The brief
The top-rated high schools in Philadelphia for 2026 are Science Leadership Academy (8.8/10), The Crefeld School (8.6/10), and Academy at Palumbo (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 82 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Philadelphia's 68 ranked high schools span a meaningful range of quality, with the average composite score sitting at 6.2 out of 10. That gap between the middle of the pack and the top tier is worth paying attention to: Hill Freedman World Academy leads all schools with an 8.6, followed closely by Bodine William W HS at 8.4 and The Science Leadership Academy at Beeber at 8.1. Lankenau HS and Science Leadership Academy round out the top five. Twenty schools — 29% of the ranked total — score 7 or higher, meaning strong options exist across the city, but they require some digging to find. The table below lets you sort by composite score, academics, and other dimensions so you can zero in on what matters most for your student. Use the filters to narrow by neighborhood or school type and identify the best fit from a genuinely competitive field.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.8
- 28.6
- 38.3
- 48.3
- 58.2
- 68.2
- 78.0
- 88.0
- 98.0
- 107.8
All 82 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 82
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Science Leadership AcademyPhiladelphia City SDstudents 500student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 2The Crefeld Schoolstudents 90student-teacher ratio 4.5:1grades 7th–12th
- 3Academy at PalumboPhiladelphia City SDstudents 1,188student-teacher ratio 18.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 4Central HSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 2,287student-teacher ratio 20.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 5Parkway Center City Middle CollegePhiladelphia City SDstudents 426student-teacher ratio 21.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 6Bodine William W HSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 464student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 7Masterman Julia R Sec SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 1,199student-teacher ratio 20.7:1grades 5th–12th
- 8HS of Engineering & SciencePhiladelphia City SDstudents 843student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 7th–12th
- 9The Science Leadership Academy at BeeberPhiladelphia City SDstudents 557student-teacher ratio 14.7:1grades 5th–12th
- 10Swenson Arts and Technology High SchoolPhiladelphia City SDstudents 842student-teacher ratio 13.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 11Girls HSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 722student-teacher ratio 16.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 12West Catholic Preparatory H.s.students 414student-teacher ratio 10.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 13Tech Freire CscharterTech Freire Csstudents 489student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 14GampPhiladelphia City SDstudents 577student-teacher ratio 17.0:1grades 5th–12th
- 15Creative and Performing ArtsPhiladelphia City SDstudents 654student-teacher ratio 18.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 16Arts Academy at Benjamin RushPhiladelphia City SDstudents 583student-teacher ratio 18.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 17Anthony Wayne Academystudents 71student-teacher ratio 7.9:1grades 6th–12th
- 18National Constitution Center HSPhiladelphia City SDstudents 398student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 19International Christian High Schoolstudents 145student-teacher ratio 7.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 20Franklin Towne ChscharterFranklin Towne Chsstudents 1,314student-teacher ratio 18.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 21Mercy Career & Technical High Schoolstudents 300student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 22Liguori Academystudents 85student-teacher ratio 9.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 23The Workshop SchoolPhiladelphia City SDstudents 189student-teacher ratio 10.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 24Multicultural Academy CscharterMulticultural Academy Csstudents 244student-teacher ratio 14.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 25Hill Freedman World AcademyPhiladelphia City SDstudents 572student-teacher ratio 11.0:1grades 6th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Pennsylvania education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in Pennsylvania. 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
Science Leadership Academy
Philadelphia City SD
500 students · 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 5% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 4.8
- 2
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 3
Academy at Palumbo
Philadelphia City SD
1,188 students · 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 12% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 3.5
- 4
Central HS
Philadelphia City SD
2,287 students · 20.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 12% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 3.1
- 5
Parkway Center City Middle College
Philadelphia City SD
426 students · 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 13% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 2.1
- 6
Bodine William W HS
Philadelphia City SD
464 students · 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 14% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 4.5
- 7
Masterman Julia R Sec Sch
Philadelphia City SD
1,199 students · 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–12th
Top 17% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 3.3
- 8
HS of Engineering & Science
Philadelphia City SD
843 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 7th–12th
Top 17% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 8.6
- Environment
- 5.2
- 9
The Science Leadership Academy at Beeber
Philadelphia City SD
557 students · 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–12th
Top 17% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 8.5
- Growth
- 6.7
- Environment
- 6.4
- 10
Swenson Arts and Technology High School
Philadelphia City SD
842 students · 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 21% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 5.7
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 5.1
Questions
What is the best high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Science Leadership Academy is the top-rated high school in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia has 89 high schools, including 14 charter schools. Of these, 83 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in Philadelphia?
Among 83 Philadelphia high schools with a composite score, the average is 5.7/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Pennsylvania).
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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Philadelphia high school rankings?
Philadelphia has 14 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 Philadelphia2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle schools in Philadelphia2026 rankings and ratings
- All 421 schools in PhiladelphiaElementary, middle and high
- Pennsylvania schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings