The brief
The top-rated high schools in Columbus for 2026 are Bexley High School (8.8/10), Grandview Heights High School (8.6/10), and Columbus Alternative High School (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 45 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Columbus spans 47 ranked high schools, making it one of the more competitive metro markets for families weighing their options. Bexley High School leads the pack with a 9.3 out of 10, followed closely by Grandview Heights High School at 9.2. The gap between those two and the next tier is notable — only 8 schools, or 17% of the ranked pool, score 7 or above, and the metro's average composite sits at 5.9 out of 10. That spread matters: a school near the top is performing significantly above the norm for this area. The list includes a mix of traditional public schools and charter options like Horizon Science Academy Columbus and Road to Success Academy. Geography, school type, and individual scores all shift the picture depending on what a family prioritizes. Use the table below to sort by the metrics that matter most to you.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.8
- 28.6
- 37.5
- 47.2
- 56.8
- 66.3
- 76.2
- 86.0
- 95.9
- 105.8
All 45 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 45
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Bexley High SchoolBexley Citystudents 768student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 2Grandview Heights High SchoolGrandview Heights Schoolsstudents 331student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 3Columbus Alternative High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 778student-teacher ratio 19.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 4Horizon Science Academy ColumbuscharterHorizon Science Academy Columbusstudents 624student-teacher ratio 12.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 5Metro Early College High SchoolMetro Early College High Schoolstudents 884student-teacher ratio 19.6:1grades 6th–12th
- 6Graham School thecharterGraham School thestudents 145student-teacher ratio 5.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 7Road to Success AcademycharterRoad To Success Academystudents 62student-teacher ratio 8.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 8Fort Hayes Arts and Academic HSColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 733student-teacher ratio 18.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 9Columbus International High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 460student-teacher ratio 16.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 10Centennial High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 741student-teacher ratio 18.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 11Focus North High SchoolcharterFocus North High Schoolstudents 191student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 12Eastmoor AcademyColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 627student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 13Columbus Scioto 6-12Columbus City Schools Districtstudents 89student-teacher ratio 4.5:1grades 6th–12th
- 14Northland High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 970student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 15Franklinton High SchoolcharterFranklinton High Schoolstudents 117student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 16East High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 437student-teacher ratio 16.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 17Franklinton Prep High SchoolcharterFranklinton Prep High Schoolstudents 226student-teacher ratio 32.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 18Focus Learning Academy of Southeastern ColumbuscharterFocus Learning Academy of Southeastern Columbusstudents 221student-teacher ratio 27.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 19Marion-Franklin High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 450student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 20Yb Columbus Community SchoolcharterYb Columbus Community Schoolstudents 228student-teacher ratio 32.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 21Franklin Heights High SchoolSouth-Western Citystudents 1,377student-teacher ratio 20.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 22Capital High SchoolcharterCapital High Schoolstudents 84student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 23South High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 902student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades 7th–12th
- 24Beechcroft High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 632student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 25Mifflin High SchoolColumbus City Schools Districtstudents 728student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades 9th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Ohio education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in Ohio. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Bexley High School
Bexley City
768 students · 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 1% in Ohio
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 8.3
- 2
Grandview Heights High School
Grandview Heights Schools
331 students · 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 2% in Ohio
- Academics
- 8.1
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 9.8
- 3
Columbus Alternative High School
Columbus City Schools District
778 students · 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 17% in Ohio
- Academics
- 6.9
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 4.6
- 4
Horizon Science Academy Columbus
Horizon Science Academy Columbus
624 students · 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 25% in Ohio · charter
- Academics
- 5.1
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 9.4
- 5
Metro Early College High School
Metro Early College High School
884 students · 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 36% in Ohio
- Academics
- 6.1
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 4.0
- 6
Graham School the
Graham School the
145 students · 5.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 49% in Ohio · charter
- Academics
- 2.2
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 9.4
- 7
Road to Success Academy
Road To Success Academy
62 students · 8.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 52% in Ohio · charter
- Academics
- 1.6
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 9.9
- 8
Fort Hayes Arts and Academic HS
Columbus City Schools District
733 students · 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 57% in Ohio
- Academics
- 3.9
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 3.8
- 9
Columbus International High School
Columbus City Schools District
460 students · 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 60% in Ohio
- Academics
- 3.2
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 5.9
- 10
Centennial High School
Columbus City Schools District
741 students · 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 62% in Ohio
- Academics
- 4.3
- Growth
- 6.0
- Environment
- 5.1
Questions
What is the best high school in Columbus, Ohio?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Bexley High School is the top-rated high school in Columbus with a composite score of 8.8/10. 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 Columbus, Ohio?
Columbus has 55 high schools, including 21 charter schools. Of these, 55 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in Columbus?
Among 55 Columbus high schools with a composite score, the average is 5.3/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Ohio).
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 Ohio, 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 Ohio, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Columbus high school rankings?
Columbus has 21 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 Columbus2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle schools in Columbus2026 rankings and ratings
- All 285 schools in ColumbusElementary, middle and high
- Ohio schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings