Archive

25 Best High Schools in the West

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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
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