Two public Bay Area high schools make top 10 list for California

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Two San Francisco Bay Area public high schools made it into the top 10 of U.S. News’ “2025 Best High Schools” for California.

U.S. News reviewed thousands of high schools across the state and dug into students’ test scores for English, mathematics, and science. Schools were ranked based on their performance on state-required tests, graduation rates, and how well they prepared students for college.

According to the coveted list published this week, Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy in Gilroy ranked #8 in California and was given a 99.64 score by U.S. News. All of the school’s students took at least one Advanced Placement class and 85 percent passed at least one AP exam. The school has a 100 percent reading proficiency and graduate rate, as while as 89 percent proficiency in math.

Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy has 290 students grades 9-12 and is part of the Gilroy Unified School District.

“Congratulations to the Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy school community. Way to go GECA Griffins! We are proud of you!” the school district wrote in response to the rankings.

Lynbrook High School in San Jose earned the #10 spot for best public schools in California. At Lynbrook, 89% of students took at least one AP class and 86% passed an AP exam. The large school serves 1,720 students grades 9-12.

Lynbrook High School’s website states, “The values enacted by Lynbrook’s community—commitment to family, involvement in the schools, a belief in the importance of education and high academic expectations — directly contribute to the school’s excellent standing.”

Lynbrook High, located in West San Jose, is part of the Fremont Union High School District.

Pacific Collegiate Charter in Santa Cruz ranked #9 on the top 10 list.

The #1-ranked school was Gretchen Whitney High School in Cerritos, Calif. The school offers a variety of honors and AP courses, including computer science, physics and foreign language.

U.S. News wrote, “We believe that better education drives the future. We rank high schools across the country to give an unbiased look at how well schools serve their students and help you make informed decisions about your child’s education.”