The Bay Area’s best high schools

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know the Bay Area is home to some of the best high schools in the nation.

Every year, US News & World Report ranks high schools across the nation, based on college readiness, math and reading proficiency, and college prep curriculum. South Carolina’s Academic Magnet High School was ranked the best in the country in this year’s list and Cerrito’s Whitney High School got top honors as best in California.

Here’s a list of the top 25 high schools in the Bay Area, according to US News and World Report’s ranking of California schools. There are lots of usual suspects from the South and East Bay, but the Bay Area’s best ranked might surprise you.

1 Ranked #3 in California: Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College AcademyGilroy, CA | Gilroy Unified

Read the story to see what makes Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy California’s No. 3 public high school

2 Ranked #6 in California: Lowell High SchoolSan Francisco, CA | San Francisco Unified School District

3 Ranked #12 in California: Mission San Jose HighFremont, CA | Fremont Unified

4 Ranked #13 in California: Monta Vista High SchoolCupertino, CA | Fremont Union High

5 Ranked #14 in California: Lynbrook HighSan Jose, CA | Fremont Union High

6 Ranked #17 in California: Summit Preparatory Charter HighRedwood City, CA | Sequoia Union High

7 Ranked #18 in California: KIPP San Jose CollegiateSan Jose, CA | East Side Union High

8 Ranked #20 in California: Dougherty Valley High SchoolSan Ramon, CA | San Ramon Valley Unified

9 Ranked #21 in California: Henry M. Gunn HighPalo Alto, CA | Palo Alto Unified

10 Ranked #24 in California: Saratoga HighSaratoga, CA | Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High

11 Ranked #25 in California: Cupertino HighCupertino, CA | Fremont Union High

12 Ranked #28 in California: Miramonte HighOrinda, CA | Acalanes Union High

13 Ranked #30 in California: Campolindo HighMoraga, CA | Acalanes Union High

14 Ranked #33 in California: Palo Alto High School (Paly)Palo Alto, CA | Palo Alto Unified

15 Ranked #36 in California: Amador Valley HighPleasanton, CA | Pleasanton Unified

16 Ranked #37 in California: Piedmont High SchoolPiedmont, CA | Piedmont City Unified

17 Ranked #38 in California: Oakland Charter HighOakland, CA | Oakland Unified

18 Ranked #40 in California: Leland High SchoolSan Jose, CA | San Jose Unified School District

19 Ranked #46 in California: KIPP King Collegiate HighSan Lorenzo, CA | San Lorenzo Unified

20 Ranked #49 in California: University Preparatory Academy CharterSan Jose, CA | Santa Clara County Office Of Education

21 Ranked #51 in California: Homestead HighCupertino, CA | Fremont Union High

22 Ranked #52 in California: Leadership Public Schools – HaywardHayward, CA | Hayward Unified

23 Ranked #53 in California: KIPP San Francisco College PreparatorySan Francisco Ca, CA | San Francisco Unified School District

24 Ranked #55 in California: American Indian Public HighOakland, CA | Oakland Unified

25 Ranked #56 in California: Los Altos High (Los Altos)Los Altos, CA | Mountain View-Los Altos Union High