20 Best High Schools in USA for International Student 2025,20 Best High Schools in USA for International Student 2025,20 Best High Schools in USA for International Student 2025
You may have been wondering about the best High School in USA. Do you think in terms of quality education, the USA has it all? The USA is the number one country all over the world that is known for quality education.
In the USA, there are quality high schools that can help prepare a student’s mind towards college. These high schools are not just available to US natives, but also to students all over the world.
Apart from the fact that US is a place for tourist attractions, it is also a country home with numerous high schools where you can pick any one of your choices.
Best High Schools in USA for International Student
1. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was created in partnership between Fairfax County Public Schools and the business community to improve student education in mathematics, science and technology.
The high school serves as the regional magnet Governor’s School for Science and Technology in Northern Virginia. The curriculum’s core skills and values emphasize problem-solving skills, critical inquiry and research, intellectual curiosity and social responsibility.
The high school teaches all the courses at the Honors, Gifted, AP, or Post-AP level. Students must participate in AP classes. AP participation and pass rate are 100 percent. Students may also earn college credits during high school.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology offers an extensive STEM-based curriculum including artificial intelligence, DNA science, neuro-biology, linear algebra, organic chemistry, quantum mechanics, and marine biology. The curriculum also emphasizes the humanities and foreign languages.
The heart of the school’s curriculum includes biology, English, and technology. Student research has an essential role in learning at the high school. Students must complete an original engineering or experimental research project.
Students participating in the mentorship program are involved in research and/or project development at mentoring agencies including universities, government institutions, and corporations throughout the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.
Students must participate in an activities period included in the instructional day. Students can obtain academic support and participate in any of the 150+ clubs and activities. The school is one of the founding members of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science, and Technology.
Admission requirements: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has very stringent entry requirements, including an entrance exam, a personal essay, recommendations from others, and a history of high academic achievement. Students’ demonstrated aptitude and passion for studies in the mathematical, scientific and technological fields are very important factors in the admissions process.
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
2. Carnegie Vanguard High School
Carnegie Vanguard High School, a community-centered magnet school, has a curriculum which consists of AP courses, pre-AP courses, and Honors electives. All students at the school are identified as gifted and talented in academics. In addition, 100 percent of students take the AP exam and pass. 98 percent of students matriculated to four-year colleges or universities.
Graduation requirements include performing 100 hours of community service and taking ten Advanced Placement courses. Carnegie Vanguard High School offers a variety of clubs focusing on community service and academics.
Admission requirements: The school requires; universal assessment scores, teacher recommendation, transcript, and/or a gifted and talented identification.
Location: Houston, Texas
3. Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School
Liberal Arts and Science Academy, an advanced academic magnet high school, recruits the most academically advanced students from public and private middle schools in Austin, TX. 95 percent of the students take Advanced Placement classes.
AP courses offered include everything from statistics to music theory, offering plenty of variety. All students take the AP exam with a pass rate of 96 percent. The matriculation rate to four-year colleges and universities is 95.5 percent.
Liberal Arts and Science Academy provides project-based courses, which rely heavily on discussion and seminar-style delivery of course information as well as the use, interpretation, and delivery of research.
Signature Courses, collaborative in nature, are one of the cornerstones of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. Student groups research, design, implement, and present projects in the sciences and humanities.
Outside the classroom, Liberal Arts and Science Academy offers a plethora of sports teams and clubs for students to participate in. Available clubs include chess, debate, Future Teachers of America, and philosophy. Foreign language clubs include French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish and Chinese.
Admission requirements: The high school has competitive admissions, based on previous accomplishments, test scores, and teacher recommendations.
Location: Austin, Texas
4. Gilbert Classical Academy
Gilbert Classical Academy features an integrated, rigorous curriculum with a focus on the Socratic method of instruction. The school prepares students for college-level study by only offering Honors and Advanced Placement courses. All students participate in AP courses. All students take the AP exam with a pass rate of 98 percent.
Gilbert Classical Academy enhances its curriculum with several fine arts, clubs, and athletics. Students must complete 80 hours of community service and defend a Senior Thesis Project.
Admission requirements: Enrollment at Gilbert Classical Academy requires that students meet prerequisite course completion.
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
5. Design and Architecture Senior High School
Design and Architecture Senior High School, a magnet school, provides students with a solid foundation in fashion, visual communications, fine art, entertainment, industrial design, and architecture. Students also enroll in traditional science, math, and language arts courses.
Design and Architecture Senior High School offers courses at the AP and Honors levels as well as dual enrollment courses with local colleges. 98 percent of students enrol in AP courses.
Students can gain real-world experience through internships with local design firms. Economically disadvantaged students make up 40 percent of the Design and Architecture Senior High School student body. Design and Architecture Senior High School received Blue Ribbon School of Excellence recognition from the U.S. Department of Education.
Admission requirements: Regardless of the desired program, all applicants must submit sketchbooks and portfolios as well as complete an audition.
Location: Miami, Florida
6. University High School
University High School, a college preparatory school, provides a curriculum in mathematics, science, social studies, English, fine arts and modern languages. The high school serves academically focused and intellectually gifted students through the curriculum and social support.
All academic courses are Honors or Advanced Placement courses. All students are required to take the AP exam. The school offers a variety of foreign languages, including Chinese, French, and German.
University High School has a partnership with the University of Arizona to provide concurrent enrollment in an engineering course. The school shares a campus with Rincon High School and University High School students have access to the classes offered by Rincon High School in addition to the classes at University High School.
The schools share most of their clubs, except the University High School chess team, Science Olympiad, Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial and a handful of other clubs. Students compete in regional, state, and national academic competitions.
Admission requirements: The school bases admissions on qualifying scores on the Cognitive Abilities entrance exam and grade point average for the two semesters prior to enrollment.
Location:Tucson, Arizona
7. Stanton College Preparatory School
Stanton College Preparatory School, a magnet school, emphasizes teaching cultural understanding and responsible citizenship. The school offers Honors, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes.
Stanton College Preparatory School provides all the core courses at either the Honors or Advanced Placement level. 99 percent of students participate in the IB program with a completion rate of 100 percent.
Students can obtain college credit during their time at Stanton College Preparatory School through partnerships with two local universities: The University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville.
The school has more than 50 clubs and organizations including honor societies, special interest groups, academic teams, service clubs, and music. The U.S. Department of Education recognized Stanton College Preparatory School as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
8. International Academy
International Academy devotes its curriculum to International Baccalaureate studies. Due to a school mandate, students attend all IB courses and exams. Students can obtain up to a year of college credit before they attend college. The academy provides a blend of rigorous academic standards and practical, career-related learning.
The curriculum focuses on eight main subjects: English, the arts, a second language, humanities, science, education, technology, and mathematics. The school also offers Honors classes in almost every course as part of its Middle Years Program.
International Academy is a large school with three campuses: the Okma Campus, the East Campus, and the West Campus.
Admission requirements: International Academy mandates students complete 150 hours of community service or co-curricular activities in order to graduate. Some of the co-curricular clubs available include chess, dance, film, and robotics. International Academy selects students for admission through a lottery.
Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
9. Downingtown STEM Academy
Downingtown STEM Academy is a top rated, public, magnet school located in Downingtown, PA. The school is an International Baccalaureate World School offering every student the opportunity to earn an IB Diploma.
The curriculum offers Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Pathways. Students are engaged in rigorous, challenging academic work that requires a mindset of growth and effort. 99 percent of students participate in the IB program and the same percentage complete.
A minimum of 75 percent of a student’s credit requirement in each category must come from traditional means of credit acquisition but the grades are not calculated into a student’s GPA with the exception of the Dual Enrollment courses.
A wide variety of clubs are offered in addition to those offered in the student’s home school within the school district. Athletic opportunities are offered at the home schools as well.
Admission requirements: Admission requirements include prerequisite courses, a written essay, teacher recommendation, and an interview.
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
10. Staten Island Technical High School
Staten Island Technical High School is part of a group of schools with Specialized High School status from the NYC Department of Education. These schools serve the needs of gifted New York City students.
Although the school emphasizes engineering and technology, the arts have a strong presence at this high school. Many of the students participate in band and the high school offers drama classes.The school is known for combining the rigors of a specialized school with a friendly atmosphere.
The high school provides a challenging college preparatory curriculum that emphasizes mathematics, science, engineering, computers, and the humanities. The high school also emphasizes health, fitness, and the performing arts. Students have access to science, engineering, and computer laboratories.
The high school teaches all the courses at the Honors level. Every student takes introductory courses in robotics, TV/movie production, research and technical writing, and electronics. Students also study computer-aided design (CAD).
Advanced Placement classes at Staten Island Technical High School include a wide variety of subjects such as chemistry, Russian language and studio art. The school has a 100 percent student AP participation rate with 94 percent of students passing.
Staten Island Technical High School also offers an Early College Initiative and a College Dual-Enrollment program. Students with exceptional performances in the sciences at Staten Island Technical High School can join the school’s Science Engineering Research Program.
Students have a variety of career training and learning exploration opportunities such as job shadowing, worksite visits, internships, and visits from guest speakers to help them discover their career and life goals.
Staten Island Technical High School reports that 100 per cent of its students are accepted to a college or university. Economically disadvantaged students make up 31 per cent of the Staten Island Technical High School student body. Staten Island Technical High School is highly competitive.
Admission requirements: Students gain admission through the challenging Specialized High School Admissions Test.
Location: Staten Island, New York
11. Brooklyn Latin School
Brooklyn Latin School provides a classical liberal arts curriculum. Students obtain a strong background in science, math, history, English, Latin, a modern world language, and art history. The school is part of a group of schools with Specialized High School status from the NYC Department of Education.
The schools serve the needs of gifted NYC Students. Brooklyn Latin High School provides the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and the opportunity for students to earn college credits via dual enrollment courses.
All the classes have an emphasis on structured writing and public speaking. Students participate in Socratic seminars and learn through communicating based on formal rules of discussion. Students also divide learning tasks and then teach each other in small groups.
Every student takes four years of Latin and laboratory sciences. Every student also creates an extended research essay. The school expects students to try to make a better world through volunteering in their communities and helping the less fortunate.
Brooklyn Latin School offers a variety of clubs and activities. Economically disadvantaged students make up 67 per cent of the student body at Brooklyn Latin School.
Admission requirements: Students gain admission through the challenging Specialized High School Admissions Test.
Location: Brooklyn, New York
12. Bergen County Academies
Bergen County Academies (BCA), is a free, public, magnet high school of choice for Bergen County residents. The school offers seven specialized programs in the areas of mathematics and science, engineering and design, medical science, business and finance, culinary arts and hospitality administration, visual and performing arts, and technology and computer science.
The school is tuition-free and serves ninth through twelfth-grade students. Bergen County Academies’ strengths are its academics, extracurricular activities, and notable faculty, many of whom hold doctorates in their respective fields.
While offering some 16 AP courses, BCA does not focus on them. Led by a faculty of which 20 percent hold PhDs, students at BCA enjoy courses that often surpass AP courses in technical rigor and creativity. An early start to earning college credits is available through dual enrollment courses.
BCA is a Blue Ribbon School; a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science, and Technology; admitted to the Coalition of Essential Schools; home to five Intel Science Talent Search finalists in the past five years; and a Model School in the Arts as named by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Admission requirements: Admission to Bergen County Academies is highly competitive, as the school typically accepts about 270 of the 1,600+ applicants every year through a process that includes letters of recommendation, exams, and interviews. The school has a 16 percent acceptance rate.
Location: Hackensack, New Jersey
13. Academic Magnet High School
Academic Magnet High School serves academically gifted and motivated students. The high school encourages students to cultivate a sense of global responsibility, to contribute to members of the community, and to cultivate and uphold respect for cultural diversity.
All courses offered at Academic Magnet High School are at the Honors or Advanced Placement level with 97 percent of students taking the AP exam and 99 percent of those passing. Students also have opportunities for publication in professional and academic journals.
Alongside the rigorous academic requirements, students must also complete 90 hours of community service, take and pass at least four Advanced Placement courses while attending high school, complete a summer reading list, and complete a senior thesis (a year-long independent research project).
Even with these intense requirements, 95 percent of all students at Academic Magnet High School graduate. Academic Magnet High School boasts a large variety of sports teams and over 50 student clubs including chess, debate, robotics, and physics.
Admission requirements: The high school selects students through rigorous criteria, including a written essay, middle school grades, test scores, and teacher recommendations.
Location: North Charleston, South Carolina
14. Townsend Harris High School
Townsend Harris High School is a public magnet high school for the humanities in the borough of Queens in New York City. The school strives to promote learning and an awareness of beauty. Students are exposed to multiple perspectives to foster appreciation of all points of view.
Encouraging the students to strive for excellence and to develop a commitment to serving the community is an integral part of the school’s mission. Townsend Harris High School boasts a rigorous curriculum that includes a majority of Advanced Placement courses.
Ninety-seven percent of students take the AP exam and 99 percent of those students pass. In addition, Townsend Harris students have the opportunity to earn college credits while taking high school courses for dual credit.
Students may also participate in Queens College language courses with the approval of the department supervisor. Enrollment at Townsend Harris High School is 78 percent minority students and 55 percent economically disadvantaged students. Clubs and activities are numerous and are mainly centered on academics and community service.
Admission requirements: Students applying for Townsend Harris High School must have a minimum overall average of 90 percent, excellent standardized test scores, and excellent attendance and punctuality.
Location: Flushing, New York
15. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology emphasizes project-based STEM education. The school has a focus on technology. The campus includes specially-equipped classrooms, digital media production facilities for sound and video, science labs, and large project spaces for engineering, robotics, art, and design.
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology has a 100 percent AP participation rate and 96 percent pass rate for AP exams. Some of the offerings include chemistry, physics, engineering and language arts. Opportunities for dual enrollment programs for earning early college credits are also available to qualified students.
Within 12 months of graduation, 70 percent of students enrol in college. The school has a wide variety of student clubs to choose from, including architecture, debate, robotics, and Science Olympiad.
Economically disadvantaged students make up 36 percent of the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology student body. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Admission requirements: Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology uses a lottery for admissions. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements.
Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia
16. Walter Payton College Preparatory High School
Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, a selective-enrollment magnet school, focuses its curriculum on Honors and Advanced Placement courses in science, math, humanities, language, and other subjects.
The high school also offers an extensive variety of foreign languages, including French, Japanese, Chinese, Latin, and Spanish. Students can participate in global exchange and study programs in countries such as China, France, Brazil and South Africa.
As the norm, students take four years of a World Language. Students can participate in videoconferencing with one of the many sister schools located throughout the world. Hundreds of students participate in global exchange programs and international studies.
Walter Payton College Preparatory High School offers competitive sports programs and a variety of school clubs, including astronomy, chess, debate, and photography. The school has a strong commitment to service and community engagement.
The Seminar program gives students the opportunity to enjoy seminars on topics such as horseback riding, pilates, bridge building, math modeling, Judo, exploring Harry Potter, beginning acoustic guitar, and much more. Economically disadvantaged students make up 31 percent of the student body at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School.
During the 12 months following graduation, 85 percent of students enroll in a college or university; within 16 months, 88 percent have enrolled. Walter Payton College Preparatory High School is a National Blue Ribbon Award school and an Intel School of Distinction.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
17: Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science is part of a group of schools with Specialized High School status from the NYC Department of Education. The schools serve the needs of gifted New York City Students.
This selective public high school emphasizes a college preparatory curriculum with courses in foreign language, fine arts, math, English, social studies, and science. The school teaches eight foreign languages. Required classes include drama, health, and visual arts.
In addition to the fast-paced science and math curriculum offered by the Bronx High School of Science, every student takes a writing seminar and a research literacy course in the ninth grade. While the school is known for its math and science focus, the high school also gives a priority to social sciences and the humanities.
Many of the classes include hands-on learning. Students perform independent research in social, physical, and biological sciences. The Big Siblings program pairs four or five seniors with every freshman homeroom class.
Students can choose from more than two dozen Advanced Placement courses; 91 percent of its students participate in AP courses. The high school offers several post-AP courses as well, such as multi-variable calculus, genetics, and organic chemistry. Qualified students may also participate in dual enrollment courses.
Bronx High School of Science has a nationally renowned speech and debate team. Students can choose from a host of extracurricular activities including debate, sports teams, and robotics. The high school has more than 70 clubs.
Many of the faculty members are alumni of Bronx High School of Science and hold PhD s in their fields. The high school has a tradition of training scientists as well as business executives, authors, and academic leaders. The school boasts eight Nobel laureates. The alumni include eight winners of the National Medal of Science and six Pulitzer Prize winners.
Economically disadvantaged students make up 44 percent of the Bronx High School of Science student body. Bronx High School of Science is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science, and Technology.
Admission requirements: The high school bases admission on the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test.
Location: Bronx, New York
18. Bergen County Technical High School – Teterboro
Bergen County Technical High School-Teterboro provides students the opportunity to take Advanced Placement classes. 97 percent of the students take AP classes. Students can have a technical major and fulfil college preparatory classes.
The high school provides a wide array of electives. Students are also allowed to take several college courses off-site at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bergen Community College before graduating high school.
The high school provides a wide variety of clubs and extracurricular activities. Students participate in the SkillsUSA competition every year. Students have opportunities to participate in traditional fall, winter, and spring sports.
Bergen County Technical High School-Teterboro is a National Blue Ribbon school as well as a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science, and the Technology and the Coalition of Essential Schools.
Location: Teterboro, New Jersey
19. Suncoast Community High School
Suncoast Community High School, a public college-preparatory high school, offers four magnet programs: Innovative Interactive Technology; Computer Science; International Baccalaureate (IB); and Math, Science, and Engineering.
The school offers a host of AP and IB courses. 100 percent of its students enroll in AP courses, while 52 percent participate in IB courses. Suncoast Community High School allows students to pursue three types of diplomas: standard, IB, or AP International.
Students can complete an executive internship to gain real-world experience. Through its software and hardware programs, students can earn industry certification, giving them a leg up at graduation.
Economically disadvantaged students make up 27 percent of the student body. With more than 80 organizations and clubs and 44 athletic teams, students have myriad opportunities to get involved at Suncoast Community High School.
Admission requirements: The high school mainly bases admissions on test scores, recommendations, and grades. The school also automatically admits students who complete the IB Middle Years Program at a local middle school.
Location: Riviera Beach, Florida
20. Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School is part of a group of schools which received Specialized High School status from the NYC Department of Education. The schools serve the needs of gifted New York City Students.
The high school focuses its educational program on math, science, and technology, but it has a variety of other offerings, including criminal law and journalism. The high school has a comprehensive humanities program. Students take three years of a single foreign language. Students can take Advanced Placement coursework.
The high school has five bands, a symphony orchestra, and a jazz combo. The school also puts on many theatrical productions. Stuyvesant High School provides a variety of sports teams, a robotics team, academic teams, and numerous clubs.
Economically disadvantaged students make up 43 percent of the student body at Stuyvesant High School. Minority enrollment is reported as 81 percent of students. Four Stuyvesant High School alumni have received the Nobel Prize.
Admission requirements: Students gain admission through the challenging Specialized High School Admissions Test.
Location: New York, New York
CSN Team
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