Piedmont High

Tucked inside the small, tree-lined enclave of Piedmont — a self-contained city entirely surrounded by Oakland — Piedmont High is one of those rare public schools that consistently performs at the level of the best private schools in the Bay Area. The tight-knit community here is a big part of what makes it work: Piedmont is a small city where parents are deeply invested in their schools, and that energy shows up in the classroom across English, math, and science. Families who prioritize academics and want a true neighborhood school feel — without sacrificing rigor — tend to put down roots in Piedmont specifically with this school in mind.