SAN DIEGO, CA — Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is proud to announce exceptional results in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings and the newly released 2026 Niche rankings. The data highlights PUSD’s continued commitment to academic excellence, student support, and college readiness across all grade levels.
U.S. News & World Report: Four PUSD High Schools Rank Among Best in San Diego, California, and the Nation
This year’s U.S. News rankings evaluated more than 24,000 public high schools nationwide, and PUSD’s four comprehensive high schools once again demonstrated just how competitive and high-performing they are. Del Norte and Westview led the way, securing spots among the top schools in both San Diego and California, with national placements that put them in the top tier of high schools across the country. Rancho Bernardo and Mt. Carmel also earned strong rankings, landing solidly within the region’s top ten and performing well above state and national averages.
These rankings reflect strong performance across key measures including college readiness, AP/IB exam participation, state assessment proficiency, underserved student performance, and graduation rates.
2026 Niche Rankings: PUSD Receives an Overall Grade of A+
PUSD earned an overall A+ grade from Niche, placing it firmly among the top school districts in California and across the nation. The district ranked #21 out of 466 in California, #2 out of 58 in the San Diego region, and an impressive #115 out of more than 10,000 districts nationwide. Academic performance also remained a standout and PUSD’s four-year graduation rate is holding strong at 93%.
Across PUSD’s 40 schools:
- All seven high schools earned A- or higher in the Niche rankings.
- All seven middle schools earned A or B+, placing them consistently in the top 20% statewide.
- Many of PUSD’s 25 elementary schools rank in the top 10% in California, with several earning A+ and securing top spots in the San Diego region.