Best High Schools in Phoenix, AZ (2025-26)
Every ranked high school in Phoenix, AZ, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Phoenix, AZ rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools
Phoenix, AZ high schools ranked
| Rank | Grade | School | City | District | Actual | Projected | Impact | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | A+ | Phoenix Union Bioscience High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 80% | 51% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 370 |
| #2 | A+ | Great Hearts Academies Archway Veritas (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Archway Classical Academy Veritas (90916) | 73% | 44% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 716 |
| #3 | A+ | Great Hearts Academies Anthem Prep (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Anthem Preparatory Academy (90532) | 71% | 55% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 1,029 |
| #4 | A | Ridgeline Academy Inc (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Ridgeline Academy Inc. (4301) | 56% | 56% | Meets Expectations | 1,022 |
| #5 | A- | Great Hearts Academies North Phoenix Prep (Charter) | Phoenix | North Phoenix Preparatory Academy (90879) | 66% | 45% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 522 |
| #6 | A- | Great Hearts Academies Veritas Prep (Charter) | Phoenix | Veritas Preparatory Academy (80992) | 63% | 43% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 801 |
| #7 | B+ | Horizon Honors Secondary School (Charter) | Phoenix | Horizon Community Learning Center Inc. (79264) | 58% | 44% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 698 |
| #8 | B+ | Desert Vista High School | Phoenix | Tempe Union High School District (4287) | 52% | 58% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,964 |
| #9 | B+ | Pinnacle High School | Phoenix | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | 52% | 55% | Meets Expectations | 2,479 |
| #10 | B | Madison Highland Prep (Charter) | Phoenix | Madison Highland Prep (91935) | 48% | 37% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 456 |
| #11 | B | Desert Marigold School (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Valley of the Sun Waldorf Education Association d (79957) | 38% | 36% | Exceeds Expectations | 303 |
| #12 | B- | Paradise Valley High School | Phoenix | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | 41% | 41% | Meets Expectations | 1,874 |
| #13 | B- | Basis Phoenix South (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (549803) | 33% | 20% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 487 |
| #14 | C+ | Maricopa Institute Of Technology (Charter) | Phoenix | Estrella Educational Foundation (92988) | 40% | 28% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 373 |
| #15 | C+ | Sunnyslope High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 37% | 44% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,281 |
| #16 | C+ | Great Hearts Academies Maryvale Prep (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Maryvale Preparatory Academy (90861) | 30% | 20% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 1,043 |
| #17 | C | Arcadia High School | Phoenix | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | 32% | 47% | Underperforms Expectations | 1,602 |
| #18 | C | Thunderbird High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 32% | 47% | Underperforms Expectations | 1,540 |
| #19 | C | Greenway High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 31% | 40% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,348 |
| #20 | C | Phoenix Coding Academy | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 31% | 39% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 276 |
| #21 | C | Shadow Mountain High School | Phoenix | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | 31% | 38% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,109 |
| #22 | C- | Metropolitan Arts Institute (Charter) | Phoenix | Metropolitan Arts Institute Inc. (5181) | 30% | 32% | Meets Expectations | 250 |
| #23 | C- | Phoenix College Preparatory Academy (Charter) | Phoenix | MCCCD on behalf of Phoenix College Preparatory Aca (81174) | 30% | 22% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 243 |
| #24 | C- | Asu Preparatory Academy Phoenix High School (Charter) | Phoenix | ASU Preparatory Academy (91303) | 28% | 23% | Exceeds Expectations | 357 |
| #25 | C- | Barry Goldwater High School | Phoenix | Deer Valley Unified District (4246) | 27% | 32% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,641 |
| #26 | C- | Moon Valley High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 26% | 31% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,490 |
| #27 | C- | New World Educational Center (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | New World Educational Center (78882) | 23% | 18% | Exceeds Expectations | 176 |
| #28 | C- | The Paideia Academy Of South Phoenix (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | The Paideia Academies Inc (91250) | 21% | 16% | Exceeds Expectations | 625 |
| #29 | D+ | Think Through Academy (Charter) | Phoenix | Think Through Academy (92976) | 25% | 20% | Exceeds Expectations | 45 |
| #30 | D+ | Mountain Pointe High School | Phoenix | Tempe Union High School District (4287) | 24% | 43% | Underperforms Expectations | 1,716 |
| #31 | D+ | Washington High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 24% | 39% | Underperforms Expectations | 1,756 |
| #32 | D+ | Amerischools Academy Camelback (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | The Charter Foundation Inc. (6355) | 18% | 20% | Meets Expectations | 104 |
| #33 | D | Nfl Yet College Prep Academy (Charter) | Phoenix | Espiritu Community Development Corp. (4335) | 20% | 18% | Exceeds Expectations | 313 |
| #34 | D | North Canyon High School | Phoenix | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | 18% | 37% | Underperforms Expectations | 1,842 |
| #35 | D | Sonoran Science Academy Phoenix (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Daisy Education Corporation dba Sonoran Science Ac (89914) | 16% | 22% | Meets Expectations | 380 |
| #36 | D | Pan American Charter School (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Pan-American Elementary Charter (79578) | 13% | 16% | Meets Expectations | 1,123 |
| #37 | D- | South Ridge High School (Charter) | Phoenix | American Charter Schools Foundation d.b.a. South R (88334) | 18% | 24% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 408 |
| #38 | D- | Western School Of Science And Technology (Charter) | Phoenix | Western School of Science and Technology Inc. (91937) | 18% | 19% | Meets Expectations | 522 |
| #39 | D- | Central High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 15% | 27% | Underperforms Expectations | 1,901 |
| #40 | D- | Metro Tech High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 15% | 32% | Underperforms Expectations | 1,804 |
| #41 | D- | Cortez High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 14% | 29% | Underperforms Expectations | 1,104 |
| #42 | D- | Asu Preparatory Academy South Phoenix High School (Charter) | Phoenix | ASU Preparatory Academy (346763) | 13% | 16% | Meets Expectations | 209 |
| #43 | D- | Empower College Prep High School (Charter) | Phoenix | Empower College Prep (91277) | 13% | 17% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 374 |
| #44 | D- | North High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 13% | 31% | Underperforms Expectations | 2,135 |
| #45 | D- | Westland School (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Cholla Academy (5186) | 11% | 17% | Meets Expectations | 216 |
| #46 | F | Alhambra High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 11% | 21% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,282 |
| #47 | F | Franklin Police And Fire High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 11% | 17% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 321 |
| #48 | F | Maryvale High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 11% | 33% | Underperforms Expectations | 2,795 |
| #49 | F | Phoenix Union Wilson College Preparatory | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 11% | 22% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 218 |
| #50 | F | South Mountain High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 11% | 27% | Underperforms Expectations | 2,146 |
| #51 | F | Trevor Browne High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 11% | 28% | Underperforms Expectations | 2,921 |
| #52 | F | Gateway Early College High School (Charter) | Phoenix | Maricopa County Community College District dba Gat (4314) | 10% | 26% | Underperforms Expectations | 331 |
| #53 | F | Girls Leadership Academy Of Arizona (Charter) | Phoenix | CPLC Community Schools (4300) | 10% | 16% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 74 |
| #54 | F | Carl Hayden High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 9% | 23% | Underperforms Expectations | 2,217 |
| #55 | F | Camelback High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 7% | 22% | Underperforms Expectations | 2,238 |
How Phoenix, AZ's high schools compare
A: 6B: 7C: 15D: 17F: 10
24% of the 55 ranked high schools in Phoenix, AZ earn an A or B (6 A grades, 7 B, 15 C, 17 D, 10 F), against 48% of high schools nationwide. 27 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (49% here, 75% nationally), and 17 exceed it. On average 29% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 31% (national averages: 42% actual, 40% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Phoenix Union Bioscience High School (80% against 51%, A+), Great Hearts Academies Archway Veritas (73% against 44%, A+), Great Hearts Academies North Phoenix Prep (66% against 45%, A-), Great Hearts Academies Veritas Prep (63% against 43%, A-), Great Hearts Academies Anthem Prep (71% against 55%, A+).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 14): Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) (2).
The largest ranked high schools: Desert Vista High School (2,964 students, B+, #8), Trevor Browne High School (2,921 students, F, #51), Maryvale High School (2,795 students, F, #48).
Of the top 25, 0 are magnet schools and 14 are charters. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
High schools in Phoenix, AZ that are not ranked
49 graded high schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Special-purpose schools (32)
Alternative, special-education and vocational schools serve a different mission and a different student body, so they are graded but not ranked against regular schools.
- F Accelerated Learning Center, Phoenix
- F Arizona Collegiate High School, Phoenix
- F Arizona Preparatory Academy, Phoenix
- F Asdb Phoenix Day School For The Deaf, Phoenix
- D+ Bostrom Alternative Center, Phoenix
- D+ Career And College Prep, Phoenix
- D+ Career Success Schools Stem Academy 7 12, Phoenix
- F Cornerstone Charter School, Phoenix
- F Crestview College Preparatory High School, Phoenix
- D+ Hope College And Career Readiness Academy, Phoenix
- F Hope High School, Phoenix
- D+ Intelli School Metro Center, Phoenix
- D+ Intelli School Paradise Valley, Phoenix
- D+ International Commerce High School Phoenix, Phoenix
- F Kaizen Education Foundation Dba Maya High School, Phoenix
- F Kaizen Education Foundation Dba Summit High School, Phoenix
- F Learning Institute The, Phoenix
- D+ Ombudsman Charter East, Phoenix
- D+ Ombudsman Charter West, Phoenix
- D+ Pathways In Education, Phoenix
- D+ Precision Academy, Phoenix
- F Premier Charter High School, Phoenix
- F Roadrunner School, Phoenix
- D+ Robert L Duffy High School, Phoenix
- F Skyline Prep High School, Phoenix
- F South Pointe High School, Phoenix
- F Southwest Leadership Academy, Phoenix
- D- Sweetwater Community School, Phoenix
- D+ Tech Campus, Phoenix
- D+ Thrivepoint High School At Metro, Phoenix
- D Vista Peak, Phoenix
- F West Phoenix High School, Phoenix
Fully online schools (4)
Statewide virtual schools draw students from everywhere, so a place ranking is not a fair comparison.
- C+ Arizona Virtual Academy, Phoenix
- B+ Aspire Deer Valleys Online Academy, Phoenix
- B+ Pvonline, Phoenix
- F Pxu Digital Academy, Phoenix
Closed schools (2)
NCES lists these schools as closed or inactive since their last graded year.
- D- Aim Higher College Prep Academy, Phoenix
- C+ Arizona Conservatory For Arts And Academics, Phoenix
Not yet graded (11)
Too little test data to grade.
- Arizona Autism Charter Online High School, Phoenix
- City View High School, Phoenix
- Genesis Academy, Phoenix
- Intellischool Online, Phoenix
- Kaizen Education Foundation Dba Quest High School, Phoenix
- Linda Abril Educational Academy, Phoenix
- Midtown High School, Phoenix
- Paideia Liberal Arts Academy, Phoenix
- Pas Charter Online, Phoenix
- Pillar Academy Online, Phoenix
- Sc Jensen Online, Phoenix
About this ranking
- Scope: public high schools in Phoenix, AZ, as grouped on its schools page; the Arizona ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the high schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about high schools in Phoenix, AZ
What is the best high school in Phoenix, AZ?
Phoenix Union Bioscience High School in Phoenix ranks first among the 55 ranked high schools in Phoenix, AZ with a SchoolGrade of A+, 80% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 51%.
How are high schools in Phoenix, AZ ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many high schools does Phoenix, AZ have?
SchoolGrade grades 104 public high schools in Phoenix, AZ; 55 are ranked here and 49 are listed as not ranked.