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Move over, Stuyvesant—Queens just stole the crown. According to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College has officially been named the best high school in New York City, topping an ultra-competitive list that includes some of the city’s most legendary institutions.
Set on the York College campus in Jamaica, the selective public school landed No. 25 in the entire nation—not bad for a borough more often name-checked for dumplings in Flushing or Mets heartbreak in Citi Field. Queens High School has now held onto its top citywide spot two years running, proving it’s more than just a one-season wonder.
So what makes this school such a standout? For one, the stats are almost unbelievable: a 100-percent graduation rate, 100-percent Advanced Placement exam participation and a jaw-dropping 99-percent pass rate on at least one AP test. Nearly every student here is college-ready before they’ve even bought their prom outfit. Add to that state test proficiency scores north of 95-percent in math, reading and science, and it’s clear why the school has a near-perfect report card of its own.
The school also reflects the city it represents. With a 95-percent minority enrollment and two-thirds of its 498 students considered economically disadvantaged, Queens High School shows that elite results don’t have to come from elite zip codes. Instead, it’s a reminder that opportunity—and rigorous academics—can flourish in a public-school setting when the right resources and expectations are in place.
Of course, bragging rights are fierce in New York. Manhattan powerhouses like Stuyvesant High School (ranked No. 3 in the city) and the High School for Math, Science and Engineering at CCNY (No. 2) remain perennial heavyweights. Staten Island Technical High School, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech also cracked the city’s top 10. But for now, Queens is holding the trophy.
The rankings, based on nearly 18,000 schools across the U.S., weigh graduation rates, college readiness, state test scores and how well schools serve historically underserved populations. For the New York metro area, which had more than 1,000 schools make the list, Queens High School is the clear frontrunner.
So the next time someone tries to tell you the best schools are in Manhattan? Politely point them on the E train to Jamaica—because Queens is schooling the city.