News Summary
Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School has been recognized as the best public high school in Pennsylvania for 2025, as per Niche rankings. The school has consistently maintained high rankings in the state while making significant leaps in national standings. Following closely is Central High School. Niche’s rankings rely on a range of data sources including student feedback. The School District of Philadelphia is working towards improving overall student performance amid challenges from past years.
Philadelphia — Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School has been recognized as the best public high school in Pennsylvania for 2025, according to the education research firm Niche. This prestigious ranking marks a significant achievement for the institution, which has consistently held high rankings in the state and has jumped more than a dozen spots in the national rankings compared to last year.
For several consecutive years, Masterman has maintained its status as the top public high school in Pennsylvania according to Niche rankings. Following Masterman in these rankings is Central High School in Philadelphia, which secured the sixth position on Niche’s list of the best public high schools in the state.
Niche’s ranking methodology incorporates various data sources, including the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, and detailed feedback from students, parents, and alumni, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of school quality.
In the latest U.S. News and World Report “Best High Schools” ranking, Julia R. Masterman Laboratory achieved an impressive 8th place nationally. This ranking illustrates the school’s continued excellence in educational performance and academic achievement. Notably, the Downingtown STEM Academy in Chester County ranked 22nd nationally. The top-ranked school nationwide, according to U.S. News, is BASIS Tucson North in Tucson, Arizona.
The top five public high schools in America in the 2025 rankings by Niche differ from those identified by U.S. News due to varying evaluation criteria. Niche incorporates student feedback as an integral part of its assessment alongside academic performance.
In terms of overall student performance, preliminary PSSA test data suggests that students in the School District of Philadelphia have improved their math scores by 9 percentage points over the past three years. However, the same data indicates a slight decline in reading scores. Statewide, reports show that only 25% of students in grades 3-8 scored proficient or advanced in math, suggesting room for improvement in the district’s performance.
Despite these improvements, the School District of Philadelphia is working diligently towards ambitious goals set by the Board of Education. These goals require over half of students to achieve proficient scores in math and English language arts by 2030. Notably, high school performance on the Keystone literature exam has seen a decline over the last two years. In response to challenges faced due to the pandemic, Philadelphia’s test score goals were adjusted to extend the deadline to 2030.
In an effort to support student learning and increase proficiency, the district has implemented a new math curriculum and is in the process of rolling out new curriculums for English language arts and science. Additionally, high-impact tutoring programs have been initiated to assist students struggling with foundational skills, particularly in the areas of English language arts and math. These efforts aim to bolster overall academic performance and address gaps in learning created by the impact of the pandemic.
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Additional Resources
- Axios: Best High Schools in Philadelphia
- Wikipedia: High School
- CBS News: Masterman School Rankings
- Google Search: High School Rankings in Pennsylvania
- Patch: Best Public High Schools in PA
- Google Scholar: High School Education Quality
- PhillyVoice: Philadelphia School District Test Scores
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Fox29: Pennsylvania High School Rankings
- Google News: Philadelphia School District
Author: STAFF HERE PHILADELPHIA WRITER
The PHILADELPHIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhiladelphia.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Mummers Parade, Philadelphia Flower Show, and Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Philadelphia, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, food services, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Comcast, Aramark, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Pennsylvania's dynamic landscape.
