Best High Schools in Los Angeles County, California
Introduction
Los Angeles County is home to more than 400 public high schools spread across dozens of districts — from the beaches of the South Bay to the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. That breadth makes it one of the most diverse educational landscapes in the country, and it also makes it one of the hardest to navigate. Whether you're a family newly arrived in the area or a longtime resident trying to make sense of your options, finding the right school can feel overwhelming.
The good news? Los Angeles County has some genuinely exceptional public high schools — institutions that rank among the best in California and, in several cases, the entire country. The ten schools highlighted below earned their spots by consistently outperforming peers in English, Math, and Science. They represent a range of communities, school cultures, and academic focuses, so while they all share elite academic profiles, the right fit will still depend on your family's priorities and where you call home.
1. Whitney (Gretchen) High — ABC Unified, Cerritos
Few public high schools anywhere in California can claim what Whitney High does: 100th percentile scores across English, Math, and Science. Located in Cerritos within the ABC Unified School District, Whitney is a magnet school with a rigorous admissions process that draws academically motivated students from across the district. Families who choose Whitney are typically looking for a college-preparatory environment with sky-high expectations, a strong sense of community among high achievers, and a track record that speaks for itself. If your student thrives under academic pressure and wants to be surrounded by peers who feel the same way, Whitney is about as good as public education gets.
2. California Academy of Mathematics and Science — Long Beach Unified, Carson
Also scoring at the 100th percentile in English, Math, and Science, the California Academy of Mathematics and Science — commonly known as CAMS — is a public charter school housed on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. That college setting isn't incidental: CAMS students have the opportunity to take university courses and experience genuine college life years before most of their peers. The school draws students from across the Long Beach Unified district and beyond, and it tends to appeal to families who want their kids immersed in a STEM-forward culture without sacrificing strong English instruction. It's a distinctive, intellectually serious place — and the numbers back that up completely.
3. Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy — Los Angeles Unified, Wilmington
Don't let the name fool you — Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy in Wilmington is one of the highest-performing schools in all of Los Angeles Unified, scoring at the 100th percentile in English, 99th in Math, and 98th in Science, for an overall ranking in the 99th percentile. While its name reflects a dual-enrollment focus on education careers, the school delivers across-the-board academic excellence that serves students regardless of their intended path. Located in a working-class harbor community that doesn't always make headlines for its schools, Harbor Teacher Prep is a genuine hidden gem — the kind of school that rewards families willing to look beyond the obvious zip codes.
4. La Cañada High — La Cañada Unified, La Cañada Flintridge
La Cañada High sits in one of the most education-minded communities in greater Los Angeles, and the school reflects that culture completely. With a 98th percentile score in English, 99th in Math, and 99th in Science, La Cañada lands in the overall 99th percentile — an achievement driven as much by community investment as by institutional strength. La Cañada Flintridge is a small, tight-knit foothill city where school board meetings are well-attended and parent engagement is genuinely high. Families who move here often do so specifically for the schools, and La Cañada High tends to deliver a well-rounded experience: strong academics, competitive athletics, and a cohesive campus culture that feels more like a small-town school than a sprawling suburban institution.
5. Academy of the Canyons — William S. Hart Union High School District, Santa Clarita
Academy of the Canyons is a middle college high school — meaning students split their time between high school coursework and actual college classes at College of the Canyons — and the model clearly works. Scoring at the 99th percentile in English, 97th in Math, and 98th in Science for an overall 98th percentile ranking, the school routinely produces graduates who enter four-year universities with significant college credit already completed. For families in the Santa Clarita Valley, Academy of the Canyons represents an opportunity to accelerate an academic trajectory in a way that very few public schools anywhere can match. Students here tend to be self-directed and genuinely motivated — the environment rewards exactly that.
6. South Pasadena Senior High — South Pasadena Unified, South Pasadena
South Pasadena Senior High is one of those schools that seems to do everything well, and it does so within a small, walkable city that takes enormous pride in its public institutions. Scoring at the 99th percentile in English, 97th in Math, and 98th in Science — 98th percentile overall — South Pas High benefits from a unified district that's small enough to feel personal and well-funded enough to offer a genuinely rich academic experience. The school has a strong arts and humanities tradition alongside its academic rigor, which gives it a slightly different flavor than the more exclusively STEM-focused schools on this list. Families drawn to South Pasadena tend to value that balance — and the charming, close-knit community that comes with it.
7. Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science — Long Beach Unified, Long Beach
Long Beach Unified places two schools in the top ten, and the Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science is the second. Scoring at the 99th percentile in English and Math, with a 93rd percentile score in Science, the school earns an overall 98th percentile ranking — a result that reflects just how strong its core academic program is. Named for a former Long Beach mayor and longtime education advocate, Sato Academy is a small, focused school that attracts students who want a structured, math-and-science-centered curriculum without leaving the Long Beach district. For families already rooted in Long Beach who want a magnet-style experience closer to home, this school deserves serious attention.
8. San Marino High — San Marino Unified, San Marino
San Marino High is the flagship of one of the most academically prestigious small school districts in Southern California. With a 96th percentile score in English, 99th in Math, and 97th in Science — 98th percentile overall — San Marino consistently ranks among the elite. The city of San Marino is known for its exceptionally high level of family investment in education, and that culture permeates the high school: AP enrollment is robust, extracurricular offerings are strong, and the expectation of college attendance is essentially universal. Families relocating to the San Gabriel Valley and prioritizing school quality often put San Marino at the very top of their list — and the data consistently justifies that instinct.
9. Palos Verdes Peninsula High — Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified, Rolling Hills Estates
Perched in the hills above the South Bay, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School offers something that most top-performing schools in Los Angeles County don't: a breathtaking physical setting combined with consistently elite academic outcomes. Scoring at the 96th percentile in English, 97th in Math, and 99th in Science, the school earns an overall 97th percentile ranking — with that standout Science score reflecting a program that takes STEM seriously. The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified District is relatively small and serves a community that is deeply committed to its schools, which shows in everything from facilities to teacher retention. For families who want rigorous academics alongside a tight-knit, suburban-coastal community feel, Peninsula High is a compelling choice.
10. Anderson W. Clark Magnet High — Glendale Unified, La Crescenta
Clark Magnet High, located in La Crescenta within the Glendale Unified School District, rounds out the top ten with 96th percentile scores in both English and Science, a 97th percentile score in Math, and an overall ranking in the 97th percentile. As a dedicated magnet school focused on technology and media arts, Clark has a distinct identity — students here are often interested in the intersection of technical skills and creative application, and the school's curriculum reflects that. The Glendale Unified district has invested meaningfully in Clark's program, and the school draws motivated students from across a wide geographic area. If your student is passionate about technology, digital media, or computer science and also wants to be in a high-performing academic environment, Clark Magnet belongs on your list.
How We Rank Schools
The rankings on The School Advocate are based on California state assessment data, weighted across three subject areas: English accounts for 40% of a school's overall score, Math accounts for 40%, and Science accounts for the remaining 20%. Each school is then compared against all other public high schools statewide and assigned a percentile ranking — so a school at the 99th percentile is outperforming 99% of public high schools in California. We focus on these core subjects because they represent the most consistent, comparable data available across all public schools, and because performance in these areas is strongly associated with long-term academic outcomes. We don't factor in private school data, and rankings are updated as new state assessment results are released.
Compare Schools Yourself
Rankings are a useful starting point, but every family's priorities are different — and a school that's right for one student may not be the right fit for another. If you want to go deeper than a top-ten list, head over to theschooladvocate.com/compare to build your own side-by-side comparisons. You can look at individual subject scores, compare schools across districts, and get a clearer picture of how any school in Los Angeles County stacks up against the rest of California. It's free, and it puts the data directly in your hands.
Top High Schools
| Rank | School | District | City | English | Math | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitney (Gretchen) High | ABC Unified | Cerritos | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2 | California Academy of Mathematics and Science | Long Beach Unified | Carson | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 3 | Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy | Los Angeles Unified | Wilmington | 100 | 99 | 99 |
| 4 | La Canada High | La Canada Unified | La Canada | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 5 | Academy of the Canyons | William S. Hart Union High | Santa Clarita | 99 | 97 | 98 |
| 6 | South Pasadena Senior High | South Pasadena Unified | South Pasadena | 99 | 97 | 98 |
| 7 | Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science | Long Beach Unified | Long Beach | 99 | 99 | 98 |
| 8 | San Marino High | San Marino Unified | San Marino | 96 | 99 | 98 |
| 9 | Palos Verdes Peninsula High | Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified | Rolling Hills Estates | 96 | 97 | 97 |
| 10 | Anderson W. Clark Magnet High | Glendale Unified | La Crescenta | 96 | 97 | 97 |