Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Top 10 Public High Schools in Vermont
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO SyndicateDirect Answer
The best public high school in Vermont is Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, our π BEST OVERALL pick for its top-of-state proficiency, deep advanced coursework, and outcomes that send graduates to selective colleges from one of the strongest districts in New England's smallest school systems.
For families who want comparable academics in the state's largest, most diverse city, Burlington High School is our π BEST VALUE choice, anchoring a vibrant public district with broad programming and dual-enrollment access.
This ranking weighs proficiency, advanced and dual-enrollment access, graduation outcomes, and the distinctive programs that make each school worth choosing. Every school below is a real, currently operating Vermont public high school, and every description reflects what that school is genuinely known for.
How We Ranked These
We built this list around four measures that families and educators actually care about. Academic proficiency came first, drawing on Vermont Agency of Education accountability data and state assessment results in reading and mathematics. College and career readiness followed, measured through Advanced Placement participation, dual enrollment and early-college partnerships with the Community College of Vermont, University of Vermont, and Vermont State University, and four-year graduation rates that show whether a school carries students to a diploma.
We then layered in program depth β STEM, arts, career and technical education, and Vermont's distinctive proficiency-based learning and personalized-pathway models β because a strong school offers more than test scores. Vermont blends comprehensive high schools with historic town academies that serve as public high schools through tuitioning, so we accounted for both.
Finally we considered community and access, favoring schools that deliver strong outcomes to a broad student body rather than a narrow advantaged group.
A note on geography: Vermont is one of the least populous states, so its strongest publics concentrate around Chittenden County and the Burlington metro, with strong schools in Montpelier, Hartford, Essex, and the historic academy towns. That distribution is real and it shapes this list.
Vermont's town-tuitioning system and dual-enrollment vouchers expand access across district lines, which is why we treated access as a genuine ranking factor.
1. Champlain Valley Union High School π BEST OVERALL
Serving the affluent communities of Hinesburg, Shelburne, Williston, St. George, and Charlotte in Chittenden County, Champlain Valley Union ("CVU") is consistently the top-performing public high school in Vermont. It pairs elite proficiency with a deep slate of AP and advanced courses, strong arts and athletics, and a personalized, advisory-based culture.
CVU's graduates head to selective colleges at high rates, and its well-funded, education-focused community drives strong outcomes. Top-of-state academics plus broad opportunity earn it the overall crown.
2. Burlington High School π BEST VALUE
In Vermont's largest and most diverse city, Burlington High School anchors a vibrant public district with a broad academic catalog, strong arts and music, and significant dual-enrollment access through nearby UVM and the Community College of Vermont. The school serves a remarkably diverse student body, including a large refugee and immigrant population, and offers robust support and a wide range of programs.
As a comprehensive city school delivering broad opportunity to all, Burlington is our best-value pick.
3. South Burlington High School
Just south of Burlington, South Burlington High School is one of the strongest public schools in Chittenden County, known for solid proficiency, a broad AP catalog, and strong STEM and arts programs. The school benefits from a well-resourced suburban district and close proximity to UVM, supporting strong dual-enrollment access.
Its diverse, engaged community and broad programming make it a consistent high performer and a strong companion to CVU in the Burlington metro.
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4. Essex High School
In Essex in Chittenden County, Essex High School is one of the largest high schools in Vermont, serving a broad student body with an unusually deep course catalog, strong AP and career-technical offerings, and a well-regarded technical center on campus. Its size powers a wide range of academic and vocational pathways rarely available in smaller Vermont schools.
Essex's combination of academic strength and robust career-technical education makes it a standout in the Burlington metro.
5. Montpelier High School
In the nation's smallest state capital, Montpelier High School is known for strong academics, a close community, and a progressive, project-based culture. The school offers solid AP and dual-enrollment options and benefits from an engaged, education-focused community in the capital region.
Montpelier's small size fosters close teacher-student relationships and individualized learning, and its graduates regularly head to selective colleges, making it one of the strongest small public high schools in the state.
6. Hartford High School
In White River Junction in the Upper Valley near Dartmouth, Hartford High School posts strong proficiency and offers a broad academic catalog enriched by proximity to the Dartmouth-Hanover region. The school provides solid AP and dual-enrollment access and strong career-technical programs through its regional technical center.
Its location in an education-rich corner of the state and its broad programming make Hartford one of the top public high schools in eastern Vermont.
7. U-32 Middle and High School
Serving the towns around Montpelier from East Montpelier, U-32 is a union school known for a strong academic culture, robust arts, and a personalized, advisory-based approach. The school offers solid AP and dual-enrollment options and benefits from an engaged community in the capital region.
U-32's emphasis on student voice, project-based learning, and close mentorship has built a strong reputation, and its graduates regularly enroll at selective colleges.
8. Harwood Union High School
In the Mad River Valley town of Moretown, Harwood Union High School serves a cluster of Washington County towns and is known for strong academics, outdoor and environmental programs, and a close community. The school offers solid AP and dual-enrollment access and a distinctive culture shaped by its scenic valley setting.
Harwood's academic strength, engaged families, and emphasis on personalized learning make it one of the better public high schools in central Vermont.
9. Middlebury Union High School
In the college town of Middlebury, home to Middlebury College, Middlebury Union High School benefits from an education-rich community and offers strong academics, solid AP and dual-enrollment options, and robust arts programs. The school posts strong proficiency and graduation numbers and serves the surrounding Addison County towns.
Its college-town setting and academic seriousness make it a standout public high school in western Vermont.
10. St. Johnsbury Academy
A historic town academy serving as the public high school for St. Johnsbury and surrounding Northeast Kingdom towns through tuitioning, St. Johnsbury Academy offers an unusually broad catalog, strong AP and dual-enrollment programs, and extensive arts, athletics, and career-technical options.
Though independently governed, it functions as the public high school for many local students at public expense. Its scale, program depth, and long tradition make it a cornerstone of education in northeastern Vermont and round out this list.
Matching a School to Your Student
The "best" school is the one that fits your student's priorities. Use the guide below to narrow this list to the two or three schools worth a visit, then confirm district boundaries, town-tuitioning eligibility, and dual-enrollment options before you commit.
Honorable Mentions
A few Vermont publics narrowly missed the top ten but deserve a look. Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho is a strong Chittenden County school, while Colchester High School and Milton High School serve the Burlington metro's northern suburbs. Rutland High School anchors the state's southwest, and Brattleboro Union High School serves the southeast well.
Among historic academies, Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester and Thetford Academy function as public high schools through tuitioning and offer strong programs. Families using town tuitioning or school choice should keep these on their shortlist, since eligibility and dual-enrollment options shift year to year and a strong honorable-mention school may be a better practical fit than a top-ten school across the state.
FAQ
What is the best public high school in Vermont? Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg is our top pick, thanks to its top-of-state proficiency, deep AP catalog, and strong college outcomes from a well-resourced district.
Which Vermont public high school is the best value? Burlington High School anchors the state's largest, most diverse city with broad programming and dual-enrollment access, delivering strong opportunity to all students, making it our best-value choice.
What are Vermont's town academies? Vermont has historic independent academies β such as St. Johnsbury Academy and Burr and Burton Academy β that serve as the public high school for towns without their own, with tuition paid by the sending town through town tuitioning.
How were these schools ranked? We used Vermont Agency of Education accountability and state assessment data, AP and dual-enrollment access, and four-year graduation rates, then weighed program depth and student access.
Do Vermont high schools offer dual enrollment? Yes. Vermont provides dual-enrollment vouchers that let high-school students take college courses through the Community College of Vermont, UVM, and Vermont State University at no cost.
Which schools have the strongest career and technical education? Essex High School and Hartford High School stand out for their on-campus or affiliated technical centers, offering broad career-technical pathways alongside academics.
Bottom Line
Vermont's strongest public high schools cluster around Chittenden County and the Burlington metro, with strong schools in the capital region and historic academy towns. Champlain Valley Union leads on overall strength, while Burlington High School delivers broad opportunity at the best value.
Whether you prioritize a technical center at Essex, a small personalized culture at Montpelier or U-32, or a college-town community at Middlebury, any school on this list represents the top tier of Vermont public education. Confirm boundaries, explore town tuitioning and dual enrollment, visit in person, and match each school's strengths to your student.