Gilbert Classical Academy Named Top Public High School in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report

GILBERT, Ariz. (August 24, 2026) - Gilbert Classical Academy (GCA) is one of the top public high schools in the Nation and in Arizona, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report school rankings. Out of a total of 18,000 high schools ranked nationally, GCA was recognized as number 79 and earned the number 2 ranking among public high schools in Arizona. Serving students in grades 7 through 12, the school also achieved the third-highest middle school ranking statewide.

“We’re thrilled to have GCA recognized as a top 100 school in the nation. This ranking continues a long-standing history of academic excellence and a community-wide shared value system that truly celebrates inquiry, exploration, and student ownership over the lifelong journey of learning,” shared Elyse Tobert, Principal of Gilbert Classical Academy. “Our students, their families, our staff, and the Gilbert Public School District all work together to maximize potential, search for new ways to unlock student innovation, and ultimately produce at a top level. A ranking is not an endpoint, but it is a validation of our constant desire to be the best version of ourselves.”

The U.S. News & World Report evaluation measures key indicators of academic success, college readiness, and student achievement. To establish national and state rankings, schools received an overall percentile score between 0 and 100 (calculated to two decimal places) across six weighted metrics:

• College Readiness (30%): Measures the proportion of 12th-grade students who took and earned a qualifying score on at least one Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam.
• State Assessment Proficiency (20%): Based on aggregated scores on mandatory state assessments in math, science, and reading required for graduation.
• State Assessment Performance (20%): Evaluates performance on state assessments relative to expectations given the school's proportion of underserved students.
• Underserved Student Performance (10%): Assesses how Black, Hispanic, and low-income students performed on state assessments compared to non-underserved peers statewide.
• College Curriculum Breadth (10%): Measures the proportion of 12th-grade students earning qualifying scores on AP and/or IB exams across multiple content areas.
• Graduation Rate (10%): Tracks the proportion of students entering ninth grade in 2020–2021 who graduated four years later by 2024.

GCA scored 99.56 out of 100 to rank 79th in the nation. The school’s top 100 national rank stems from a perfect 100/100 College Readiness Index, marked by 100% of students both participating in and passing at least one Advanced Placement exam.

All ranking data is gathered independently from third-party sources, including AP/IB test results directly from the College Board and International Baccalaureate, state assessment data, and the U.S. Department of Education’s Common Core of Data.

In addition to GCA, Campo Verde High School (CVHS) also represented GPS in the U.S. World News & Report High School rankings released this week, placing 38th among high schools statewide.

To learn more about Gilbert Classical Academy, including academic programs available to students from grades 7- 12, visit GilbertClassicalAcademy.GilbertSchools.net.