The brief
The top-rated high schools in Atlanta for 2026 are Charles Drew Charter Ja/sr Academy (9.2/10), B.e.s.t Academy (7.7/10), and Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy (7.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 23 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Atlanta's 23 ranked high schools span a meaningful range of performance, with an average composite score of 6.0/10 across the metro. Charles Drew Charter JA/SR Academy leads the field at 8.4/10 — a full 1.3 points ahead of the next tier — followed by Carver High School Early College, Riverwood International Charter School, and B.E.S.T Academy, which all land at or above 7.1/10. Only 4 schools, or 17% of the ranked list, clear the 7.0 threshold, making the top of this table genuinely competitive. The table below lets you sort by score, school type, and other key metrics to find the right fit. Charter and magnet options appear throughout the rankings, giving families real alternatives to traditional neighborhood assignments. Use the filters to narrow by what matters most — whether that's academic rigor, proximity, or program focus — then click any school for a deeper look at the data behind its score.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.2
- 27.7
- 37.3
- 47.2
- 56.8
- 66.7
- 76.6
- 86.4
- 96.3
- 106.1
All 23 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 23
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Charles Drew Charter Ja/sr AcademycharterAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 916student-teacher ratio 12.4:1grades 6th–12th
- 2B.e.s.t AcademyAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 237student-teacher ratio 6.6:1grades 6th–12th
- 3Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership AcademyAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 339student-teacher ratio 6.9:1grades 6th–12th
- 4Riverwood International Charter SchoolFulton Countystudents 1,716student-teacher ratio 16.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 5Westlake High SchoolFulton Countystudents 2,156student-teacher ratio 19.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 6Midtown High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 1,658student-teacher ratio 15.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 7Kipp Atlanta Collegiate Charter SchoolcharterAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 832student-teacher ratio 14.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 8Druid Hills High SchoolDekalb Countystudents 1,430student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 9Maynard Jackson High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 1,551student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 10D. M. Therrell High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 1,005student-teacher ratio 15.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 11North Atlanta High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 2,332student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 12Benjamin E. Mays High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 1,363student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 13Lakeside High SchoolDekalb Countystudents 2,186student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 14North Springs High SchoolFulton Countystudents 1,304student-teacher ratio 15.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 15Hank Aaron New Beginnings AcademyAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 206student-teacher ratio 6.2:1grades 6th–12th
- 16Carver High School Early CollegeAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 526student-teacher ratio 7.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 17Booker T. Washington High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 859student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 18Carver High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 492student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 19South Atlanta High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 907student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 20Hapeville Charter Career AcademycharterFulton Countystudents 694student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 21Mcnair High SchoolDekalb Countystudents 776student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 22Frederick Douglass High SchoolAtlanta Public Schoolsstudents 1,194student-teacher ratio 13.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 23Cobb Horizon High SchoolCobb Countystudents 1,027student-teacher ratio 13.0:1grades 6th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Georgia education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in Georgia. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 23 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Charles Drew Charter Ja/sr Academy
Atlanta Public Schools
916 students · 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 1% in Georgia · charter
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 9.9
- 2
B.e.s.t Academy
Atlanta Public Schools
237 students · 6.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 17% in Georgia
- Academics
- 6.4
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 10.0
- 3
Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy
Atlanta Public Schools
339 students · 6.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 26% in Georgia
- Academics
- 6.1
- Growth
- 7.3
- Environment
- 10.0
- 4
Riverwood International Charter School
Fulton County
1,716 students · 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 29% in Georgia
- Academics
- 6.3
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 4.9
- 5
Westlake High School
Fulton County
2,156 students · 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 39% in Georgia
- Academics
- 7.0
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 1.5
- 6
Midtown High School
Atlanta Public Schools
1,658 students · 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 40% in Georgia
- Academics
- 7.1
- Growth
- 4.3
- Environment
- 7.7
- 7
Kipp Atlanta Collegiate Charter School
Atlanta Public Schools
832 students · 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 43% in Georgia · charter
- Academics
- 3.8
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 5.3
- 8
Druid Hills High School
Dekalb County
1,430 students · 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 49% in Georgia
- Academics
- 5.1
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 3.9
- 9
Maynard Jackson High School
Atlanta Public Schools
1,551 students · 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 50% in Georgia
- Academics
- 4.5
- Growth
- 4.4
- Environment
- 8.6
- 10
D. M. Therrell High School
Atlanta Public Schools
1,005 students · 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 56% in Georgia
- Academics
- 3.1
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 5.5
Questions
What is the best high school in Atlanta, Georgia?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Charles Drew Charter Ja/sr Academy is the top-rated high school in Atlanta with a composite score of 9.2/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many high schools are in Atlanta, Georgia?
Atlanta has 43 high schools, including 3 charter schools. Of these, 40 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in Atlanta?
Among 40 Atlanta high schools with a composite score, the average is 6.1/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Georgia).
How does MySchoolScout rate high schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Georgia, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Georgia, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Atlanta high school rankings?
Atlanta has 3 charter high schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best elementary schools in Atlanta2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle schools in Atlanta2026 rankings and ratings
- All 224 schools in AtlantaElementary, middle and high
- Georgia schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings