The brief
The top-rated high schools in San Francisco for 2026 are Lowell High (9.2/10), Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School (8.5/10), and Academy (the)- Sf @mcateer (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 24 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
San Francisco's 24 ranked high schools span a wide range of academic profiles, with an average composite score of 7.1/10 across the city. Leading the pack is Asawa Ruth SF School of the Arts, a public school earning a 9.3/10 — the highest mark in the metro — followed closely by George Washington High at 9.2/10 and Balboa High at 8.9/10. More than half of the ranked schools clear the 7/10 threshold, meaning families have a solid pool of strong options to consider. The table below lets you sort by score, school type, and other factors to find the right fit. Whether you prioritize arts, academics, or something else, the data here reflects real performance across San Francisco's public high school landscape — giving you a grounded starting point for the search.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.2
- 28.5
- 38.3
- 47.6
- 57.6
- 67.5
- 77.4
- 87.1
- 96.9
- 106.8
All 24 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 24
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Lowell HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 2,540student-teacher ratio 19.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 2Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public SchoolSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 680student-teacher ratio 18.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 3Academy (the)- Sf @mcateerSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 265student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 4Lincoln (abraham) HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 2,037student-teacher ratio 24.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 5Wallenberg (raoul) Traditional HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 551student-teacher ratio 21.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 6Kipp San Francisco College PreparatorycharterKipp San Francisco College Preparatory Districtstudents 260student-teacher ratio 11.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 7Balboa HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 1,251student-teacher ratio 21.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 8O'connell (john) HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 483student-teacher ratio 15.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 9Independence HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 197student-teacher ratio 12.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 10Gateway HighcharterGateway High Districtstudents 475student-teacher ratio 16.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 11S.f. County Civic Center SecondarySan Francisco County Office of Educationstudents 50student-teacher ratio 7.1:1grades 6th–12th
- 12Washington (george) HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 2,008student-teacher ratio 21.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 13Jordan (june) School for EquitySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 206student-teacher ratio 9.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 14Galileo HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 1,741student-teacher ratio 19.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 15Burton (phillip and Sala) Academic HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 1,031student-teacher ratio 19.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 16S.f. County Opportunity (hilltop)San Francisco County Office of Educationstudents 76student-teacher ratio 9.5:1grades 6th–12th
- 17Marshall (thurgood) HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 477student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 18Mission HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 1,084student-teacher ratio 19.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 19Life Learning Academy ChartercharterLife Learning Academy Charter Districtstudents 41student-teacher ratio 5.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 20Five Keys Independence HS (sf Sheriff's)charterFive Keys Independence HS (sf Sheriff's) Districtstudents 3,172student-teacher ratio 34.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 21Wells (ida B.) HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 179student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 22City Arts & Leadership AcademycharterCity Arts & Leadership Academy Districtstudents 407student-teacher ratio 25.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 23S.f. International HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 392student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades 8th–12th
- 24Downtown HighSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 147student-teacher ratio 29.4:1grades 9th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and California education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in California. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 24 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Lowell High
San Francisco Unified
2,540 students · 19.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 1% in California
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 9.5
- 2
Asawa (ruth) Sf Sch of the Arts a Public School
San Francisco Unified
680 students · 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 6% in California
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 6.7
- Environment
- 9.6
- 3
Academy (the)- Sf @mcateer
San Francisco Unified
265 students · 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 9% in California
- Academics
- 7.7
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 9.5
- 4
Lincoln (abraham) High
San Francisco Unified
2,037 students · 24.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 22% in California
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 7.2
- Environment
- 7.7
- 5
Wallenberg (raoul) Traditional High
San Francisco Unified
551 students · 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 22% in California
- Academics
- 7.1
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 8.4
- 6
Kipp San Francisco College Preparatory
Kipp San Francisco College Preparatory District
260 students · 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 23% in California · charter
- Academics
- 7.3
- Growth
- 6.6
- Environment
- 9.5
- 7
Balboa High
San Francisco Unified
1,251 students · 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 26% in California
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 4.8
- Environment
- 8.5
- 8
O'connell (john) High
San Francisco Unified
483 students · 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 34% in California
- Academics
- 3.8
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 8.4
- 9
Independence High
San Francisco Unified
197 students · 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 38% in California
- Academics
- 6.3
- Growth
- 6.7
- Environment
- 8.8
- 10
Gateway High
Gateway High District
475 students · 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 39% in California · charter
- Academics
- 6.3
- Growth
- 2.9
- Environment
- 9.3
Questions
What is the best high school in San Francisco, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Lowell High is the top-rated high school in San Francisco 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 San Francisco, California?
San Francisco has 56 high schools, including 6 charter schools. Of these, 37 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in San Francisco?
Among 37 San Francisco high schools with a composite score, the average is 6.5/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in California).
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 California, 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 California, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the San Francisco high school rankings?
San Francisco has 6 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 San Francisco2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle schools in San Francisco2026 rankings and ratings
- All 257 schools in San FranciscoElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings