In U.S. News & World Report’s latest annual ranking of the nation’s top public high schools, Long Island had 23 schools make the list, with many located on the North Shore. The evaluation process based on national, state, and local performance metrics encompasses nearly 18,000 public high schools across the United States,
Topping the Long Island chart once again is Jericho High School, securing the 104th position nationally and the 13th spot among New York State’s best high schools for the year.
Following closely behind Jericho, the next four Nassau County schools in the rankings are Garden City High School at 199th place, Great Neck South High School at 205th place, Manhasset Secondary School at 251st place, and Herricks High School at 257th place.
“Manhasset Secondary School has consistently ranked as one of the top 1,000 public high schools in the nation,” Superintendent of Schools Gaurav Passi said. “This is a testament to our dedicated teachers and staff, hardworking students, and the incredible support of our community. This achievement is a true reflection of our entire school community’s commitment to educational excellence.”
Compared to the previous year, Great Neck South High School dropped from 195th place to 205th nationally, while Manhasset High School also saw a decrease in ranking, from 215th to 251st nationally.
Roslyn High School placed at No. 451 overall, lower than last year’s rating at 415 and the Wheatley School rose to 305 nationally from 474, while Paul D. Schreiber High School climbed this year to 603 from 733.
Herricks High School also experienced a shift, rising from 327th place overall nationally and 38th in New York last year to 257th this year. Similarly, North Shore High School’s rank of 406 the prior year improved to 335 this year nationally.
“We are incredibly proud of Herricks High School’s remarkable achievement in being ranked by US News and World Report as one of the best high schools in the country,” said Tony Sinanis, Superintendent of Schools Herricks School District.
“This recognition reflects the dedication and excellence of our students, educators, building leaders, and the entire school community,” said Sinanis, “It’s a testament to our commitment to providing a robust education that empowers students to thrive academically and personally. We will continue to foster an environment that centers critical thinking and humanity as we prepare our students for a successful future.”
The Great Neck school district also expressed pride in its schools’ recognition. “The Great Neck Public Schools are proud that our schools continue to be recognized for educational excellence. Once again, both William A. Shine-Great Neck South High School and John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School have been named to the U.S. News & World Report 2023-2024 Best High Schools list. Both schools are also featured in the top 250 schools in the nation for STEM education.”
Turning to Suffolk County, seven schools secured spots in the top 1,000. The top five in Suffolk include Cold Spring Harbor High School at 268th place, Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills at 367th place, Harborfields High School in Greenlawn at 373rd place, Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills at 561st place, and Babylon Junior-Senior High School at 846th place.
None of the 19 Long Island high schools that made the top 1,000 list in 2022 dropped out of the rankings.
The rankings are determined by evaluating six key factors: college readiness, reading and math proficiency, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.
“Having access to a strong high school program is paramount for students as they face an ever-changing world,” says Liana Loewus, managing editor of education at U.S. News in a statement, “Making data on our high schools available helps parents ensure their child is in the educational environment that best sets them up to thrive.”
STEM-focused schools specifically, like North Shore Senior High School, landed at 133rd place, with Jericho High School closely behind at 149th place nationally.
In the national rankings, the Early College at Guilford in Greensboro, NC, claimed the top spot among all high schools, while the High School of Math Science and Engineering at CCNY in Manhattan outperformed Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, Queens, to secure the top spot in New York State.
