August 21, 2026
The 2026–27 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings were recently released, placing Chagrin Falls High School approximately in the top 1% nationally at #200 out of nearly 18,000 ranked high schools, #3 in Ohio out of 741 schools and #1 in the Cleveland area.
U.S. News ranks schools using six factors based on state assessment performance and measures of college preparation. The 2026-27 rankings are based on data from the 2023-24 school year. That lag is normal, but it means every ranking is a look in the rearview mirror. Our greatest priority remains the growth and experience of the students in our classrooms today.
Still, this recognition gives us an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the growth of our students and staff. We are incredibly proud of our students, teachers and families for their hard work. Last year, Chagrin Falls was ranked #664 nationally and #23 in Ohio. The movement reflected in this year’s ranking did not happen because of one program or one year. It reflects years of thoughtful work to strengthen the high school experience.
It is worth noting that during the 2023–24 school year, the high school moved to an eight period schedule, introduced Tiger Advisory three times each week and joined a personalized learning network that provided teachers with additional resources to engage students more deeply in their learning. During the same period, our mean AP exam score increased from 3.38 in spring 2023 to 3.73 in spring 2024. That progress has continued, with the mean AP score reaching 3.86 in spring 2026.
AP performance is one of the key measures reflected in the U.S. News methodology, but AP is only one way Chagrin Falls students can pursue advanced learning and college credit. Students also have opportunities through College Credit Plus (CCP) and ExcelTecc, providing different pathways that can match their interests, goals and plans for the future.
Rankings provide an outside perspective on our schools, and this year’s results are certainly worth celebrating. But no matter where Chagrin Falls appears on a ranking list, our work remains the same: providing every student with high quality, engaging learning that challenges them to think deeply, build a strong educational foundation and prepare for the future they choose.
The community is invited to learn more about current student achievement at the September 16, 2026 Board of Education meeting, which will include a presentation on the district’s state report card.
2021-2026 AP Exam Longitudinal Score Data
2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
% of scores 3 or higher* | 70.4% | 74.4% | 74.8% | 85.5% | 92.5% | 90.2% |
% of scores 4 or higher | 43.8% | 44.4% | 48% | 65.3% | 68% | 67.2% |
Mean AP Score | 3.19 | 3.28 | 3.38 | 3.73 | 3.9 | 3.86 |
*3 or higher is considered a passing AP score.
To learn more about how US News uses data to develop their rankings, please visit this site: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings