Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Wissahickon and Germantown Academy all placed in the top 25 of Niche's 2027 Pennsylvania school rankings.
Plymouth-Whitemarsh Senior High School ranked No. 15 and Wissahickon Senior High School ranked No. 20 among the best public high schools in the state, a list of 1,194 schools, as first reported by Patch. Germantown Academy, the Fort Washington private school, came in at No. 21 on the best private high schools list. Niche released the rankings Monday, Sept. 28.
Niche draws on federal and state data, school statistics and more than 3 million reviews from students, parents and teachers. Academics carry the heaviest weight at 60 percent of a school's score, according to Niche's methodology page. That grade factors in state assessment proficiency, college enrollment data and survey responses.
Culture and diversity accounts for 12.5 percent, parent and student surveys on overall experience for 10 percent, and teachers for 10 percent. Clubs and activities, resources and facilities, and sports each account for 2.5 percent.
How each school scored
Plymouth-Whitemarsh earned an A+ in both teachers and administration, an A in academics, and a B+ in college prep and diversity, according to its Niche profile. The school offers honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, along with Montco Tech career-focused programs.
Students, parents and teachers gave it a 4.05 out of 5 rating based on 411 reviews.
Wissahickon posted an A in academics, diversity, teachers and college prep, and an A- in administration, according to its Niche profile. The profile notes a nationally ranked robotics team and a wide range of honors and AP courses. Reviewers rated it 3.89 out of 5 from 291 reviews.
Germantown Academy topped both public schools in academics and college prep with A+ grades in each, plus an A+ in clubs and activities, according to its Niche profile. The school requires students to participate in at least two seasons of sports or arts activities. Reviewers rated it 4.42 out of 5 from 109 reviews.
Statewide picture
Conestoga, in the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District, topped the public high school list. The Hill School ranked first among private high schools.
Niche analyzed 93,000 public schools, 30,000 private schools and 11,000 school districts nationwide for the 2027 edition. Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, said in a news release that the updated rankings give families "more ways to find the right fit, with updates designed to help them find schools where their children will thrive."
The 2027 edition also separated public and private lists for categories including best schools for the arts, most diverse schools and best college prep schools.
