The 25 best public high schools in America

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A great education doesn't have to cost a fortune — especially in high school.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, just released its 2016 rankings of the best public high schools in the country.

The ranking looked at over 100,000 schools based on 27 million reviews from more than 300,000 students and parents. They rated schools in areas like academics, teachers, student culture and diversity, and resources and facilities. You can read more about the methodology here.

Many are charter or magnet schools, meaning they pull in qualified students from around their districts.

Here are the top 25 public high schools in America.

25. Townsend Harris High School — Queens, NY

Academics: A+

Student culture & diversity: A+

Teachers: A+

Resources & facilities: B+

"There are extracurricular activities that everyone can enjoy from sports clubs, to coding, to community service, or even religious clubs," one recent alum said. The extracurriculars "are what give a sense of community and belonging in a school."

24. Bronx High School of Science — Bronx, NY

Academics: A+

Student culture & diversity: A-

Teachers: A+

Resources & facilities: B

"The student body is diverse as well as the range of extracurriculars, there are many AP classes, and most importantly, there isn't the sense that everyone is competing with each other," one senior said. "Although it's assumed the Bronx Science student body is ambitious and competitive, we don't seem to show it."

23. William A. Shine Great Neck South High School — Great Neck, NY

Academics: A+

Student culture & diversity: A-

Teachers: A+

Resources & facilities: A+

"There are some teachers who know to make the material engaging and are willing to help you no matter what," one student said. Another alum noted, "The teachers prepare the students for exams and they also prepare them for college. They make the students take more responsibility over their work and grades."