20 Best Public High Schools in NYC – 2025

Getting into the “right” college is typically the biggest concern for parents and students as they start to plan for the future. But now, the importance of—and competition in—academics starts earlier and earlier. (Think: parents applying to specific prestigious preschools before their children are actually born in hopes that will give them a leg up getting into the right schools.) However, the buzz about high school is absolutely warranted, as your child’s high school experience can majorly impact their preparation for and desire to attend college. Today, we’re going to be profiling the 20 best public high schools in NYC – New York City.

Best Public High Schools in NYC

Among other things — Times Square, Central Park in the fall, Nathan’s hot dogs — NYC is known for its elite public high schools. These schools tend to have enviable student-to-instructor ratios and specialized curriculums. In addition, the best public schools in NYC have excellent graduation rates AND often act as a pipeline to top colleges and universities around the country— including Ivy League institutions.

Please note that inclusion on our 20 Best Public Schools in NYC list is a selective and criteria-based process. However, the order in which the schools appear below is alphabetical and does not represent any further ranking. The numbering is solely intended to help this resource be more user-friendly.

Now that we have all that out of the way, let’s go ahead and take a look at the 20 best public high schools in NYC.

1) Baccalaureate School for Global Education

• Location: Queens
• # of Students: 525
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average Class Size (Chemistry): 30

BSGE’s school profile is a laundry list of impressive accomplishments. To wit, 100% of the school’s graduating seniors were admitted to colleges and universities and 10% of those seniors were admitted to Ivy League institutions. As the first public all-IB school, BSGH offers a six-year program that includes pre-IB, an IB middle years program, and the IB diploma program. As part of their program, every student develops a sense of international understanding, human rights, and responsible global citizenship.

2) Baruch College Campus High School

• Location: Manhattan (NoMad)
• # of Students: 472
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average Class Size (Chemistry): 34

According to their website, BCCHS values include “rigor, community, real-world connections, and global citizenship.” Like many schools on this list, BCCHS aims toward inclusivity and equity. Unsurprisingly, BCCHS wants students to “discover and explore their interests” in the service of positive change.

3) Bronx High School of Science

• Location: Bronx
• # of Students: 2,951
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 31

Only in the U.S. would a high school brag about the number of Nobel Prize winners that have come through its halls. (If you’re wondering, alumni of Bronx High School of Science include 9 Nobel Prize winners, 9 Pulitzer Prize winners and 3 Turing Award winners.) At the same time, there’s little doubt that students at Bronx Science represent a rarefied echelon of high school students. The average Bronx Science student has a commute of two hours, but, according to the school, “We’re Worth the Trip.” (I suppose it is, as one of the best public high schools in NYC.)

4) Brooklyn Latin School

• Location: Brooklyn
• # of Students: 735
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• Average Class Size (Chemistry): 31

While I have my doubts about any school that states upfront that “three hours of homework are expected each night,” TBLS’s academics and extra-curriculars all but guarantee a great college application. Furthermore, I suppose that any student who wants to be able to read Virgil’s Aeneid in the original in their senior year of high school needs to be around like-minded individuals. So, if you’re interested in “developing holistic and well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of self,” you should check out TBLS.

5) Brooklyn Technical High School

• Location: Brooklyn
• # of Students: 5,810
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 33

There’s bragging, and then there’s BTHS’s “we-have-a-fully-functional-courtroom-for-mock-trial-and-law.” During their last two years at Brooklyn Tech, students can apply to one of 18 majors, including aerospace, law and society, and neuroscience. Major placement is determined by the student’s “Power Index,” which ranks every student in the school. Overall, it doesn’t sound like a pressure-cooker at all. (I guess that’s the price you pay for attending one of the best public high schools in NYC.)

6) The Clinton School

• Location: Manhattan (Union Square)
• # of Students: 840 (6th-12th grade)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 26

The Clinton School offers a seven-year liberal arts program that “engages students in authentic learning” (as opposed to inauthentic learning?). What’s more, since 2016, The Clinton School has offered the IB Diploma Program. Interestingly, of the Clinton School graduates who attend college or university, 22% are first-gen.

7) Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, and Engineering 

• Location: Harlem
• # of Students: 719
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
• Average Class Size (Chemistry): 18

Educating students from 6th to 12th grade, Columbia Secondary School aims to foster “an environment of civic and academic excellence for passionate, creative, and engaged students.” Through the school’s partnership with Columbia University, students have access to Columbia University courses, internship and job opportunities at the university, as well as admission preference into the Double Discovery Center program.

8) Eleanor Roosevelt High School

• Location: Manhattan
• # of Students: 540
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 27

ERHS leads with its commitment to diversity, acknowledging systemic discrimination and affirming its desire to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students. ERHS offers a comprehensive college-preparatory program with extensive AP offerings, electives, and opportunities for college credit. Some of its electives include Zumba, robotics, and music production.

9) Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts

• Location: Manhattan (Lincoln Square)
• # of Students: 2,144
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 30

Renowned worldwide as the “Fame” school, LaGuardia is NYC’s only public specialized high school for the arts. Given this focus on the arts, this school has a lower ranking on academic achievement than some of the other schools on the list. That being said, with alumni like Jennifer Aniston, Niki Minaj, and Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, this school has a proven track record of producing high-caliber talent.

10) High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies

• Location: Manhattan
• # of Students: 369
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
• Average Class Size (Chemistry): 25

Founded in 2003, the High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies serves a mix of Native English and Mandarin speakers. Based on a dual-language education system, students take Mandarin courses daily in addition to their extensive math and science classes. All students that attend the school are required to pass the Chinese Regents and the AP Chinese Exam, as well as five other exams needed for an Advanced Regents diploma.

11) High School for Math, Science, and Engineering at the City College of NY

• Location: Manhattan
• # of Students: 579
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• Average Class Size (Chemistry): 28

According to the HSMSE website, their students learn with excitement, dedication, and a sense of fun. Students might work on calculus problems in the morning, read Shakespeare at lunch, and puzzle over drosophila genetics in the afternoon. What’s more, students at HSMSE are required to take three years of language classes. Finally, it’s worth noting that HSMSE classes take place on the campus of City College of NY, giving students an early taste of college life.

12) High School of American Studies at Lehman College

• Location: Bronx
• # of Students: 404
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 17

Founded in 2002, HSAS puts a special focus on history, particularly American history. Students are required to take three years of American history and take the AP US History exam at the end of their third year. That’s not to say HSAS neglects math or science — students can take AP Biology and AP Calculus (AB and BC) as well as participate in a wide variety of sports and clubs. With only about 400 students, HSAH offers a more intimate high school experience.

13) High School of the Liberal Arts — Harlem

• Location: Harlem
• # of Students: 738
• Student-Teacher Ratio: n/a
• Average Class Size: n/a

In some ways, this school is an outlier on this list. First of all, it’s a public (free) charter high school. Second, though it’s ranked in the top 20 best public high schools in New York City, it has a graduation rate of under 75%. That being said, with a minority enrollment of about 95% and a #1-ranked college readiness index, this school shows that there’s not one single route to academic success.

14) Manhattan Hunter Science High School

• Location: Manhattan (Lincoln Square)
• # of Students: 439
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
• Average Class Size (Chemistry): 24

Focused on science, Manhattan Hunter Science High School aims to give students the tools they need to achieve academic success. Their partnership with Hunter College allows students to collaborate with faculty and enroll in college-level courses on its own Upper East Side campus. Because of this partnership, students attending Manhattan Hunter Science High School who apply to and are accepted to Hunter College can pursue an undergraduate degree for free.

15) Millennium Brooklyn High School

• Location: Brooklyn
• # of Students: 676
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 23

As one of the newer selective high schools in New York City, MBHS has a smaller student population and an enviable teacher-to-student ratio. One of MBHS’ signature initiatives is its research program, in which students engage in long-term project-based investigations that support the development of quantitative and qualitative research methods and writing skills. Also interesting is MBHS’ involvement with the Nest program, which accommodates students with autism spectrum disorder. (Because everyone should have access to the best public high schools in NYC.)

16) New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math School

• Location: Lower East Side
• # of Students: 1734 (K-12)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• Average Class Size (Chemistry): 34

As the only gifted and talented school that students can attend from kindergarten through 12th grade, “NEST+M” already stands out from the rest of the schools on this list. Furthermore, as NEST+M is committed to “all forms of giftedness,” the school aims to support students’ growth as “scholars, artists, and citizens of the world.” Some of the dozens of extracurricular clubs recently offered include the Nature Club, Red Cross Club, WE Club, and Blog & Podcast Club.

17) Queens High School for the Sciences at York College

• Location: Queens
• # of Students: 498
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 29

In a recent year, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College was ranked the best high school in New York and the 25th best high school in the country. In collaboration with York College, students at QHSS can take college classes on Saturdays (as if they didn’t have enough schoolwork). Considering how busy these students are, it’s surprising they can make any time for one of the many clubs offered at QHSS. In recent years, clubs have included the Anime Club, Basketball Club, Dance Club, Drama Club, K-Pop Club, Music Performance Club, Science Club, and Students Who Code.

18) Staten Island Technical High School

• Location: Staten Island
• # of Students: 1,404
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 29

I don’t know about you, but when I heard “Staten Island” and “Technical High School,” I assumed the curriculum would involve carburetors and brake alignment. Not so. Like the other specialized high schools on this list, SITHS accepts some of the most academically gifted and talented students in the city. Students at SITHS build solar cars, write poems, and learn Russian. No wonder this school has a mean SAT score of 1423.

19) Stuyvesant High School

• Location: Manhattan
• # of Students: 3,258
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 23

Founded over a century ago, Stuyvesant High School’s motto is “Pro Scientia Atque Sapientia,” which, according to Google, means “for knowledge and wisdom.” With 50% of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and 97% of its students taking at least one AP course, there’s no doubt that SHS is both an academic powerhouse and an engine for social mobility.

20) Townsend Harris High School

• Location: Queens (Flushing)
• # of Students: 1,333
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
• Average Class Size (ELA III): 30

According to its website, the mission of Townsend Harris High School is to “foster a love of learning, to instill the habit of inquiry, and to promote an awareness of beauty in nature and in the arts.” To this end, all students in the entering class swear what’s called the “Ephebic Oath,” which culminates with a promise to “not leave my city any less but rather greater than I found it.” With nearly 84% minority enrollment, THHS aims to graduate talented students who represent the diversity of New York City.

Final Thoughts

Finally, what’s the best choice? Public or Private?

Public vs. private can be a tough call. That’s entirely up to you and your child. While we’ve given you this comprehensive list of the 20 best public high schools in NYC, there are dozens of excellent private schools in NYC as well. In addition, here’s a fantastic list of summer programs to consider as your student moves through their high school academic experience and prepares for college.

So, there they are—the 20 best public schools in NYC. Happy applying and here’s to the future!

You may also wish to check out the following blogs:

• SAT Score Calculator 
• How to Transfer High Schools
• The Complete List of High School Electives 
• 10 Best Online High Schools
• 7 Soft Skills for High School Students