The top-rated high schools in Phoenix for 2026 are Madison Highland Prep (9.1/10), Great Hearts Academies - Lincoln Prep (8.6/10), and Great Hearts Academies - Arete Prep (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 95 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Phoenix's ranked high school landscape spans 96 schools across the metro, giving families a wide but uneven field to navigate. The average composite score sits at 6.1 out of 10, and only 19 schools — roughly 20% of the total — clear the 7.0 threshold. That gap matters when choosing where your student spends four years. At the top, Shadow Mountain High School leads with an 8.9 score, followed closely by Phoenix Union-Wilson College Preparatory at 8.7 and a cluster of strong performers in the 8.5 range, including Paradise Valley and Pinnacle High Schools. The table below covers all 96 ranked schools with scores, key metrics, and sortable columns so you can filter by what matters most to your family — whether that's academic performance, location, or school type.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Arizona education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in Arizona. Learn about our methodology.
Madison Highland Prep (91935)
475 students · grades 9th–12th
Top 2% in Arizona · charter
Lincoln Preparatory Academy (92657)
588 students · grades 6th–12th
Top 6% in Arizona · charter
Arete Preparatory Academy (89486)
552 students · grades 6th–12th
Top 8% in Arizona · charter
Veritas Preparatory Academy (80992)
795 students · grades 6th–12th
Top 8% in Arizona · charter
Phoenix Union High School District (4286)
201 students · 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 9% in Arizona
Glendale Preparatory Academy (89829)
626 students · grades 6th–12th
Top 9% in Arizona · charter
Basis Charter Schools Inc. (91280)
781 students · grades 5th–12th
Top 9% in Arizona · charter
North Phoenix Preparatory Academy (90879)
633 students · grades 6th–12th
Top 9% in Arizona · charter
Phoenix Union High School District (4286)
392 students · 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 10% in Arizona
Trivium Preparatory Academy (90859)
892 students · grades 6th–12th
Top 10% in Arizona · charter
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Madison Highland Prep is the top-rated high school in Phoenix with a composite score of 9.1/10. 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.
Phoenix has 130 high schools, including 73 charter schools. Of these, 108 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
Among 108 Phoenix high schools with a composite score, the average is 6.0/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Arizona).
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 Arizona, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
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 Arizona, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Phoenix has 73 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.
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.
School choice
Treasury expects its rules for the new federal school choice tax credit by the end of September. Thirty states had elected in as of July 24 and, as of September 10, none had filed the list that makes the credit usable. A state line still decides whether it reaches your family at all.