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) | 70% | 75% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 370 |
| #2 | A+ | Aaec Paradise Valley (Charter) | Phoenix | Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center Inc. (4331) | 64% | 46% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 316 |
| #3 | A | Great Hearts Academies Archway Veritas (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Archway Classical Academy Veritas (90916) | 66% | 50% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 716 |
| #4 | A | Great Hearts Academies Anthem Prep (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Anthem Preparatory Academy (90532) | 61% | 54% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,029 |
| #5 | A | Desert Vista High School | Phoenix | Tempe Union High School District (4287) | 60% | 66% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,964 |
| #6 | A | Pinnacle High School | Phoenix | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | 60% | 63% | Meets Expectations | 2,479 |
| #7 | A | Great Hearts Academies North Phoenix Prep (Charter) | Phoenix | North Phoenix Preparatory Academy (90879) | 59% | 47% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 522 |
| #8 | A | Great Hearts Academies Veritas Prep (Charter) | Phoenix | Veritas Preparatory Academy (80992) | 56% | 52% | Exceeds Expectations | 801 |
| #9 | A- | Ridgeline Academy Inc (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Ridgeline Academy Inc. (4301) | 55% | 62% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,022 |
| #10 | A- | Basis Phoenix Central Primary (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (92349) | 52% | 25% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 429 |
| #11 | A- | Horizon Honors Secondary School (Charter) | Phoenix | Horizon Community Learning Center Inc. (79264) | 50% | 53% | Meets Expectations | 698 |
| #12 | A- | Shadow Mountain High School | Phoenix | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | 47% | 41% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,109 |
| #13 | B+ | Phoenix College Preparatory Academy (Charter) | Phoenix | MCCCD on behalf of Phoenix College Preparatory Aca (81174) | 46% | 28% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 243 |
| #14 | B+ | Sunnyslope High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 45% | 38% | Exceeds Expectations | 2,281 |
| #15 | B+ | Maricopa Institute Of Technology (Charter) | Phoenix | Estrella Educational Foundation (92988) | 44% | 42% | Meets Expectations | 373 |
| #16 | B+ | Madison Highland Prep (Charter) | Phoenix | Madison Highland Prep (91935) | 43% | 47% | Meets Expectations | 456 |
| #17 | B+ | Arcadia High School | Phoenix | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | 42% | 41% | Meets Expectations | 1,602 |
| #18 | B+ | Paradise Valley High School | Phoenix | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | 42% | 52% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,874 |
| #19 | B+ | Arizona Conservatory For Arts And Academics Middle School (Charter) | Phoenix | Edkey Inc. dba Arizona Conservatory for Arts and (79981) | 39% | 29% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 141 |
| #20 | B | Thunderbird High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 41% | 36% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,540 |
| #21 | B | Greenway High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 39% | 36% | Meets Expectations | 1,348 |
| #22 | B- | Aaec Smcc Campus (Charter) | Phoenix | Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center Inc. (85816) | 36% | 22% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 486 |
| #23 | B- | Mountain Pointe High School | Phoenix | Tempe Union High School District (4287) | 33% | 33% | Meets Expectations | 1,716 |
| #24 | B- | Barry Goldwater High School | Phoenix | Deer Valley Unified District (4246) | 32% | 28% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,641 |
| #25 | C+ | Basis Phoenix South (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | BASIS Charter Schools Inc. (549803) | 36% | 23% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 487 |
| #26 | C+ | Metropolitan Arts Institute (Charter) | Phoenix | Metropolitan Arts Institute Inc. (5181) | 31% | 23% | Exceeds Expectations | 250 |
| #27 | C+ | Moon Valley High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 31% | 22% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,490 |
| #28 | C+ | Washington High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 29% | 36% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,756 |
| #29 | C | Franklin Police And Fire High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 28% | 32% | Meets Expectations | 321 |
| #30 | C | Gateway Early College High School (Charter) | Phoenix | Maricopa County Community College District dba Gat (4314) | 28% | 17% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 331 |
| #31 | C | Phoenix Coding Academy | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 28% | 43% | Underperforms Expectations | 276 |
| #32 | C | South Ridge High School (Charter) | Phoenix | American Charter Schools Foundation d.b.a. South R (88334) | 28% | 13% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 408 |
| #33 | C | Desert Marigold School (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Valley of the Sun Waldorf Education Association d (79957) | 27% | 28% | Meets Expectations | 303 |
| #34 | C | Nfl Yet College Prep Academy (Charter) | Phoenix | Espiritu Community Development Corp. (4335) | 27% | 14% | Greatly Exceeds Expectations | 313 |
| #35 | C | Metro Tech High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 26% | 34% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,804 |
| #36 | C | Cortez High School | Phoenix | Glendale Union High School District (4285) | 24% | 19% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,104 |
| #37 | C- | Great Hearts Academies Maryvale Prep (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Maryvale Preparatory Academy (90861) | 26% | 15% | Exceeds Expectations | 1,043 |
| #38 | C- | New World Educational Center (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | New World Educational Center (78882) | 24% | 18% | Exceeds Expectations | 176 |
| #39 | C- | Asu Preparatory Academy Phoenix High School (Charter) | Phoenix | ASU Preparatory Academy (91303) | 23% | 22% | Meets Expectations | 357 |
| #40 | C- | Paideia Liberal Arts Academy (Charter) | Phoenix | The Paideia Academies Inc (91250) | 23% | 13% | Exceeds Expectations | 196 |
| #41 | D+ | Westland School (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Cholla Academy (5186) | 22% | 11% | Exceeds Expectations | 216 |
| #42 | D+ | Empower College Prep High School (Charter) | Phoenix | Empower College Prep (91277) | 21% | 11% | Exceeds Expectations | 374 |
| #43 | D+ | Phoenix Union Wilson College Preparatory | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 20% | 36% | Underperforms Expectations | 218 |
| #44 | D+ | North Canyon High School | Phoenix | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | 19% | 17% | Meets Expectations | 1,842 |
| #45 | D | Pan American Charter School (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Pan-American Elementary Charter (79578) | 19% | 14% | Meets Expectations | 1,123 |
| #46 | D | Sonoran Science Academy Phoenix (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | Daisy Education Corporation dba Sonoran Science Ac (89914) | 19% | 27% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 380 |
| #47 | D | The Paideia Academy Of South Phoenix (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | The Paideia Academies Inc (91250) | 19% | 13% | Exceeds Expectations | 625 |
| #48 | D- | Camelback High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 15% | 23% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,238 |
| #49 | D- | Asu Preparatory Academy South Phoenix High School (Charter) | Phoenix | ASU Preparatory Academy (346763) | 14% | 20% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 209 |
| #50 | F | Asu Preparatory Academy South Phoenix Intermediate (Charter, K-12) | Phoenix | ASU Preparatory Academy (90273) | 15% | 19% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 107 |
| #51 | F | Central High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 13% | 23% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 1,901 |
| #52 | F | Western School Of Science And Technology (Charter) | Phoenix | Western School of Science and Technology Inc. (91937) | 12% | 15% | Meets Expectations | 522 |
| #53 | F | Maryvale High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 11% | 21% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,795 |
| #54 | F | Trevor Browne High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 11% | 18% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,921 |
| #55 | F | North High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 10% | 25% | Underperforms Expectations | 2,135 |
| #56 | F | South Mountain High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 10% | 16% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,146 |
| #57 | F | Carl Hayden High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 9% | 17% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,217 |
| #58 | F | Alhambra High School | Phoenix | Phoenix Union High School District (4286) | 7% | 16% | Doesn't Meet Expectations | 2,282 |
How Phoenix, AZ's high schools compare
A: 12B: 12C: 16D: 9F: 9
41% of the 58 ranked high schools in Phoenix, AZ earn an A or B (12 A grades, 12 B, 16 C, 9 D, 9 F), against 50% of high schools nationwide. 39 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (67% here, 74% nationally), and 26 exceed it. On average 33% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 31% (national averages: 44% actual, 41% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Basis Phoenix Central Primary (52% against 25%, A-), Aaec Paradise Valley (64% against 46%, A+), Phoenix College Preparatory Academy (46% against 28%, B+), Great Hearts Academies Archway Veritas (66% against 50%, A), South Ridge High School (28% against 13%, C).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 15): Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) (2).
The largest ranked high schools: Desert Vista High School (2,964 students, A, #5), Trevor Browne High School (2,921 students, F, #54), Maryvale High School (2,795 students, F, #53).
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
53 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 (3)
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 South Pointe High School, Phoenix
- D- Sweetwater Community School, Phoenix
- D West Phoenix High School, Phoenix
Fully online schools (3)
Statewide virtual schools draw students from everywhere, so a place ranking is not a fair comparison.
- D- Arizona Virtual Academy, Phoenix
- A- Aspire Deer Valleys Online Academy, Phoenix
- B- Pvonline, Phoenix
Not yet graded (47)
Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.
- Accelerated Learning Center, Phoenix
- Aim Higher College Prep Academy, Phoenix
- Amerischools Academy Camelback, Phoenix
- Arizona Autism Charter Online High School, Phoenix
- Arizona Collegiate High School, Phoenix
- Arizona Conservatory For Arts And Academics, Phoenix
- Arizona Preparatory Academy, Phoenix
- Asdb Phoenix Day School For The Deaf, Phoenix
- Bostrom Alternative Center, Phoenix
- Career And College Prep, Phoenix
- Career Success Schools Stem Academy 7 12, Phoenix
- City View High School, Phoenix
- Cornerstone Charter School, Phoenix
- Crestview College Preparatory High School, Phoenix
- Genesis Academy, Phoenix
- Girls Leadership Academy Of Arizona, Phoenix
- Hope College And Career Readiness Academy, Phoenix
- Hope High School, Phoenix
- Intelli School Metro Center, Phoenix
- Intelli School Paradise Valley, Phoenix
- Intellischool Online, Phoenix
- International Commerce High School Phoenix, Phoenix
- Kaizen Education Foundation Dba Maya High School, Phoenix
- Kaizen Education Foundation Dba Quest High School, Phoenix
- Kaizen Education Foundation Dba Summit High School, Phoenix
- Kelly, Phoenix
- Learning Institute The, Phoenix
- Linda Abril Educational Academy, Phoenix
- Midtown High School, Phoenix
- Northeast Campus, Phoenix
- Ombudsman Charter East, Phoenix
- Ombudsman Charter West, Phoenix
- Pas Charter Online, Phoenix
- Pathways In Education, Phoenix
- Pillar Academy Online, Phoenix
- Precision Academy, Phoenix
- Premier Charter High School, Phoenix
- Pxu Digital Academy, Phoenix
- Roadrunner School, Phoenix
- Robert L Duffy High School, Phoenix
- Sc Jensen Online, Phoenix
- Skyline Prep High School, Phoenix
- Southwest Leadership Academy, Phoenix
- Tech Campus, Phoenix
- Think Through Academy, Phoenix
- Thrivepoint High School At Metro, Phoenix
- Vista Peak, 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 58 ranked high schools in Phoenix, AZ with a SchoolGrade of A+, 70% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 75%.
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 111 public high schools in Phoenix, AZ; 58 are ranked here and 53 are listed as not ranked.