Best public high schools in Georgia

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Massachusetts using rankings from Niche. (LightField Studios // Shutterstock/LightField Studios // Shutterstock)
By Stacker

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in Georgia using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear. (Stacker/Stacker)

Daniel Hoz // Shutterstock

#30. Pope High School

- Location: Cobb County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,855 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test. (Stacker/Stacker)

Achira22 // Shutterstock

#29. Lassiter High School

- Location: Cobb County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,945 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A student talking to a teacher in the hallway. (Stacker/Stacker)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#28. Kennesaw Mountain High School

- Location: Cobb County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,836 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A student standing next to their backpack as seen from the knee down. (Stacker/Stacker)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#27. Roswell High School

- Location: Fulton County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,157 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera. (Stacker/Stacker)

Mircea Moira // Shutterstock

#26. Hillgrove High School

- Location: Cobb County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,309 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A high school student doing a chemical experiment. (Stacker/Stacker)

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#25. Decatur High School

- Location: City Schools of Decatur, GA

- Enrollment: 1,732 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper. (Stacker/Stacker)

panitanphoto // Shutterstock

#24. Wheeler High School

- Location: Cobb County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,296 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A student raising their hand in class. (Stacker/Stacker)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#23. DeKalb School of the Arts

- Location: Dekalb County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 327 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#22. Atlanta Classical Academy

- Location: Atlanta Public Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 688 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard. (Stacker/Stacker)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#21. Elite Scholars Academy School

- Location: Clayton County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 684 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A row of empty desks with notebooks and pencils on them. (Stacker/Stacker)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#20. Starrs Mill High School

- Location: Fayette County Public Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,343 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A hallway lined with green lockers. (Stacker/Stacker)

SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock

#19. North Gwinnett High School

- Location: Gwinnett County Public Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 3,087 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A

A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library. (Stacker/Stacker)

sirtravelalot // Shutterstock

#18. Peachtree Ridge High School

- Location: Gwinnett County Public Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 3,313 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

An empty classroom as viewed from the back. (Stacker/Stacker)

maroke // Shutterstock

#17. Denmark High School

- Location: Forsyth County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,391 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A pencil case full of pens, pencils, and highlighters spilling on a table. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#16. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School

- Location: Richmond County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 731 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera. (Stacker/Stacker)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#15. Buford High School

- Location: Buford City Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,784 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables. (Stacker/Stacker)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Cambridge High School

- Location: Fulton County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,826 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students using microscopes in science class. (Stacker/Stacker)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#13. McIntosh High School

- Location: Fayette County Public Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,719 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

High school students studying and reading together in their school library. (Stacker/Stacker)

Joyseulay // Shutterstock

#12. Johns Creek High School

- Location: Fulton County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,967 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students raising their hands for class participation. (Stacker/Stacker)

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#11. North Oconee High School

- Location: Oconee County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,497 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#10. South Forsyth High School

- Location: Forsyth County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,355 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two students sharing a book. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#9. Walton High School

- Location: Cobb County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,689 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student doing classwork on their laptop. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#8. Chattahoochee High School

- Location: Fulton County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,856 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk. (Stacker/Stacker)

Roman Kosolapov // Shutterstock

#7. Lambert High School

- Location: Forsyth County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,941 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor. (Stacker/Stacker)

LBeddoe // Shutterstock

#6. Milton High School

- Location: Fulton County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,153 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Bookshelves at a high school's library. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#5. Northview High School

- Location: Fulton County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,752 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of spiral noteboooks in front of a wooden background. (Stacker/Stacker)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#4. Columbus High School

- Location: Muscogee County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,171 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two rows of red lockers. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#3. Alpharetta High School

- Location: Fulton County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 2,198 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

Empty desks in a high school classroom. (Stacker/Stacker)

Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

#2. Alliance Academy for Innovation

- Location: Forsyth County Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,141 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

A closeup of a student taking notes in class. (Stacker/Stacker)

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#1. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology

- Location: Gwinnett County Public Schools, GA

- Enrollment: 1,165 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)

- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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