A good school is a pivotal moment in determining the child’s progression and future prospects. The greatest challenge for parents is to find the right school for their children. When it comes to the Bay area, there are a plethora of options to choose from for schooling. San Francisco Bay Area entails many Private Schools, Public High Schools, Boarding Schools, and you name it.
But when it comes to preference, parents opt for the best public schools for a variety of prospects. Public schools are very diverse from private schools because public schools are funded by the local, state, or federal government. It is beneficial for the students because public schools have to follow the federal guidelines which embrace the diversification, affordable fees, and acceptance of several scholarship programs.
The following article shows you the top best public high schools in the Bay Area. These high schools are handpicked bearing in mind the academic & student life data (collected from the U.S Department of Education), rankings of these schools, and the consideration of various scholarship programs.
Henry M. Gunn High School
Ranking as the second-best public high school in California, Henry M. Gunn High School is best known for producing great students and prepping them for college with AP participation at a whooping 81percentage.
Henry M. Gunn High School is located in Palo Alto, CA. The school enrolls only around 2000 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 17:1. This school is considered to be a more diversified school because it has over 60percent minority enrolment. Irrespective of the student’s socioeconomic status, the school pushes them to strive for excellence.
Founded In: 1964
Tuition: N/A
Average SAT: 1410; Average ACT: 32
Average GPA: 3.2
Rank: #2 of 1,842 Acc. to Best Public High Schools in California.
Contact: (650) 354-8200
Financial Aid: Here are some of the programs that this college has to offer:
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Mission San Jose High School
Mission San Jose High School is considered to be the number one school in San Francisco, CA Metro Area even surpassing the top private schools in the area. The average graduation rate is almost 97% with an AP enrolment of 50%.
The school is situated in Fremont, CA and it is one of the best high schools for college preparation. Mission San Jose also ranks in the top 20percent of the nation for its STEM programs. The school is more diversified with a whooping 95percenatage minority enrollment. Moreover, According to state test scores, 92% of students are at least proficient in math and 94% in reading.
Founded In: 1964
Tuition: N/A
Average SAT: 1450; Average ACT: 33
Average GPA: 3.0
Rank: #5 in California High Schools
Contact: (510) 657-3600
Financial Aid: Go through this link to get detailed info.
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Lynbrook High School
Lynbrook High school is a top-rated public high school situated in San Jose, CA. The school is a getaway to college for all students regardless of race or income of the parents. The student-teacher ratio of the school is 23 to 1 for a population of 1880 students. Lynbrook High School ranks 4 out of 1,394 schools Acc. to the best College Prep Public High Schools in California. With an AP enrolment of 86%, Lynbrook is considered to be the ablest high school in the Bay Area.
Founded In: 1965
Tuition: N/A
Average SAT: 1450; Average ACT: 33
Average GPA: 3.5
Rank: #12 of Best Public High Schools in California
Contact: (408) 366-7700
Financial Aid: Currently, the school has no opening for scholarships.
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Monta Vista High School
When it comes to the best high schools which provide excellent STEM programs, hands down, Monta Vista High School tops the chart. Conferring to the State scores, the students of this school has 89 percent proficiency in math and 86 percent proficiency in reading.
Monta Vista High School which is also called the silicon valley of CA is located in Cupertino, CA. The school’s minority enrolment is higher than the California state average and the school has a profound graduation rate at 99percentage. The school ranks 5 out of 1,394 high schools in the best college prep High Schools in California.
Founded In: 1969
Tuition: N/A
Average SAT: 1440; Average ACT: 33
Average GPA: 3.5
Rank: #39 of Best Public High Schools in California
Contact: (408) 366-7600
Financial Aid: You can get detailed information by going through this link.
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Saratoga High School
Tucked away in Saratoga, California, it is the No1 High school in California for college preparations. The Saratoga High School has a 98% of graduation rate and it is well known for its Measures of Academic Progress programs (MAP),
The school also boasts of its excellent programs for music and math. The school charts No3 out of 1,842 High Schools in California. Just like most of the public schools in the Bay Area, Saratoga offers a tremendous STEM courses for the students. Considering the diversity chart, the school has 62percent Asian race and still accomplishes to be the top 3 schools in California.
Founded In: 1959
Tuition: N/A
Average SAT: 1430; Average ACT: 32
Average GPA: 3.75
Rank: #3 of Best Public High Schools in California
Contact: (408) 867-3411
Financial Aid:
- Pell Grants (need-based grants) – Awards
- Saratoga High School Scholarships- Educational Fund
To get the information regarding the financial aid program of this university, please click
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Palo Alto High School
Founded in 1898, Palo Alto High School is one of the oldest public high schools in California. The students who attend the school are usually passionate and goal-driven and manage to get into elite colleges in the United States of America. This school is considered to be a rival school of the previously mentioned school Henry Gunn high school. It is located in Palo Alto, CA.
The Palo Alto High school is famously called the “Paly” and it has an 18 to 1 student-teacher ratio. With an atmosphere of healthy competition among peers, this school is considered to be having a wide array of clubs and activities with several athletic programs.
Founded In: 1898
Tuition: N/A
Average SAT: 1380; Average ACT: 31
Average GPA: 3.4
Rank: 4 of Best Public High Schools in California
Contact: (650) 329-3701
Financial Aid: Currently, the school has no opening for scholarships.
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Cupertino High School
Locally known as “Tino”, Cupertino High School is a top-rated public high school located in the Bays of Cupertino. The School is known for its athletic department since it offers exceptional sporting activities with 21 different sports and 55 athletic teams. The school is best acknowledged for its girl’s athletic participation in sports.
Not only sports, but the school is also notable for its education since the school charts 8th rank for having the best teachers in Public High Schools in California. The school has an excellent curriculum and offers a great education for tinkering the students to become great and successful individuals.
Founded In: 1958
Tuition: N/A
Average SAT: 1390; Average ACT:31
Average GPA: 3.25
Rank: 46 of Best Public High Schools in California
Contact: (408) 366-7300
Financial Aid: Currently, the school has no opening for scholarships
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Los Altos High School
One of only two schools in California, Los Altos High School located in Los Altos, CA, offers the option of taking many college-level courses in the public school setting. Los Altos High School is very well known for its excellent arts department and it has a wide range of student-run clubs.
With a strength of 2,227 students, the school ranks 16 in the best schools of California. The average graduation rate of the school is 98percentage. Moreover, according to the survey conducted by Niche, this school is considered to be the safest in the region. Considering the data based on chronic student absenteeism, suspensions/expulsions, and survey responses on the school environment from students and parents, this school is considered to be excellent for education and nurturing up a student’s life.
Founded In: 1954
Tuition: N/A
Average SAT: 1350 ; Average ACT: 31
Average GPA: 3.3
Rank: 16 of Best Public High Schools in California
Contact: (650) 960-8811
Financial Aid:
- Gino Kwok Scholarship– $250 award
- Stu Reeder Memorial Scholarship – $1000 Scholarship Awarded to worthy Student-Athlete
- DR. JOSEPH CHANG Sciences Technologies Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship
And many more, to get the information regarding the financial aid program of this university, please click
