How good are schools in Washington state?
An Evergreen State high school ranks among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The publication recently ranked the best high schools in the United States for the 2026-2027 school year, based on performance on state assessments, graduation rates and how well teachers prepare students for college.
U.S. News looked at traditional high schools and charter schools as well as those focused on science, technology, engineering and math.
“A great high school educates all of its students from different social and economic backgrounds, exposing them to challenging coursework on the path to graduation,” U.S. News said.
Here’s which high school in Washington state made the grade:
What is the best high school in Washington state?
Nikola Tesla STEM High School in Redmond was No. 9 on U.S. News & World Report’s latest ranking of the top high schools in the nation.
In addition, U.S. News named Tesla STEM High the best high school in Washington state.
It was No. 1 among high schools in the Seattle metropolitan area, the publication said, and took first place in the Lake Washington School District.
With 605 students enrolled in ninth through 12th grades, Tesla STEM High has a student-teacher ratio of 21 to one.
The Redmond high school has a 97.9% graduation rate, with high scores for college readiness and proficiency in math, reading and science.
“Tesla STEM High School nurtures students’ adaptability, intellectual resolve and curiosity to inspire positive change from personal growth to global impact,” officials said on the King County school’s website. “Our students leave with the tools to excel in college and beyond.”
Where are the top 10 high schools in the US?
According to U.S. News, the nation’s top high schools had a few factors in common.
Students at the highest-ranked schools “demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations in math, reading and science state assessments, earned qualifying scores on an array of college-level exams, and graduated in high proportions,” the publication said.
U.S. News named these 10 high schools the best in the United States:
Where are top 10 high schools in Washington state?
U.S. News & World Report previously ranked the best public high schools in Washington state.
Most can be found in King County, McClatchy News previously reported.
According to U.S. News, these were the top 10 public high schools in the Evergreen State for the 2025-26 school year:
How did U.S. News rank top-performing high schools?
U.S. News & World Report said it “looked at thousands of public schools to identify the top performers.”
Working with research firm RTI International, U.S. News ranked nearly 18,000 public high schools out of more than 27,000 reviewed.
In order to be considered, schools had to have at least 15 students enrolled in 12th grade.
U.S. News said researchers took “six indicators of school quality” into consideration when ranking public high schools: