Top 6 Best High Schools in NYC | 2017 Ranking | Top & Good Private & Public New York High Schools (Comparison Reviews)

Table: Top 6 Best High Schools in NYC | Above list is sorted alphabetically

Top High Schools in NYC FAQ | What are the New York City Boroughs?

If you’re new to the city and looking for high schools in New York for your child to attend, you’re going to want to understand the boroughs and neighborhoods in the NYC area so you know what options you have.

You might think that New York high schools in Staten Island or Queens are too far to travel, but they’re both right around the corner and are NYC boroughs. So, understanding the lay of the land can be a big help when searching the best public or private high schools in NYC.

The Five Boroughs

There are five main boroughs in the New York City area, each with its own distinct personality and culture. They are:

• The Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Manhattan
• Queens
• Staten Island

Before you narrow down your choices for the high schools in New York City to consider, you’ll want to take a look at a detailed map for reference. Here is one from NYC Department of City Planning that you can use.

Top High Schools in NYC FAQ | What to Know About Enrollment in New York City Public Schools

As we mentioned earlier, the New York City Public Schools are in a really large district of over 1,700 schools, so whether you’re a New York native or a newcomer, it’s wise to know the ins and outs of the enrollment process before you try to enroll in the best high schools in New York.

All new students that enroll in high schools in NY are required to register at one of the 12 Family Welcome Centers.

There are quite a number of things you need to bring when registering your child for one of the public NYC high schools. You can find a full listing of items you’ll need here.

If your child is assigned to one of the New York high schools that isn’t a good fit, either due to location or another reason, you can find details on how to request a transfer here.

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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best High Schools in NYC

Below, please find a detailed review of each school on our list of top high schools in NYC. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these good high schools in NYC to score so highly in our selection ranking.

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Brooklyn Technical High School Review

Brooklyn Technical High School has been one of the best public high schools in NYC for over 90 years. This is one of the premiere high schools in New York that focus on the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The school was begun after World War I, when a need for technical education was identified to better train engineers for a new century.

Image Source: Pixabay.com | Good High Schools in NYC

Students that want to enroll in this and other specialized high schools in New York City, must first pass the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT).

Best High Schools in NYC | At a Glance

• Student to Teacher Ratio: 22:1
• Graduation Rate: 97%
• Is the nation’s largest specialized STEM public high school
• Class of 2016 ACT scores: 28.1

Highlights That Make the Brooklyn Technical High School Stand Out on Our List of Top High Schools in NYC

Choose Your Major

Just like you do in college, this is one of the good high schools in NYC that has students choose a major in order to get them ready for success in their desired field.

During a student’s last two years at the school, they take classes specific to their chosen major, which are in addition to those typically taken for a high school diploma. This allows them to get a big head start over students in other New York high schools.

Just a few of the Majors Include:

• Aerospace
• Architecture
• Bio Science
• Chemistry
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental
• Finance
• Gateway to Medicine
• Law & Society

Community Service is Encouraged

If you want your high schooler to have a well-rounded education that teaches the importance of helping others, then Brooklyn Technical is one of the best high schools in New York to attend.

Their H.O.P.E. club is focused on community service and helps match each student with a specific cause where they can make a difference and gain valuable insight while also making lifetime memories.

Regis High School Review

Regis High School is one of the top private high schools in NYC and was founded over a hundred years ago in 1914 by an anonymous benefactor. The school is a Jesuit school that teaches Catholic religious classes in addition to academic courses.

This is one of the high schools in NY that is gender specific, they only admit males, and the applicant also must be baptized Roman Catholic, in addition to having excellent standardized test scores.

Best High Schools in NYC | At a Glance

• Student to Teacher Ratio, district: 10:1
• Average class size: 18
• Average ACT scores: 34
• One of the high schools in NY that is a religious school

Highlights That Make Regis High School Stand Out on Our List of Top High Schools in NYC

No Tuition

Regis is one of the rare private high schools in NYC where your son can attend for free. They have a full scholarship policy and students do not have to pay to attend. They are the only free, private all-scholarship school in the U.S.

Applicants do need to have excellent grades (above 90% in standardized testing) and admission is very competitive. But if you’re looking for an excellent, religious based education, this is one of the best high schools in New York to apply for. 

Theology Courses

Not all high schools in NY have several theology based classes, so Regis stands out in their offerings. Parents that want their son to have a strong spiritual base to their education will find this one of the good high schools in NYC for them to attend.

Theology classes offered include:

• Contemporary Issues in Theology
• The Vocabulary of Faith
• Comparative Religious Ethics
• Yoga, Prayer & Medication
• History of the Soul
• And more​

Staten Island Technical High School Review

This next school is one of the New York City public schools that is a specialized admission school. Staten Island Technical High School is one of the newer high schools in New York, being established in 1988.

Students need to go through an admissions test and score well enough to be granted admission. But once they do, they’ll find this one of the best high schools in NYC for gifted and talented individuals wanting a challenging pre-college education.

Best High Schools in NYC | At a Glance

• Student to Teacher Ratio: 22:1
• Percentage of graduates accepted to 4 year colleges/universities: 100%
• Average ACT scores: 29.5
• Their class of 2015 graduates were offered a total of $53.4 million in scholarships

Highlights That Make Staten Island Technical High School Stand Out on Our List of Top High Schools in NYC

Award Winning School

Staten Island Technical High School is recognized regularly as one of the top high schools in NYC to attend for a premiere education. Here are a few of the awards the school has garnered:

• #23 in the US and #2 in NY state on Newsweek’s America’s Top High Schools ranking
• #22 in the US and #1 in NY state on The Daily Beast’s America’s Top High Schools ranking
• #3 in the the New York Post’s Top High Schools in NYC ranking

Outstanding Graduation Rate and College Acceptance Rate

This is one of the New York City public schools with one of the highest graduation rates and college acceptance rates that you’ll find anywhere in the country.

The school has a 99% graduation rate and 68% of students graduate with honors. You can’t get a better college or university acceptance rate at any other good high schools in NYC, Staten Island Tech’s is 100%.

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The Chapin School Review

We’ve taken a look at one of the best private high schools in NYC for boys, now let’s take a look at one for girls. The Chapin School is a girls only private independent day school that includes grades Kindergarten through 12.

This is another one of the good high schools in NYC that was founded over a century ago, in 1901. The school’s seal was chosen by founder Maria Bowen Chapin, because it’s the symbol of St. Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of philosophers, thinkers and educated women.

Best High Schools in NYC | At a Glance

• Student to Teacher Ratio: 7:1
• Number of advanced placement courses offered: 15
• Average ACT scores: 31
• Teachers has an average of 16 years teaching experience, 11 at The Chapin School

Highlights That Make The Chapin School Stand Out on Our List of Top High Schools in NYC

Cultivating a Whole Community

While some of the private high schools in NYC that teach all grades, keep them separated in different buildings, The Chapin School believes in cultivating a community and allowing all ages to interact under one roof.

Image Source: The Chapin School | Top Private High Schools in NYC

Personalized Education Opportunities

An interesting aspect of The Chapin School that you don’t see in other high schools in New York is the personalized approach they take to education. Teachers often work on specific FOCUS classes they feel will enrich a girl’s education.

Here are a few other examples:

• Students can take courses through the Online School for Girls program
• 36 different electives are offered
• Seniors can pursue individual study in a topic of their choosing
• They have multiple travel abroad opportunities

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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College Review

The next school on our list is one of the best public high schoos in NYC, Townsend Harris High School at Queens College. The school first started way back in 1848 as the New York Free Academy. It’s known for excellence in science and fostering a love of learning.

If you’re looking for one of the best high schools in NYC to prepare your child for college, you’ll be interested to know that Townsend Harris is the only one of the public or private high schools in NYC to score 100% on all three college readiness metrics.

Best High Schools in NYC | At a Glance

• Student to Teacher Ratio: 22:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average ACT scores: 28.1
• Percentage of graduates that enrolled in college or postsecondary program: 100%

Highlights That Make Townsend Harris High School at Queens College Stand Out on Our List of Top High Schools in NYC

Excellent Science Program

Townsend Harris is one of the best high schools in NYC if your student is focused on a science career. Their Science Department was cited as the best high school program in the country by Intel.

They have a world-class three-year Science Research Program that begins in a student’s sophomore year and students can gain regognition in a number of prestigious events. This is also one of the good high schools in NYC to attend to take college level courses while in high school, they offer them through Queens College.

100% Graduation & Secondary School/College Enrollment Rate

If you’re a parent that wants to see their child continue their education past the 12^th grade, then this is one of the best high schools in NYC to give them their best shot.

You’ll find this one of the exceptionally good high schools in NYC that not only has a 100% graduation rate, it also has a 100% rate of students enrolling in college or other secondary education within 6 months after graduation.

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Trinity School Review

The final school on our list of the top 6 best public or private high schools in NYC is Trinity School. This is another one of the private high schools in NYC, however unlike the previous two mentioned, this one is co-ed.

Trinity also happens to be the oldest of all the high schools in New York City on our list, being founded over 300 years ago in 1709. It is definitely one of the top high schools in NYC that’s thrived over the years, even weathering the Revolutionary War.

Best High Schools in NYC | At a Glance

• Student to Teacher Ratio: 6:1
• Number of faculty holding advanced degrees: 82%
• Average ACT scores: 34
• According to Forbes, percentage of graduates that enter Ivy Leauge/MIT/Stanford: 41%

Highlights That Make Trinity School Stand Out on Our List of Top High Schools in NYC

Global Travel Program

Trinity is one of the private high schools in NYC that encourages students to learn about the world through their Global Travel Program. They have opportunities both inside and outside the U.S. to encourage students to pursue academic, service, and language immersion in different cultures.

They currently offer travel programs to:

• New Orleans
• Cuba
• Colombia
• Italy
• Hawaii

Religious Studies

If you’d like your child to have a spiritual education, Trinity is one of the good high schools in NYC to consider. Sprituality, religion, and ethics are woven into the fabric of school life there, not only in Chapel, but also in the classrooms and every day life.

Conclusion – Top 6 Best High Schools in NYC

One of the great things about living in one of the largest cities in the world, is that you have the best choices for the top high schools in NYC. Whether you choose public or private high schools in NYC, you can find exemplary educational opportunities.

If you’re looking for one of the all boys or all girls NYC high schools or just a public co-ed school that has a 100% graduate success rate, you can be sure to find it in New York City.

There are plenty of good high schools in NYC, but entry at many of them can be very competitive. A big key is to know the application process and test scores needed for these best high schools in NYC so your child has the best chance of getting into the school of their choice.

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