There is plenty to celebrate across the BASIS Charter Schools community — and BASIS Oro Valley has earned a particularly big moment in the spotlight.
In the newly released U.S. News & World Report 2026–27 Best High Schools rankings, BASIS Charter Schools once again earned some of the strongest results in the country, with campuses in Arizona, Texas and Washington, D.C., recognized among the nation’s leading public, charter and STEM high schools.
Across the network, 12 BASIS Charter Schools campuses ranked among America’s top 100 public high schools. BASIS campuses also claimed five of the nation’s top 10 STEM rankings and seven of the top 10 spots among charter high schools.
For our students, families and educators, those numbers represent something much bigger: years of curiosity, persistence, ambitious learning, and a willingness to take on challenges together.
“These results are another independent validation of what is possible when schools challenge students to think deeply and aim high to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Craig R. Barrett, chairman of the board of BASIS Charter Schools. “BASIS Charter Schools is committed to developing knowledgeable, capable, and resilient young people who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to an increasingly complex and interconnected world. We are incredibly proud of the students and educators whose dedication made this recognition possible.”
Arizona campuses lead the way
Arizona BASIS Charter Schools delivered an extraordinary showing this year.
BASIS Oro Valley earned the #1 ranking among all public high schools in Arizona and #15 nationally. BASIS Goodyear followed at #2 in Arizona and #16 nationally, while BASIS Prescott ranked No. 3 in the state and No. 29 in the country.
BASIS Chandler, BASIS Mesa, BASIS Scottsdale, BASIS Flagstaff, BASIS Tucson North, BASIS Ahwatukee, BASIS Peoria and BASIS Phoenix also earned places among Arizona’s top 12 public high schools.
Several campuses led their local communities as well:
- BASIS Oro Valley: #1 in the Tucson metro area
- BASIS Goodyear: #1 in the Phoenix metro area
- BASIS Prescott: #1 in the Prescott Valley metro area
- BASIS Flagstaff: #1 in the Flagstaff metro area
Arizona campuses were equally impressive in specialized rankings, earning five of the top 10 spots nationally for STEM education and seven of the top 10 spots among charter high schools.
In Texas, BASIS San Antonio – Shavano ranked #57 nationally, #8 among Texas public high schools and #1 in the San Antonio metro area. The campus also earned the #13 national charter school ranking and #21 among STEM high schools.
In Washington, BASIS Washington, D.C., ranked #2 among public high schools in the District, #8 in the greater D.C. metro area and #192 nationally. It also ranked No. 45 among charter high schools nationwide.
Together, these results reflect the strength of BASIS communities across very cities and states — all united by high expectations, talented educators, and students eager to discover just how much they can accomplish.
A milestone worth celebrating at BASIS Oro Valley
For the BASIS Oro Valley community, this year’s rankings bring an especially exciting distinction.
In addition to being named Arizona’s #1 public high school, BASIS Oro Valley ranked:
- #15 among public high schools nationwide
- #1 in the Tucson metro area
- #2 among charter high schools nationally
- #16 among STEM high schools nationally
For Head of School Leigh Preuss, the recognition belongs to the entire school community.
“Being named the #1 public high school in Arizona is an incredible honor, but what makes me proudest is knowing what sits behind that ranking,” Preuss said. “It is our students arriving each day ready to be challenged, our teachers bringing extraordinary knowledge and energy to their classrooms, and our families supporting their children through every challenge and achievement along the way. This recognition belongs to all of them. At BASIS Oro Valley, our students continually show us what can happen when curiosity, hard work and a community that believes in them all come together.”
More Than a Ranking
U.S. News evaluates public high schools using measures including college readiness, college curriculum breadth, state assessment performance and proficiency, outcomes among underserved students, and graduation rates.
For its 2026–27 rankings, U.S. News evaluated 17,945 public high schools using data from the 2023–24 academic year.
The best part of rankings season is getting the opportunity to celebrate the people behind the numbers — the student who kept working until a difficult concept finally clicked, the teacher who made an intimidating subject fascinating, the classmate who offered encouragement and the family cheering from the sidelines.
The best part of rankings season is getting the opportunity to celebrate the people behind the numbers — the student who kept working until a difficult concept finally clicked, the teacher who made an intimidating subject fascinating, the classmate who offered encouragement and the family cheering from the sidelines.
To our students, teachers, families and school leaders across Arizona, Texas and Washington, D.C.: Congratulations. You gave us a lot to celebrate this year.
And to the BASIS Oro Valley community: Enjoy being #1 in Arizona. You earned it.
Want to celebrate even more incredible achievements from across the BASIS Charter Schools community? Visit our news page for the latest stories highlighting our students, educators, alumni and schools — and see what BASIS communities are accomplishing in classrooms and beyond.
