25 Best High Schools in the West

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 West. See full results here.

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Scottsdale, Arizona

Overall Rank: 2

FINAL SCORE: 9.5353

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 96%

AP/IB Tests per student: 3.04

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.94

SAT: 2109

ACT: 31

BASIS Scottsdale

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Oro Valley, Arizona

Overall Rank: 5

FINAL SCORE: 9.2270

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 99%

AP/IB Tests per student: 2.37

AP/IB Pass Rate: 1.00

SAT: 1856

ACT: 27.1

BASIS Oro Valley

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Cerritos, California

Overall Rank: 13

FINAL SCORE: 8.6991

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 99%

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

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.46

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.95

SAT: 1967

ACT: 29.8

Gretchen Whitney High School

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Kirkland, Washington

Overall Rank: 16

FINAL SCORE: 8.5617

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 54%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.59

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.81

SAT: 2024

ACT: 30.03

International Community School

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Cypress, California

Overall Rank: 19

FINAL SCORE: 8.5094

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 56%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.65

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.82

SAT: 1906

ACT: 28.5

Oxford Academy

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Tucson, Arizona

Overall Rank: 25

FINAL SCORE: 8.3392

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 96.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 80%

AP/IB Tests per student: 2.65

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.86

SAT: 1986

ACT: 30

BASIS Tucson North

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Bellevue, Washington

Overall Rank: 28

FINAL SCORE: 8.2813

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 94%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 71%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.65

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.76

SAT: 1877

ACT: 27.9

International School

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Reno, Nevada

Overall Rank: 30

FINAL SCORE: 8.1889

School Type: Magnet

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 0%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.89

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.97

SAT: 2226

ACT: 32.8

The Davidson Academy of Nevada

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Fullerton, California

Overall Rank: 33

FINAL SCORE: 8.1342

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 59%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.98

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.89

SAT: 1830

ACT: N/A

Troy High School

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San Ramon, California

Overall Rank: 37

FINAL SCORE: 8.0326

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.7%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 39%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.81

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.94

SAT: 1840

ACT: 27.5

The Daily Beast

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Flagstaff, Arizona

Overall Rank: 40

FINAL SCORE: 8.0192

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 100%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 43%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.67

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.78

SAT: 1785

ACT: 27.6

Northland Preparatory Academy

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Palos Verdes Estates, California

Overall Rank: 44

FINAL SCORE: 7.9469

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.6%

College Bound: 98.7%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 42%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.82

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.78

SAT: 1703

ACT: 26

Palos Verdes High School

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Santa Ana, California

Overall Rank: 48

FINAL SCORE: 7.8862

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Selective

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 99%

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

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.59

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.78

SAT: 1713

ACT: 25.4

Orange County School of the Arts

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Denver, Colorado

Overall Rank: 51

FINAL SCORE: 7.8369

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 99.7%

College Bound: 99%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 33%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.58

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.83

SAT: N/A

ACT: 26.4

D'Evelyn Jr./Sr. High School

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Diamond Bar, California

Overall Rank: 54

FINAL SCORE: 7.8114

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.8%

College Bound: 95%

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

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.93

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.86

SAT: 1742

ACT: 27.2

Diamond Bar High School

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San Diego, California

Overall Rank: 65

FINAL SCORE: 7.7000

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 99.1%

College Bound: 90%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 53%

AP/IB Tests per student: 1.09

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.88

SAT: 1862

ACT: 27

Canyon Crest Academy

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Westlake Village, California

Overall Rank: 72

FINAL SCORE: 7.6539

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.7%

College Bound: 97%

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

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.89

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.85

SAT: 1754

ACT: 25.88

Westlake High School

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Danville, California

Overall Rank: 88

FINAL SCORE: 7.5264

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.7%

College Bound: 95%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 25%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.37

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.89

SAT: 1769

ACT: 26.2

Monte Vista High School

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Walnut, California

Overall Rank: 97

FINAL SCORE: 7.4748

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.2%

College Bound: 95%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 36%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.88

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.91

SAT: 1717

ACT: 26.2

Walnut High School

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Phoenix, Arizona

Overall Rank: 99

FINAL SCORE: 7.4617

School Type: Charter

Enrollment: Lottery

Graduation Rate: 100.0%

College Bound: 99%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 20%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.28

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.74

SAT: 1674

ACT: 24.81

Horizon Honors High School

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Goleta, California

Overall Rank: 115

FINAL SCORE: 7.3871

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 31%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.57

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.66

SAT: 1696

ACT: 26.4

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Yorba Linda, California

Overall Rank: 116

FINAL SCORE: 7.3850

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 98.4%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 29%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.57

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.87

SAT: 1660

ACT: 25.2

Yorba Linda High School

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San Diego, California

Overall Rank: 118

FINAL SCORE: 7.3812

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 94%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 36%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.95

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.70

SAT: 1709

ACT: 26

Westview High School

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Rolling Hills Estates, California

Overall Rank: 121

FINAL SCORE: 7.3523

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.0%

College Bound: 98%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 41%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.90

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.85

SAT: 1781

ACT: 27.1

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

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Torrance, California

Overall Rank: 139

FINAL SCORE: 7.2292

School Type: Regular

Enrollment: Open

Graduation Rate: 99.6%

College Bound: 94%

% Students Enrolled in AP/IB/AICE: 25%

AP/IB Tests per student: 0.47

AP/IB Pass Rate: 0.77

SAT: 1657

ACT: 24.08

South High School