U.S. News & World Report completed a national ranking of nearly 20,000 public high schools for 2016, and, consequently, a number of Orange County schools were named among the best. Both North and South county districts were represented with top schools in California and the nation.
Rankings were based on a number of factors, including student performance in math and reading, and disadvantaged student performance. In addition, graduation rate, and college-readiness as measured by Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test data.
The following Orange County schools ranked in the top 200 in California:
KPRS INC
CORONA DEL MAR HIGH | NEWPORT BEACH, CA | NEWPORT-MESA UNIFIED
- #40 in California Rankings, #270 in National Rankings
UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL | IRVINE, CA | IRVINE UNIFIED
- #46 in California Rankings, #314 in National Rankings
NORTHWOOD HIGH | IRVINE, CA | IRVINE UNIFIED
- #68 in California Rankings, #427 in National Rankings
SCPR
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | SANTA ANA, CA | SANTA ANA UNIFIED
- #72 in California Rankings, #443 in National Rankings
ARNOLD O. BECKMAN HIGH | IRVINE, CA | TUSTIN UNIFIED
- #74 in California Rankings, #461 in National Rankings
SUNNY HILLS HIGH | FULLERTON, CA | FULLERTON JOINT UNION HIGH
- #103 in California Rankings while #619 in National Rankings
WOODBRIDGE HIGH | IRVINE, CA | IRVINE UNIFIED
- #141 in California Rankings while #886 in National Rankings
HECTOR G. GODINEZ | SANTA ANA, CA | SANTA ANA UNIFIED
- #142 in California Rankings while #889 in National Rankings
LA QUINTA HIGH | WESTMINSTER, CA | GARDEN GROVE UNIFIED
- #145 in California Rankings while #901 in National Rankings
ALISO NIGUEL HIGH | ALISO VIEJO, CA | CAPISTRANO UNIFIED
- #155 in California Rankings while #974 in National Rankings
OC Register
SAN JUAN HILLS HIGH | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | CAPISTRANO UNIFIED
- #156 in California Rankings while #983 in National Rankings
IRVINE HIGH | IRVINE, CA | IRVINE UNIFIED
- #163 in California Rankings while #1003 in National Rankings
YORBA LINDA HIGH | YORBA LINDA, CA | PLACENTIA-YORBA LINDA UNIFIED
- #165 in California Rankings while #1005 in National Rankings
VALENCIA HIGH | PLACENTIA, CA | PLACENTIA-YORBA LINDA UNIFIED
- #167 in California Rankings while #1024 in National Rankings
EARLY COLLEGE HIGH | COSTA MESA, CA | NEWPORT-MESA UNIFIED
- #175 in California Rankings while #1056 in National Rankings
SEGERSTROM HIGH | SANTA ANA, CA | SANTA ANA UNIFIED
- #179 in California Rankings while #1087 in National Rankings
PHSHSA
PACIFICA HIGH | GARDEN GROVE, CA | GARDEN GROVE UNIFIED
- #180 in California Rankings while #1088 in National Rankings
BREA-OLINDA HIGH | BREA, CA | BREA-OLINDA UNIFIED
- #193 in California Rankings while #1128 in National Rankings
The county as a whole continues to outperform California in high school graduation rate. As a result, as of 2014, Orange County schools’ graduation rates reached 89%, exceeding the state’s 81%.
Megan Campbell is a Realtor Associate at Class Realty Group in Orange County. She can be reached by email at mcampbell@classrealtygroup.com or by phone at 949-943-9011.
