News Summary
The latest rankings by Niche reveal the best high schools in Pennsylvania, focusing on academic performance, resources, and student engagement. Mercersburg Academy leads as the top school, with other notable mentions including Germantown Friends School and The Episcopal Academy. Notably, southwestern Pennsylvania has three schools in the top 25, reflecting a strong educational landscape. The rankings provide insights for families seeking quality education options.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Top-Ranked High Schools for 2025 Announced
Several high schools in Pennsylvania have been recognized as the best for the year 2025, according to the latest rankings released by Niche. The rankings evaluate both private and public schools across the state, with a particular focus on southwestern Pennsylvania, highlighting schools that excel in academic performance, resources, student engagement, and overall quality of education.
Leading High Schools in Pennsylvania
Among the top-rated institutions in Pennsylvania, Mercersburg Academy in Franklin County stands out as the best high school in the state. Not only does it hold this distinction within Pennsylvania, but it is also ranked as the 89th-best private high school nationally. This private boarding school is known for its strong academics and comprehensive extracurricular offerings.
Following Mercersburg Academy, Germantown Friends School located in Philadelphia is ranked as the second-best high school statewide. The third position goes to The Episcopal Academy in Delaware County. These institutions are recognized for their rigorous academic standards and diverse programs.
Top High Schools in Southwestern Pennsylvania
In the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, three schools have distinguished themselves by being ranked within the top 25 schools in the entire state. These are:
- Shady Side Academy
- Winchester Thurston School
- The Ellis School
These schools are noted for their academic excellence, student engagement, and extracurricular activities. However, they remain the only institutions from southwestern Pennsylvania to make the top 25 list in 2025.
Distribution of Top Schools Across Pennsylvania
A significant majority of the top 25 schools in Pennsylvania, precisely 19, are located within the Philadelphia area. This reflects a concentration of high-performing schools in the southeastern region of the state, offering a variety of academic and extracurricular options for students.
Ranking Methodology and Key Factors
Niche’s rankings are derived from an analysis of seven weighted factors, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of each school’s quality. These factors include:
- Academic performance and college readiness
- School culture and diversity
- Availability of sports, clubs, and activities
- Resources and facilities
- Surveys and feedback from parents, teachers, and students
The use of these multifaceted data points intends to give an objective measurement of each school’s strengths across different dimensions of education.
Notable Public High Schools in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area
Several public high schools in the Pittsburgh metropolitan region have received high grades based on academic performance, student-to-teacher ratios, and overall quality. Some of these include:
- North Hills School District: 1,383 students, student-teacher ratio of 14:1, Niche grade A-
- Bethel Park School District: 1,338 students, 14:1 ratio, grade A-
- Fox Chapel Area School District: 1,283 students, 14:1 ratio, grade A+
- Upper St. Clair School District: 1,288 students, 14:1 ratio, grade A+
- Mt. Lebanon School District: 1,840 students, 15:1 ratio, grade A+
- North Allegheny School District: 2,666 students, 13:1 ratio, grade A+
Other schools within Pittsburgh also demonstrate strong performance metrics, with several earning grades of B+ and higher, reflecting quality education standards and effective student-teacher relationships.
Summary
Overall, the 2025 rankings highlight a range of high schools across Pennsylvania that excel in academics, extracurricular opportunities, and resources. While private schools like Mercersburg Academy and Germantown Friends lead the state, many public schools in the Pittsburgh area demonstrate robust performance with high grades and favorable student-teacher ratios. The rankings aim to guide families, students, and educators in identifying schools that provide quality education and supportive learning environments across the state.
Michael Guise, a web producer for CBS Pittsburgh, contributed to compiling the data in this report.
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Additional Resources
- CBS News: Best High Schools Southwestern Pennsylvania
- Google Search: Best High Schools in Pennsylvania
- WPXI: Best Public High Schools Pittsburgh Metro Area
- Wikipedia: Education in Pennsylvania
- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Schools Class Rank and Mental Health
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School
- Stacker: Best Public High Schools Pittsburgh Metro Area
- Google News: Pennsylvania High School Rankings
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