The quality of education received by students enrolled in the best high schools in the world certainly has a lot of positive influence on their academic performances when they get into tertiary institutions.
That is why knowing and enrolling in the best high schools in the world is important, as high-quality education is assured in these high schools. This is due to the fact that “quality of education” is one of the important factors considered before ranking any school.
Education is very important and every child should have access to good education. As a Parent, enrolling your child/children in a good school should be a priority. A lot of parents are unable to send their kids to good schools because of the high cost of tuition.
However, there are several scholarship opportunities for high school students, and most public schools offer tuition-free education.
Before we list the best high schools in the world, let us share with you some of the qualities of a good high school.
Table of Contents
What makes a Good High School?
A Good High School must possess the following qualities:
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Professional Teachers
Best high schools have adequate professional teachers. Teachers must possess the right educational qualification and experience.
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Conducive Learning Environment
Good high schools have conducive Learning environments. Students are taught in peaceful and learning-friendly environments.
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Excellent Performance In Standardized Examinations
A Good School must have a record of excellent performance in standardized exams like IGCSE, SAT, ACT, WAEC e.t.c.
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Extracurricular Activities
A Good School must encourage extracurricular activities like sports, and skill acquisition.
30 Best High Schools in the World
There are public and private high schools in the World.
We have listed the best high schools in the world in these two categories.
Here they are below:
15 Best Private High Schools in the World
Below is a list of the 15 best private high schools in the world:
- Phillips Academy – Andover
- The Hotchkiss School
- Sydney Grammar School
- Ascham School
- Geelong Grammar School
- Notre Dame International High School
- Leysin American School
- Chavagnes International College
- Grey College
- Rift Valley Academy
- Hilton College
- St. George’s College
- International School of Kenya
- Accra Academy
- St. John’s College.
1. Phillips Academy – Andover
- Location: Andover, Massachusetts, US
About Phillips Academy – Andover
Founded in 1778, Phillips Academy is an independent, co-educational secondary school for boarding and day students.
Phillips Academy started as an only boys school and became coeducational in 1973, when it merged with Abbot Academy.
As a highly selective school, Phillips Academy only accepts a small percentage of applicants.
2. The Hotchkiss School
- Location: Lakeville, Connecticut, US
About The Hotchkiss School
The Hotchkiss School is an independent boarding and day school, that accepts students in grades 9 to 12 and a small number of postgraduates, established in 1891.
Just like Phillips Academy, The Hotchkiss School also started as an only boys school and became coeducational in 1974.
3. Sydney Grammar School (SGS)
- Location: Sydney, Australia
About Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent secular day school for boys. Founded by an Act of Parliament in 1854, Sydney Grammar School was officially opened in 1857. Sydney Grammar School is one of the oldest schools in Australia.
Applicants go through an entrance assessment before they can be admitted to SGS. Priorities are given to students from St. Ives or Edgecliff preparatory schools.
4. Ascham School
- Location: Edgecliff, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
About Ascham School
Established in 1886, Ascham School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for girls.
Ascham School uses Dalton Plan – a secondary-education technique based on individual learning. Currently, Ascham is the only school in Australia using the Dalton Plan.
5. Geelong Grammar School (GGS)
- Location: Geelong, Victoria, Australia
About Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent Anglican co-educational boarding and day school, established in 1855.
GGS offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) or the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) to senior students.
6. Notre Dame International High School
- Location: Verneuil-sur-seine, France
About Notre Dame International High School
Notre Dame International High School is an American international school in France, established in 1929.
It provides bilingual, college preparatory academics to students in grades 10 to grades 12.
The School has an opportunity for non-France speakers to learn the French language and culture. Students are taught with an American curriculum.
7. Leysin American School (LAS)
- Location: Leysin, Switzerland
About Leysin American School
Leysin American School is a coeducational independent boarding school focusing on university preparation for grades 7 to 12, established in 1960.
LAS provide students with International Baccalaureate, AP, and diploma programs.
8. Chavagnes International College
- Location: Chavagnes-en-Paillers, France
About Chavagnes International College
Chavagnes International College is a boys’ catholic boarding school in France, founded in 1802 and refounded in 2002.
Admissions to Chavagnes International College are based on satisfactory references from teachers and academic performances.
Chavagnes International College offers a classical education aimed at the boys’ spiritual, moral, and intellectual growth by providing British and French education.
9. Grey College
- Location: Bloemfontein, Free State province of South Africa
About Grey College
Grey College is a semi-private English and Afrikaans medium school for boys, that have been existing for over 165 years.
It’s one of the top and most academic schools in the Free State province. Also, Grey College is among the best-known schools in South Africa.
10. Rift Valley Academy (RVA)
- Location: Kyabe, Kenya
About Rift Valley Academy
Established in 1906, Rift Valley Academy is a Christian boarding school operated by the African Inland Mission.
Students at RVA are taught based on an international curriculum with a North American curricular foundation.
Rift Valley Academy only accepts students that are residents of Africa.
11. Hilton College
- Location: Hilton, South Africa
About Hilton College
Hilton College is a non-denominational Christian, full-boarding boys school, founded in 1872 by Gould Authur Lucas and Reverend William Orde.
The years of study at Hilton are referred to as forms 1 to 8.
Hilton College is one of the most expensive schools in South Africa.
12. St. George’s College
- Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
About St. George’s College
St. George’s College is the most renowned boy’s school in Zimbabwe, founded in 1896 in Bulawayo, and moved to Harare in 1927.
Admission into St. George’s College is based on an entrance examination, that must be taken to enter Form One. ‘A’ grades at the Ordinary (O) level are required to enter the lower sixth form.
St. George’s College follows the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) syllabus at IGCSE, AP, and A levels.
13. International School of Kenya (ISK)
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
About International School of Kenya
International School of Kenya is a private, non-profit Pre K – Grade 12 school established in 1976. ISK is a product of a joint partnership between the governments of the United States and Canada.
International School of Kenya offers high school (Grades 9 to 12) and Grades 11 and 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programs.
14. Accra Academy
- Location: Bubuashie, Accra, Ghana
About Accra Academy
Accra Academy is a non-denominational day and boarding boys’ school, established in 1931.
The Academy was established as a private secondary educational institution in 1931 and gained the status of a Government-assisted school in 1950.
Accra Academy is one of the 34 schools in Ghana established before Ghana attained its Independence from Britain.
15. St. John’s College
- Location: Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa
About St. John’s College
St. John’s College is a world-class Christian, African day and boarding school, established in 1898.
The School accepts only boys from Grade 0 to Grade 12 into the Pre-preparatory, Preparatory, and the College accepts boys and girls in the Bridge Nursery School and Sixth form.
15 Best Public High Schools in the World
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
- Academic Magnet High School
- The Davidson Academy of Nevada
- Walton Payton College Preparatory High School
- School for Advanced Studies (SAS)
- Merrol Hyde Magnet School
- Westminster School
- Tonbridge School
- James Ruse Agricultural High School
- North Sydney Boys High School
- Hornsby Girls High School
- Perth Modern School
- King Edward VII School
- Prince Edward School
- Adisadel College
16. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
- Location: Fairfax County, Virginia, US
About Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Established in 1985, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is a Virginia state-chartered magnet school operated by Fairfax County Public Schools.
TJHSST offers a comprehensive program that focuses on scientific, mathematical and technological fields.
17. Academic Magnet High School (AMHS)
- Location: North Charleston, South Carolina, US
About Academic Magnet High School
Academic Magnet High School was established with the ninth grade in 1988 and graduated its first-class in 1992.
Students are admitted to AMHS based on GPA, standardized test scores, a writing sample, and teacher recommendations.
Academic Magnet High School is part of the Charleston County School District.
18. The Davidson Academy of Nevada
- Location: Nevada, United States
About The Davidson Academy of Nevada
Established in 2006, The Davidson Academy of Nevada was created for profoundly gifted middle and high school students.
The Academy offers an in-person learning option and an online learning option. Unlike traditional school settings, Academy classes are organized by ability, not by age.
The Davidson Academy of Nevada is the only high school in the Davidson Academy School District.
19. Walter Payton College Preparatory High School (WPCP)
- Location: Downtown Chicago, Illinois, US
About Walter Payton College Preparatory High School
Walter Payton College Preparatory High School is a selective enrollment magnet public high school, established in 2000.
Payton offers world-class math, science, world-language, humanities, fine arts, and adventure education programs.
20. School for Advanced Studies (SAS)
- Location: Miami, Florida, United States
About School for Advanced Studies
School for Advanced Studies is a product of a combined effort between Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) and Miami Dade College (MDC), established in 1988.
At SAS, students complete the last two years of high school (11th and 12th grade) while they obtain a two-year Associate in Arts degree from Miami Dade College.
SAS provides a uniquely supportive transition between secondary and post-secondary education.
21. Merrol Hyde Magnet School (MHMS)
- Location: Sumner County, Hendersonville, Tennessee, United States
About Merrol Hyde Magnet School
Merrol Hyde Magnet School is the only magnet school in Sumner County, established in 2003.
Unlike other traditional academic schools, Merrol Hyde Magnet School utilizes the Paideia philosophy. Paideia is not a strategy for teaching but rather a philosophy of educating the whole child – mind, body, and spirit.
Students are admitted to MHMS based on selection criteria of 85 percentile or higher in reading, language, and math on a nationally normed standardized entrance exam.
22. Westminster School
- Location: London
About Westminster School
Westminster School is an independent boarding and day school, located in the heart of London. It’s one of the ancient and leading academic schools in London.
Westminster School only admits only boys to the under school at the age of 7 and senior school at the age of 13, Girls join the sixth form at the age of 16.
23. Tonbridge School
- Location: Tonbridge, Kent, England
About Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is one of the leading boys’ boarding schools in the UK, established in 1553.
The School offers traditional British education up to GCSE and A levels.
Students are admitted to Tonbridge School based on a standard common entrance exam.
24. James Ruse Agricultural High School
- Location: Carlingford, New South Wales, Australia
About James Ruse Agricultural High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School is one of the four agricultural high schools in New South Wales, established in 1959.
The school started as a boys’ high school and became co-educational in 1977. Currently, James Ruse is widely considered to be the highest academically ranked high school in Australia.
As an academically selective school, James Ruse has a competitive admission process. Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of New South Wales.
25. North Sydney Boys High School (NSBHS)
- Location: Crows Nest, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
About North Sydney Boys High School
North Sydney Boys High School is a single-sex, academically selective secondary day school.
Established in 1915, the origin of North Sydney Boys High School can be traced back to North Sydney Public School.
North Sydney Public School was divided due to overcrowding. Two separate schools were established: North Sydney Girls High School in 1914 and North Sydney Boys School in 1915.
Admission to Year 7 is offered based on statewide tests conducted by the Department of Education’s High Performing Students units.
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia, New Zealand citizens, or permanent residents of Norfolk Island. Also, parents or guidance must be residents of New South Wales.
26. Hornsby Girls High School
- Location: Hornsby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
About Hornsby Girls High School
Hornsby Girls High School is a single-sex academically selective secondary day school, established in 1930.
As an academically selective school, entry into Year 7 is by an examination conducted by the High Performing Students Unit of the NSW Department of Education.
27. Perth Modern School
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
About Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School is a public co-educational academically selective high school, established in 1909. It is the only fully academically selective public school in Western Australia.
Admission to the school is based on an examination administered by the Gifted and Talented (GAT) at the WA Department of Education.
28. King Edward VII School
- Type: Public School
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
About King Edward VII School
Established in 1902, King Edward VII School is a public English medium high school for boys, serving students in grades 8 to 12.
One of KES’s aim is to provide a balanced and broadly based curriculum that provides students with spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development.
At KES, students are prepared for the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of adult life.
29. Prince Edward School
- Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
About Prince Edward School
Prince Edward School is a boarding and day school for boys between the age of 13 and 19.
It was established in 1897 as Salisbury Grammar, renamed Salisbury High School in 1906, and adopted its current name in 1925 when visited by Edward, Prince of Wales.
Prince Edward School is the second oldest boys’ school in Harare and in Zimbabwe after St. George’s College.
30. Adisadel College
- Location: Cape Coast, Ghana
About Adisadel College
Adisadel College is a 3-year boarding secondary school for boys, founded in 1910 by the Society of the Propagation of the Gospel (S.P.G).
Admission to Adisadel College is very competitive, due to the increase in demand for the limited places available. As a result, only half of the applicants are admitted to Adisadel College.
Applicants from Junior Secondary School must obtain at least grade one in six subjects of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) offered by the West African Examination Council. Foreign applicants must present credentials equivalent to the Ghanaian BECE.
Adisadel College is one of the oldest senior high schools in Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Global High Schools
What makes a Good School?
A good school must have the following qualities: Adequate professional teachers A learning-friendly environment Effective school leadership A record of excellent performance in standardized exams Extracurricular activities must be encouraged
Which country has the best high schools?
US is home to most of the best high schools in the World. Also, US is known to have the best education system.
Are Public High Schools Free?
Most Public High Schools don't charge tuition. Students will have to pay for other fees like transportation, uniform, books, and hostel fees.
Which country in Africa has the best high schools?
South Africa is home to most of the best high schools in Africa and also has the best education system in Africa.
Does High Schools provide scholarships?
A lot of high schools provide scholarship opportunities to students that are academically sound and have financial needs.
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Conclusion
Whether you are planning to attend a private or public high school, just make sure you select a school that provides high-quality education.
If you are facing difficulties in financing your education, you can either apply for scholarships or enroll in tuition-free schools.
Which school in this article do you love the most or would like to attend? Generally, what do you think about all the top high schools listed in this article?
Let us know your thoughts or questions in the Comments Section below.
