The brief
The top-rated high schools in New York for 2026 are Central Park East High School (8.7/10), Nyc Museum School (7.9/10), and University Neighborhood High School (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 123 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
New York City's 125 ranked high schools span an enormous range of academic profiles, from selective specialized programs to neighborhood schools serving every corner of the five boroughs. The average composite score across the list sits at 6.8/10, but half of all ranked schools clear the 7.0 mark — a sign that strong options are spread widely across the city, not concentrated in a single district or borough. American Sign Language & English Secondary School leads the rankings at 9.2/10, followed closely by Wadleigh Performing and Visual Arts at 9.1/10 and Community Health Academy of the Heights at 8.8/10. That top-to-bottom spread gives families real choices depending on commute, program focus, and fit. Use the table below to sort by score, location, or other factors to find the schools that match what matters most to your student.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.7
- 27.9
- 37.8
- 47.8
- 57.8
- 67.7
- 77.6
- 87.6
- 97.6
- 107.6
All 123 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 123
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Central Park East High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 4students 489student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 2Nyc Museum SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 479student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 3University Neighborhood High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 1students 481student-teacher ratio 12.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 4High School for Dual Language and Asian StudiesNew York City Geographic District # 2students 369student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 5Park East High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 4students 384student-teacher ratio 9.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 6Urban Assembly School for the Performing ArtsNew York City Geographic District # 5students 219student-teacher ratio 8.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 7Bard High School Early CollegeNew York City Geographic District # 1students 549student-teacher ratio 10.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 8Fiorello H Laguardia High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 3students 2,141student-teacher ratio 14.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 9Baruch College Campus High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 472student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 10Columbia Secondary SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 5students 718student-teacher ratio 13.1:1grades 6th–12th
- 11Unity Center for Urban TechnologiesNew York City Geographic District # 2students 266student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 12Eleanor Roosevelt High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 540student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 13Urban Assembly Gateway School for TechnologyNew York City Geographic District # 2students 418student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 14Manhattan/hunter Science High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 3students 439student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 15Nyc Lab High School for Collaborative StudiesNew York City Geographic District # 2students 425student-teacher ratio 9.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 16High School for Health Professions & Human ServicesNew York City Geographic District # 2students 1,667student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 17Talent Unlimited High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 446student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 18American Sign Language & English Secondary SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 174student-teacher ratio 6.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 19Nyc IschoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 447student-teacher ratio 12.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 20Gramercy Arts High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 511student-teacher ratio 12.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 21Global Learning Collaborative (the)New York City Geographic District # 3students 393student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 22Stuyvesant High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 3,257student-teacher ratio 20.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 23Manhattan Village AcademyNew York City Geographic District # 2students 400student-teacher ratio 11.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 24Millennium High SchoolNew York City Geographic District # 2students 674student-teacher ratio 16.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 25Urban Assembly School of Business for Young WomenNew York City Geographic District # 2students 76student-teacher ratio 7.6:1grades 9th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and New York education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in New York. 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
Central Park East High School
New York City Geographic District # 4
489 students · 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 1% in New York
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 6.3
- Environment
- 9.5
- 2
Nyc Museum School
New York City Geographic District # 2
479 students · 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 12% in New York
- Academics
- 9.4
- Growth
- 4.9
- Environment
- 8.3
- 3
University Neighborhood High School
New York City Geographic District # 1
481 students · 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 14% in New York
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 6.6
- Environment
- 5.5
- 4
High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies
New York City Geographic District # 2
369 students · 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 14% in New York
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 4.6
- Environment
- 8.0
- 5
Park East High School
New York City Geographic District # 4
384 students · 9.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 14% in New York
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 6.4
- Environment
- 6.4
- 6
Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts
New York City Geographic District # 5
219 students · 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 17% in New York
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 4.7
- Environment
- 9.9
- 7
Bard High School Early College
New York City Geographic District # 1
549 students · 10.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 19% in New York
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 5.1
- Environment
- 7.3
- 8
Fiorello H Laguardia High School
New York City Geographic District # 3
2,141 students · 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 19% in New York
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 4.9
- Environment
- 5.3
- 9
Baruch College Campus High School
New York City Geographic District # 2
472 students · 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 19% in New York
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 4.9
- Environment
- 6.3
- 10
Columbia Secondary School
New York City Geographic District # 5
718 students · 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 19% in New York
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 7.5
- Environment
- 5.5
Questions
What is the best high school in New York, New York?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Central Park East High School is the top-rated high school in New York with a composite score of 8.7/10. 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 New York, New York?
New York has 150 high schools, including 8 charter schools. Of these, 150 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in New York?
Among 150 New York high schools with a composite score, the average is 6.3/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in New York).
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 New York, 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 New York, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the New York high school rankings?
New York has 8 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 New York2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle schools in New York2026 rankings and ratings
- All 492 schools in New YorkElementary, middle and high
- New York schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings