SoCal Magnet Schools Dominate California’s Public High School Rankings

US News & World Report's 2026-27 rankings crown Science Academy STEM Magnet North Hollywood as California's top public high school, with Southern California magnet and STEM schools leading the state list. Whitney High (Cerritos) and Oxford Academy (Cypress) follow, along with Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy (Wilmington) and other top California picks from Gilroy, Fresno, the Santa Cruz area, San Jose, and Fremont, highlighting a mix of magnet, charter, and traditional public schools and strong AP participation.