Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Top 10 Public High Schools in Wyoming
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO SyndicateDirect Answer
The best public high school in Wyoming is Jackson Hole High School in Teton County, our π BEST OVERALL pick for its strong proficiency, deep dual-enrollment and AP access, and outcomes powered by one of the most affluent and education-focused communities in the state. For families who want comparable academics in a larger, more accessible district, Cheyenne East High School is our π BEST VALUE choice, anchoring the capital city's strongest public school with broad advanced coursework.
This ranking weighs proficiency, AP and dual-credit access, graduation outcomes, and the distinctive programs that make each school worth choosing. Every school below is a real, currently operating Wyoming 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 Wyoming Department of Education accountability data and WY-TOPP state assessment results in reading and mathematics. College and career readiness followed, measured through AP participation, dual and concurrent enrollment partnerships with Wyoming community colleges and the University of Wyoming, and four-year graduation rates that show whether a school carries students all the way to a diploma.
We then layered in program depth β STEM, career and technical education, agriculture, arts, and concurrent-enrollment academies β because a strong school offers more than test scores. In a rural state, the breadth of advanced coursework varies widely between large city schools and small-town campuses, and families deserve to know which schools genuinely stretch high achievers.
Finally we considered community and access, favoring schools that deliver strong outcomes to a broad student body rather than relying on a narrow advantaged group.
A note on geography: Wyoming is the least populous state, so its strongest publics concentrate in its few cities β Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Sheridan, and Gillette β plus the unusually well-resourced resort community of Jackson. That distribution is real and it shapes this list.
Many districts partner closely with the state's community colleges, so concurrent-enrollment access became a genuine ranking factor rather than an afterthought.
1. Jackson Hole High School π BEST OVERALL
In Teton County, the wealthiest county in Wyoming, Jackson Hole High School pairs strong proficiency with deep advanced coursework and a community that prioritizes education. Students access a broad AP slate, concurrent enrollment through Central Wyoming College, and strong outdoor and environmental-science programs that reflect the Jackson area.
The school posts graduation rates above the state average and sends graduates to the University of Wyoming and selective out-of-state universities. Strong funding, engaged families, and broad opportunity earn it the overall crown.
2. Cheyenne East High School π BEST VALUE
In the state capital, Cheyenne East is the strongest public high school in Laramie County School District 1 and one of the best in Wyoming. It offers an extensive AP catalog, concurrent enrollment through Laramie County Community College, and strong athletics and activities.
As a large city school serving a broad cross-section of Cheyenne, East delivers high-quality academics and advanced access to a wide student body at no premium, earning our best-value pick. Its size powers a deep course catalog rarely available in smaller Wyoming towns.
3. Laramie High School
In the university town of Laramie, Laramie High School benefits from its proximity to the University of Wyoming, the state's flagship and only four-year public university. Students access strong concurrent-enrollment options, a broad AP slate, and academic culture enriched by the university community.
The school posts solid proficiency and graduation numbers and sends a strong share of graduates directly to UW. Its college-town setting and academic seriousness make it a standout among Wyoming publics.
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4. Kelly Walsh High School
In Casper, the state's second-largest city, Kelly Walsh High School serves a large student body in Natrona County with a broad AP and career-technical catalog. The school offers concurrent enrollment through Casper College, strong STEM and trades programs, and competitive athletics.
Its size supports an unusually deep slate of electives and advanced courses for Wyoming, and its connection to Casper College gives students real dual-credit access. Kelly Walsh is one of central Wyoming's strongest comprehensive high schools.
5. Natrona County High School
Also in Casper, the historic Natrona County High School ("NC") combines a long tradition with strong academics and a respected concurrent-enrollment partnership with Casper College. The school offers a broad AP catalog, strong arts and music programs, and a wide range of activities.
Its established academic culture and downtown Casper setting make it a strong companion to Kelly Walsh, giving families in Natrona County two solid comprehensive options with deep advanced coursework.
6. Sheridan High School
In northern Wyoming's Sheridan, Sheridan High School is known for strong academics, robust career-technical education, and concurrent enrollment through Sheridan College. The school posts solid proficiency and graduation rates and offers a broad slate of AP and advanced courses for a city its size.
Sheridan's strong community support, engaged families, and college partnership make it one of the top public high schools in the northern part of the state.
7. Star Valley High School
In Afton in western Wyoming's Star Valley, Star Valley High School is known for strong academics, a deep agriculture and FFA tradition, and excellent graduation rates. The school combines rigorous coursework with strong career-technical and concurrent-enrollment options, and its tight-knit rural community drives high student engagement.
Star Valley consistently outperforms expectations for a rural school, blending college preparation with practical career pathways that fit its agricultural region.
8. Cody High School
In the gateway town of Cody near Yellowstone, Cody High School in Park County posts strong proficiency and graduation numbers and offers a solid AP and concurrent-enrollment catalog through Northwest College. The school is known for strong athletics, music, and a supportive community.
Its blend of academic strength, career-technical options, and a scenic, engaged community makes Cody one of the better public high schools in northwestern Wyoming.
9. Cheyenne Central High School
The other strong public high school in Cheyenne's Laramie County School District 1, Central High School offers a broad AP catalog, concurrent enrollment through Laramie County Community College, and strong activities. As the historic flagship of the capital city, Central combines academic depth with a wide range of programs and serves a diverse cross-section of Cheyenne.
Together with Cheyenne East, it gives capital-city families two strong comprehensive high schools with deep advanced access.
10. Gillette / Campbell County High School
In the energy-rich Gillette area, Campbell County High School serves a large student body with strong career-technical education aligned to the region's mining and energy economy, plus a broad AP and concurrent-enrollment catalog through Gillette College. The school's well-funded facilities, strong trades programs, and solid college-prep options give students an unusually wide range of pathways.
Its blend of academic and technical strength rounds out this list of Wyoming's top public high schools.
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 and concurrent-enrollment options before you commit.
Honorable Mentions
A few Wyoming publics narrowly missed the top ten but deserve a look. Thunder Basin High School in Gillette is a newer, well-equipped companion to Campbell County High, while Rock Springs High School and Green River High School serve the southwest's mining communities with strong career-technical programs.
Powell High School near Cody and Lander Valley High School in Fremont County post solid outcomes, and Riverton High School anchors central Wyoming. Families using open enrollment or weighing a move should keep these on their shortlist, since district boundaries and concurrent-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 Wyoming? Jackson Hole High School in Teton County is our top pick, thanks to its strong proficiency, deep AP and concurrent-enrollment access, and a well-resourced, education-focused community.
Which Wyoming public high school is the best value? Cheyenne East High School in the capital offers a broad AP catalog and concurrent enrollment through Laramie County Community College to a wide student body, making it our best-value choice.
Do Wyoming high schools offer dual or concurrent enrollment? Yes. Most strong Wyoming high schools partner closely with the state's community colleges and the University of Wyoming, letting students earn college credit through concurrent enrollment while still in high school.
How were these schools ranked? We used Wyoming Department of Education accountability and WY-TOPP proficiency data, AP and concurrent-enrollment access, and four-year graduation rates, then weighed program depth and student access.
Where do most top Wyoming graduates go to college? Many enroll at the University of Wyoming, the state's flagship and only four-year public university, often after earning concurrent-enrollment credit, while top students also attend selective out-of-state schools.
Which schools are strongest for career and technical education? Campbell County High School in Gillette and Star Valley High School stand out for career-technical and agriculture programs aligned to their regional economies.
Bottom Line
Wyoming's strongest public high schools cluster in its few cities and the well-resourced Jackson community, where solid proficiency, deep concurrent-enrollment access, and strong graduation rates come together. Jackson Hole High School leads on overall strength, while Cheyenne East delivers comparable academics at the best value.
Whether you prioritize university-town academics at Laramie, Casper-area depth at Kelly Walsh, or career-technical strength at Campbell County, any school on this list represents the top tier of Wyoming public education. Confirm boundaries, explore concurrent enrollment, visit in person, and match each school's strengths to your student.