Several high schools in north-central Arkansas and southern Missouri have ranked among the best in their respective states, according to the newly released 2026-27 Best High School Rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings evaluate schools based on student performance across several key metrics, including proficiency in math, reading, and science, as well as graduation rates.
Out of 339 public high schools in Arkansas, Valley Springs High School led the local region at number 11 statewide, with Cotter High School close behind at 17. Other area schools making the top 50 in Arkansas include Melbourne High School at 26 and Harrison High School at 45. Schools in Marshall (52), Mountain View (74), and Mountain Home Career Academies (86) also earned notable rankings.
In southern Missouri, Gainesville High School and Branson High School both ranked in the top 100, at 77 and 83, respectively, among 726 public schools in that state. Other Missouri schools in the area include Forsyth at 107, Ava at 165, and West Plains at 186.
The rankings are based on a weighted assessment of six metrics, including state assessment proficiency and performance (40% combined), college readiness (30%), graduation rates (10%), underserved student performance (10%), and the breadth of college-level curriculum (10%). All schools were assessed using 2023-2024 state assessment data. Schools without a 12th grade or with small enrollments of fewer than 15 seniors were not ranked.
According to U.S. News & World Report, the schools demonstrating the strongest outcomes performed beyond expectations relative to state assessments, achieved high graduation rates, and posted qualifying scores on college-level exams. Schools are assigned a percentile score from zero to 100, with those falling below the 25th percentile displayed only within their ranking range.
Other Arkansas schools in the region include Berman (75), Rural Special (95), Mammoth Spring (97), Yellville-Summit (105), Norfork (126), Salem (129), Alpena (133), Deer (159), Flippin (169), Ozark Mountain (171), Calico Rock (178), Izard County (213), Jasper (219), and Guy-Berry College and Career Academy, Lead Hill, Mount Judea, Omaha, and Viola, which ranked between 241 and 278. Timbo High School was unranked.
In Missouri, additional ranked schools include Willow Springs (204), Bradleyville (208), Hollister (214), Bakersfield (221), and Liberty in Mountain View-Birch Tree (253), while Dora and Lutie were listed as unranked.
No private high schools were included in the rankings due to limitations in publicly available data. More information about the rankings, including full details for Arkansas and Missouri, is available on the U.S. News & World Report website.