Newsweek just published its annual ranking of the top public high schools in the country and Georgia continues to show improvements in a number of areas. In total, there are 54 Georgia schools on Newsweek’s list of 1,500 schools, which they claim represents the top 6% of high schools in the nation. Newsweek bases their rankings largely on how many students are taking AP or advanced courses, among other factors.
Georgia has shown steady improvement in terms of the number of schools ranked to the highest ranked school in Georgia. Take a look:
Georgia has doubled its presence in the rankings since 2005. That’s a great trend.
Breaking down the numbers further, of the 54 high schools ranked:
- 39 top high schools are metro-Atlanta
- 13 top high schools are in Cobb County
Homebuyers coming to Atlanta from another state typically mention schools and commute as top of the list of important factors when determining what part of town to live in. Combine those factors with lower property taxes and Cobb County quickly becomes a smart choice. No pun intended.
| Year | # Schools Ranked | Highest Ranking | School |
| 2005 | 27 | 106 | Lakeside (N. Augusta) |
| 2006 | 34 | 132 | Riverwood (Sandy Springs) |
| 2007 | 44 | 123 | Walton (East Cobb County) |
| 2008 | 51 | 109 | Walton (East Cobb County) |
| 2009 | 54 | 91 | Walton (East Cobb County) |
Click Here to See the Complete List
Matt Bass lives in East Cobb with his wife and two young sons, who will attend Walton High School in about eight years. It should be in the top 10 in the nation by then.