Best public high schools in Missouri

By Stacker

Published November 2, 2026 1:25 PM

By Stacker

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ’96 commencement address at Wellesley College, “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” If that’s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It’s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.6 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best public high schools in Missouri using 2027 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. You can read more about Niche’s methodology here.

#25. Lee’s Summit Senior High School

– Location: Lee’s Summit R-VII School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,989 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#24. Eureka Senior High School

– Location: Rockwood R-VI School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,586 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#23. Lee’s Summit North High School

– Location: Lee’s Summit R-VII School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,940 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#22. Lindbergh High School

– Location: Lindbergh Schools, MO
– Enrollment: 2,304 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#21. Staley High School

– Location: North Kansas City School District, MO
– Enrollment: 2,091 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#20. Pattonville High School

– Location: Pattonville R-3 School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,945 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#19. Parkway South High School

– Location: Parkway School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,485 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#18. Koshkonong High School

– Location: Oregon-Howell R-III School District, MO
– Enrollment: 86 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#17. Fort Zumwalt West High School

– Location: Fort Zumwalt R-II School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,643 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#16. Lee’s Summit West High School

– Location: Lee’s Summit R-VII School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,999 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#15. Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience Magnet High School

– Location: Saint Louis Public Schools, MO
– Enrollment: 332 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#14. Académie Lafayette Armour IHS

– Location: Académie Lafayette Public Charter Schools, MO
– Enrollment: 118 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#13. Webster Groves High School

– Location: Webster Groves School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,253 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#12. Rock Bridge High School

– Location: Columbia School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,997 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#11. Liberty High School

– Location: Wentzville R-IV School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,657 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#10. Lincoln College Preparatory Academy

– Location: Kansas City Public Schools, MO
– Enrollment: 997 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#9. Gateway Science Academy Fyler High School

– Location: Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis, MO
– Enrollment: 490 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#8. Kirkwood Senior High School

– Location: Kirkwood School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,693 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#7. Parkway Central High School

– Location: Parkway School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,281 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#6. Lafayette High School

– Location: Rockwood R-VI School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,669 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

#5. Parkway West High School

– Location: Parkway School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,417 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

#4. Marquette Senior High School

– Location: Rockwood R-VI School District, MO
– Enrollment: 2,095 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

#3. Metro High School

– Location: Saint Louis Public Schools, MO
– Enrollment: 317 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

#2. Ladue Horton Watkins High School

– Location: Ladue School District, MO
– Enrollment: 1,395 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

#1. Clayton High School

– Location: School District of Clayton, MO
– Enrollment: 791 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+