Here’s where Centre County high schools rank in 2025 U.S. News & World Report
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Most Centre County high schools received higher placement in 2025’s rankings.
- U.S. News & World Report used test scores, graduation rates and more to rank schools.
- One Pennsylvania school cracked the nation’s top 10 public high schools.
Most Centre County schools received a significant rise in the latest U.S. News & World Report high school rankings released Tuesday.
The report annually ranks nearly 18,000 public high schools at national, state and local levels using performance indicators including student achievement on state-required assessments, graduation rates and college preparedness measures. The rankings are also assembled by examining how schools effectively support underserved students and tracking how students participate and perform in advanced courses.
“Students and families need data to help them make one of the most important decisions of their academic journey,” LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News, wrote in a statement. “Our Best High Schools rankings provide the insights to help them identify schools that will prepare students for college success. Access to information isn’t just helpful — it’s essential for planning a student’s future.”
Alongside ranking for public high schools across the country and in each state, U.S. News published rankings for select metro areas and overall school districts. Magnet, charter and STEM-focused schools were also ranked in separate lists.
Once again, the nation’s best high school is the BASIS Peoria charter in Peoria, Arizona. The Julia R. Masterman Secondary School, a Philadelphia-based magnet school, checked in as Pennsylvania’s top public high school and ranked No. 8 in the nationwide rankings.
In Centre County, the only school district to see a significant drop in the rankings was Bellefonte Area School District, which ranked No. 73 in the state last year. BASD ranked No. 326 in the state in 2023.
Here’s a brief look at where Centre County’s public high schools ranked in Pennsylvania and across the country.
Bald Eagle Area Junior/Senior High School
National: 4,815 (last year: 5,440)
State: 192 (last year: 227)
Bellefonte Area High School
National: 7,498 (last year: 1,974)
State: 306 (last year: 74)
Penns Valley Area Junior/Senior High School
National: 1,765 (last year: 3,021)
State: 63 (last year: 115)
Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School
National: 9,316 (last year: 12,323)
State: 368 (last year: 466)
State College Area High School
National: 1,371 (last year: 1,271)
State: 38 (last year: 41)
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