Two of Centre County’s five public high schools improved their statewide and national standings in the U.S News & World Report 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings released on Tuesday.
The annual rankings of 18,000 public high schools out of 27,000 evaluated are based on performance indicators including student achievement on state-required assessments, graduation rates and college readiness measures such as participation and success on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams. They also consider curriculum breadth and overall student outcomes.
For the second straight year, State College Area High School and Bald Eagle Area Junior/Senior High rose in the rankings.
State College Area High School was once again the highest rated in the county. It is ranked No. 36 among Pennsylvania’s 771 public high schools, up two spots from last year. Nationally, State High ranked No. 1,062, up more than 300 places from its No. 1,371 ranking in 2025.
Bald Eagle Area Junior/Senior High School rose two spots to No. 190 in Pennsylvania, while Its national ranking climbed to No. 4,437, up from No. 4,815 last year.
Penns Valley Area Junior/Senior High fell the farthest among Centre County schools, dropping 107 spots to No. 170 in Pennsylvania. Nationally, it ranked No. 4,023, down from No. 1,765 in 2025-26.
Bellefonte Area High School dropped in the rankings for the second consecutive year, falling 33 spots to No. 339 in Pennsylvania. Nationally, its ranking fell to No. 7,700 from 7,498 a year ago.
Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School dropped to No. 375 in the state from No. 368 last year. Its national ranking, however, rose to No. 8,558 from No. 9,316 last year.
Julia R. Masterman Secondary School in Philadelphia was Pennsylvania’s top-ranked public high school for the fifth consecutive year and rated No. 3 in the nation.
Central Magnet High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, topped the national list.
“Every student deserves a pathway to success, and that journey often begins with selecting the right school,” LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News, said in a news release. “The 2026-2027 Best High Schools rankings empower families with the valuable data and transparency they need to help make the best educational choices for them. We are proud to offer this essential resource to help shape the next generation of college-ready students.”
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