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74

SAT: N/A

ACT: 28

Patrick Taylor Science and Technology Academy

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Poolesville, Maryland

Overall Rank: 50

FINAL SCORE: 7.8413

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 98.0%

College Bound: 93%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 62%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.55

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.86

SAT: 1911

ACT: 27

Poolesville High School

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Columbus, Mississippi

Overall Rank: 57

FINAL SCORE: 7.7822

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 24%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.21

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.83

SAT: 1857

ACT: 27.5

The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science

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Franklin, Tennessee

Overall Rank: 59

FINAL SCORE: 7.7637

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.3%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 74%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.60

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.72

SAT: 1949

ACT: 23.2

Fred J. Page High

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Lucas, Texas

Overall Rank: 62

FINAL SCORE: 7.7339

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 97%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 47%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.15

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.61

SAT: 1650

ACT: 25.4

Lovejoy High School