The Top 10 High School in Philadelphia

Finding a great high school for your child to attend can be a daunting task. Not only are you looking for the best possible education and learning opportunities, but also a safe, supportive environment that is going to propel them through their future.

We’re here today to help you narrow down your search by introducing you ten of Philadelphia’s best high schools! Here’s what our experts have determined are the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to secondary education in Philadelphia—stay tuned for our exclusive list!

The Top 10 High Schools in Philadelphia

Central High School

Address: 1700 W Olney Ave 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19141, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.5 (117)
Phone: +1 215-400-3590
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

Central is a phenomenal school and I would definitely recommend it to people who are in search of a good high school. Although the syllabus can be challenging and the workload torturous, the school makes up for it with its various extracurricular activities, freedom for students, and great teachers. The schoolwork is very rigorous and be prepared for some late nights and early mornings (I’m talking to you, Mr. Two buses and a train).

I didn’t like the lack of air conditioning in the school and the lockers as all of them are sized differently. Also, the school is in a bad area but always travel with your friends and you’re good to go. The lunch periods are always fun as you are allowed to sit anywhere (as long as it is in the school). The students are also very welcoming and no, Freshman Friday isn’t as bad as it sounds.

Overall, it’s a great school and I recommend it to anyone who is willing to make some sacrifices for the sake of an amazing education. Go 276!

✭✭✭✭ By Joanne Maria Mathew (9 years ago)

Just because you are smart doesn’t guarantee that Central High School is the right fit for you. Unless you are prepared to apply yourself and take advantage of the great programs and faculty the school offers, you won’t see the value. There not a school in the US that graduates students that attend as many top tier schools in the US. Central High School will prepare you for life if you are willing to take the challenge.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Ken Wong (4 years ago)

The amount diversity and social opportunities in this school are amazing! But this school overrated. Some of the teachers (Mr. Copeland) in this school should hardly even be considered teachers, they have no effort in their “teaching” and the school ignores complaints about the teachers and blames the students for failing, it’s pathetic. And it amazes me that the school has such a high academic record when over half of the students are averaging C’s or failing at least one of their classes. I do not recommend this school to anyone who is okay with constant stress and anxiety over whether you’re pass the quarter or not.

✭✭ By Nicholas Fitz (6 years ago)

This is the only school where I have experienced genuine care from teachers. The key to meeting those teachers is taking higher level courses. Sometimes 2000 students may be overwhelming but benefits do outweigh the disadvantages of attending this school.

✭✭✭✭✭ By First Last (4 years ago)

Alrighty, kids, I’ll say this.

3 years almost at Central and it’s like eating one food every night.
You love it so much but after a while it’s bland.
(but depending on your mood you’ll either suddenly love your school or still feel the same when someone starts talking about it…)

But if you wanna try Central, just like previous reviews said, get ready for those late nights and sacrifices. There’s freedom but there’s pressure, too. Just remember to stay true to who you are and don’t be afraid of judgement. If you have questions, need help, anything, ask. And keep looking for someone who will help you because I’m telling you, this place gets cut throat sometimes. Do you, but don’t do anything that’s out-of-this-universe stupid.
Do what work you can but, don’t overwork yourself, health before anything.
Don’t let yourself lose your mind because of some social situation. Because that doesn’t feel good, either.
Do what you like to do. Live a little. But don’t rush into just anything, now. Don’t be afraid because a lot of others are, too.

And lastly, I’ll say this.
So you’re all straight A students looking for the top tier to continue getting those straight A’s.

Don’t count on it.
I believe any and all of you have the potential but sometimes things don’t go as planned.
Don’t let that destroy you.
A 91 is better than a 60, is it not?
There are some who’ve left because it got to them.
Don’t let it get to you.
Whatever you do and wherever you go, you’ll be awesome, even with not-so honor roll marks.

This was long and likely made no sense but this is coming from a Junior who knows the struggle is all too real.

But good luck with the schools and all. You’ll all make great new Lancers.

✭✭✭ By Arianna Bradley (6 years ago)

Northeast High School

Address: 1601 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.5 (85)
Phone: +1 215-728-5018
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:45 AM – 3:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:45 AM – 3:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:45 AM – 3:00 PM

Thursday: 7:45 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday: 7:45 AM – 3:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

Northeast High had its ups and downs. Speaking as a student from the Magnet program, I loved all the teachers and that I had. I feel my learning experience was equal to or even better than some other special admissions programs in the city. However, I didn’t have a great experience with the staff. It was very unpleasant having to wear the heavy uniform in the hot building, without exception. Rather than focusing on student comfort, they seemed more focused on uniform policy. Students organized a protest of certain changes to the uniform my senior year in the form of a walkout, and the staff immediately shut it down and threatened to ban students from extracurriculars, sports, and our graduation ceremony. Rather than allowing the students to express themselves, they slammed free speech and threatened students. This led fellow students to feel oppressed and dislike the school more. I disagree with how they run things, but hey, I was just a student myself. I did love the school and what they’ve done for me, the connections I’ve made, but it was sad to see students could not advocate for themselves as they’d like.

✭✭✭ By Nicholas Hart (4 years ago)

Horrible school, all they care about is uniforms and Ties, nothing about education, Thank God my daughter is graduating today, her experience has been the worst. She started there thinking she would be in AVID and every year they ignored her request every single time. She has suspensions for not wearing a tie, for holding her jacket on her arm and for checking the time on her phone smh like really people don’t the staff have better things to do like TEACH????. My daughter had substitutes all four years!!!
I recommend not sending your child her

✭ By Lyric Abrams (4 years ago)

Kinda ok but the uniform policy is a mess… you’ll get suspended for not wearing a tie.. The teacher is in the middle of teaching and they interrupt the classes just to remind you “be in full inform wear your ties… Or u gonna get suspended” its annoying

✭✭✭ By LOKI (5 years ago)

With some of the greatest teachers I’ve had retiring/ getting laid off, Northeast has lost a shell of it’s former glory. Northeast has a wonderful magnet program which has wonderful math and sciences classes. I also would encourage joining clubs at northeast . IT’s like a family with all the teamwork and dedicating you put into it and its passionate, regardless if you can or not do work you should join

✭✭✭ By Jimmy Loi (9 years ago)

The staff doesn’t care. The only time they care about something is when there’s a fight, which is every week. Ms. Denaples, stops people in the hallways if they don’t like the way they have their uniform worn. Even if it’s correct, she’ll stop you. She tells her students that “nobody is giving you to buy anything” (mostly ties) but before you know it, she charges a student for money they don’t have and expects them to pay for it. If you forget your tie in a locker and she stops you “you need to buy a new tie” no returns accepted. DISGRACE

✭ By Felipe Angiuli (5 years ago)

Philadelphia High School For Girls

Address: 1400 W Olney Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19141, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4 (63)
Phone: +1 215-276-5258
Website: Link
Reviews:

Hi, this school gave me depression, anxiety and self hate issues. It wasn’t so much of the other students but the school and it’s classes and staff. It taught me that no matter what I do I’ll never be good enough and introduced me to suicidal thoughts and some action. I am now graduated and take therapy to cope with the mental issues I’ve gained from this school. Of course this is just my experience.

But is an experience nonetheless.

✭ By Astalaga (2 years ago)

I’m a parent of an alumni of Girls High, my daughter’s first year was not great, we’re th asking about a straight Answer student who was in the mentally gifted program from first grade to girls high, who tested out of Spanish 1 into Spanish 2 when entering Girls High. She did horrible in her first year, and had to go to summer school, I was like what are you do in Nguyen? Not the teachers because I knew my daughters potential, I therefore suggested to her that if she felt pressured, overwhelmed, and felt like she could not keep up, it’s okay to say Mom, I think I want to go to an oh there school. However, the vice principal at the time was rude, arrogant and down right just for herself, she didn’t care, her response was maybe she needs to move on. Any who, her counselor was awesome and it was ironic that she was my counselor when I was in Jr high school, she was encouraging and very helpful, you see I’m a parent who put the responsibility on my 16 year old, Girls High is a school for strong independent young lad I especially who knows what they want in life and don’t need anyone holding their hands. Anyways, I can go on and on but I won’t, I will say this, my daughter said to me and her counselor, “l don’t just quit like that, I will graduate from Girls High”, and she did by 11th grade her grades improved she was always in school on time, it was because of the challenges, my daughter was a loner, not friends, mostly to herself. She went on to Delaware County Community College, where she encountered her finstead prejudice instructor who accused her of plagiarism, because her writing skills, thanks to Girls High was Phenomenal, but because of anew Instructor she had prior to this Ass whole, he stated to her She’s a Girls high graduate and I gad her last semester and her writing skills are amazing! The department head allowed her to withdraw from this woman’s class and take the class over, because she threatened to fail her if she attempt to withdraw. Anywho I wrote all of this to say that parents you should hold your girls to a high expetition, and yes it is their responsibility to attend class everyday and complete their assignments, if they can’t handle this then Girls High is not the school for them, move on! My daughter finished Delaware County Community College with a 3.5 GPA was awarded many scholarships to attend several universities Widener, University of Michigan, and several others. She chose University of Maryland, graduated and went on to Morgan state University for her Masters before moving to New Mexico. So yes, every where you are people knows about Girls high, Central and Master man, and many of the graduates do extremely well! Good luck to those of you who stayed strong and hung in there, parents must be involved and put responsibility on your children. By the way for the record Dr. Moore was a great Principal, that’s why I never had to worry about my chills safety and due had an open door policy, I was always there, the office knew me by name and who my daughter was on a good note, but it wasn’t always great we had a few stumbling blocks, but we both were persistent!

✭✭✭✭✭ By CRYSTAL Light (6 years ago)

I love this school. You will always make what you want out of any school period. Their dance program is my favorite part. Being out of this school for 2 years now I’ve realized that graduating from this school you step into a real-life sisterhood. No matter where I go I bump into a GHS alum and they all are awesome, they’ve given me all types of oppurtunities and help with my life journey so far. Very proud to have gone here.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Yahne’ Jackson (6 years ago)

It’s a pretty nice school. You can make friends easily as a freshman. You’ll graduate with them. In that school failure isn’t tolerated. And you should keep up your grades like most of the girls do. The traditions are annoying sometimes, but you learn to respect them and your high school.

✭✭✭✭ By Angel (5 years ago)

I am a graduate of GHS (214), my sister was a graduate of GHS (210) and my mother was a graduate of GHS (Jun 1941). Girls High is a school steeped in tradition; however, it is also not a school meant for those who are unwilling to do the work and it is not a school where you can slide by. Competition and comradeship went hand in hand. A large majority of the graduates will go on to receive degrees in higher education and many will receive masters and PhD’s. Many of the graduates are women who are on the Whose Who of America and others will simply become the best person that they can be. It is not a school for the weak hearted, the lazy or those who make excuses for their own failures by placing the responsibility for their failure on others. The women who graduate from Girls High will form bonds that will exist for DECADES…..and these are strong and true bonds. I had the option of going to another high school because I lived outside of Philadelphia; however, I was grandmothered (because my mother was a graduate I was able to attend) This meant my parents paid tuition for my attendance and I was required to take an entrance exam for admission. I also had an hour and half commute to and from every school day. This school is designed for college preparatory and excellence is expected. Student are taught to think critically. The students, the teachers and administrative staff all have high expectations. The motto of the school is ‎Vincit Qui Se Vincit which for a Girls High girl translate to She conquers who conquers herself…..maybe Nonis Patrois should have taken to heart what Principal Moore was saying….perhaps the problem was not the school or the principal but the student who was not prepared for the challenges that Girls High presented. This is not an easy school but it is well worth the effort. It prepared me for the army, for nursing school and for being a wife and finally a mother of a disabled child. Life is not easy and the job of a school and a parent is to prepare our children for life. I hope your daughter found her way whether it was in Girls High or somewhere else.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Mary JosephAlvarado (6 years ago)

Strawberry Mansion High School

Address: 3133 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19132, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 2.4 (63)
Phone: +1 215-400-7500
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: Open 24 hours

Tuesday: Open 24 hours

Wednesday: Open 24 hours

Thursday: Open 24 hours

Friday: Open 24 hours

Saturday: Open 24 hours

Sunday: Open 24 hours
Reviews:

This school not as bad as people think, I went here last year because i wanted to see what everyone was afraid of. Yea there were like 3 fights but all schools have fights, this school cool fr ,the principal strict but she can be cool if you don’t cause no trouble. Going back to this school this year , class of 2017 🎓

✭✭✭✭ By Brandon Copeland (6 years ago)

OK now this is what I call a good school, unlike the last two schools, this is what I’m looking for.
Teachers are amazing and I like the feeling of getting smacked by a ruler.
The workload is fair, like we dont have any homework or not that I know of.
People get shot up everyday and get rushed to the hospital.

TAKE YOUR KIDS HERE ASAP

jk please dont if you think I’m serious.
Save them

✭✭✭✭✭ By null (4 years ago)

Do NOT let your child attend this horrid school if you care even slightly for them. The English dictionary lacks the words powerful enough to describe the magnitude at which my dismay for the school has reached over my 2 year experience here. You’d have a better chance sending your kids to KENSINGTON, and that’s another horrid school. Strawberry Mansion’s quality is equivalent to that of a prison’s. Please, I urge you with every bone, nerve, and muscle in my body to not send your child here. It will be the worst experience of their lives.

✭ By Ty (6 years ago)

The school os ok but some kids get mad really fast and wanna fight you,once i saw a kid that had a knife in his bookbag and brass knuckles. And one time a kid spit on a teacher because he got detention for having his hood on and using his cellphone.

✭✭✭✭ By Tanialinda Luzuriaga (6 years ago)

Best school ever. ur child will love it here, believe me. Btw, the school has tons of strawberries for kids to pick on their way to their classes. This school is so lit, plz come here.

✭ By death himself (5 years ago)

Lincoln High School

Address: 3201 Ryan Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19136, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.3 (56)
Phone: +1 215-335-5653
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 7:34 AM – 2:34 PM

Tuesday: 7:34 AM – 2:34 PM

Wednesday: 7:34 AM – 2:34 PM

Thursday: 7:34 AM – 2:34 PM

Friday: 7:34 AM – 2:34 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

A lot of students are out of control but I don’t blame the school I blame the parents. I have had a few issues which had me up at the school but I have to say, I have always been very pleased with the way things were handled. I get results whenever I go up to Lincoln & most of the staff is actually very polite. I also just found out a lot of what Lincoln has to offer it’s students & I was very impressed.

✭✭✭ By Miltreda Kress (5 years ago)

Abraham Lincoln High School has gotten a lot better they’re getting a lot of the bad kids out I go and pick up my son and drop him off every single day and I see a big difference it’s becoming a really wonderful School and I it stays this way. hope it stays this way. 🙂

✭✭✭✭✭ By mimi G (5 years ago)

Tbh this school isn’t bad but it isn’t the best, imo there are other school that are 10x worst then Lincoln would recommend over Samuel fels

✭✭✭ By Kami (4 years ago)

This school nearly ruined my life and drove me into a downward spiral. I don’t recommend this school one bit.

✭ By DanielMaierMusic (8 years ago)

The school has a great math currlicum and the staff are polite over all a great school.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Robert Pereira (5 years ago)

Academy At Palumbo

Address: 1100 Catharine St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.4 (48)

Samuel Fels High School

Address: 5500 Langdon St, Philadelphia, PA 19124, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.6 (39)

Martin Luther King High School

Address: 6100 Stenton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19138, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.3 (36)

Frankford High School

Address: 5000 Oxford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19124, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3.5 (33)

South Philadelphia High School

Address: 2101 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 3 (32)

Thank you for reading! We hope this list helps you find the best high schools in Philadelphia. If you have any additional information, please leave a comment below!