Best high schools for sports in Pennsylvania
More than 7.6 million high school students played sports across the U.S. during the 2021-22 academic year, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. Those athletes participated in a slew of sports: from football—the most popular sport for high school boys with 1 million players nationwide—to track and field, which is the most popular sport amongst high school girls in the U.S. with more than 488,000 athletes.
The dynamic landscape of high school sports has created competition not only between athletes but the institutions they represent. With more than 23,500 public and private secondary and high schools across the country, determining the best options for athletes is an arduous process.
High schools across the country are vying to be crowned the best institution for athletes in America and not only has the battle become personal but regional as well. States like California and Florida, which have high-profile high-school athletic programs, also want bragging rights.
Young athletes will continue to thrive as sports return to pre-pandemic participation levels and high schools put in the work to be considered one of the best institutions in America for sports.
Stacker compiled a list of the best high schools for sports in Pennsylvania using data from Niche. These rankings factor in parent and student surveys on sports, total high school enrollment, K-12 sports championships, number of sports, and athletic participation rates.
#25. Villa Joseph Marie High School
- City: Holland
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Girls
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#24. Lancaster Catholic High School
- City: Lancaster
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#23. Downingtown High School West
- City: Downingtown
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#22. Conwell-Egan Catholic High School
- City: Fairless Hills
- Type: Private, Boarding, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: B
#21. Cumberland Valley High School
- City: Mechanicsburg
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#20. Spring-Ford Senior High School
- City: Royersford
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#19. Central Bucks High School - West
- City: Doylestown
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#18. Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School
- City: Wyomissing
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#17. Upper St. Clair High School
- City: Pittsburgh
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#16. Hickory High School
- City: Hermitage
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#15. Lower Merion High School
- City: Ardmore
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#14. Marple Newtown High School
- City: Newtown Square
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#13. Neumann Goretti High School
- City: Philadelphia
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#12. Shady Side Academy
- City: Pittsburgh
- Type: Private, Boarding
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#11. Holy Ghost Preparatory School
- City: Bensalem
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#10. Upper Dublin High School
- City: Fort Washington
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#9. Roman Catholic High School
- City: Philadelphia
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#8. Central Catholic High School
- City: Pittsburgh
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A
#7. Dallas Senior High School
- City: Dallas
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#5. Archbishop Wood High School
- City: Warminster
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: B
#4. Cathedral Preparatory School
- City: Erie
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#3. La Salle College High School
- City: Wyndmoor
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#2. North Allegheny High School
- City: Wexford
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#1. St. Joseph's Preparatory School
- City: Philadelphia
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A+
