Grants Pass High School named #1 high school in southern Oregon by U.S. News & World Report

Grants Pass High School has been recognized among the nation's best public high schools in the 2026-2027 Best High Schools rankings from U.S. News & World Report. GPHS is ranked #19 in Oregon, #1 in Josephine County, and #1 in Southern Oregon, making it the highest-ranked high school south of Eugene.

The recognition comes as GPHS continues to see strong student outcomes and opportunities across academics, career and technical education, extracurricular activities, and college preparation.

“Being recognized among Oregon’s top high schools is a reflection of the incredible work happening every day in our classrooms,” said Tim Sweeney, superintendent of Grants Pass School District 7. “Our students are challenging themselves, pursuing their interests, earning college credit, and competing at the highest levels. We are proud of them and grateful for the staff, families, and community members who support them.”

GPHS has achieved back-to-back-to-back record-high graduation rates, reaching 96.2% in the 2024-25 school year. Students have access to more than 50 college-level courses, including 18 Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Students can also earn college credit while still in high school; over 4,000 college credits were earned during the 2025-26 school year.

“GPHS is a place where students can find many different pathways to success,” said Jason Garcia, Grants Pass High School principal. “Whether a student is preparing for a four-year college, earning college credit, developing career skills through CTE, competing in academics, athletics or the arts, or pursuing another path after graduation, our goal is to give every student meaningful opportunities to discover what they can accomplish.”

The school’s academic success is complemented by a wide range of career and extracurricular opportunities. GPHS offers eight Career and Technical Education programs of study, with students regularly placing among the top competitors at statewide and national competitions.

For the second consecutive year, seven GPHS students were selected as Ford Scholars, matching the school’s record-breaking total from 2024-25. The Ford Scholars Program is a highly selective scholarship that awards students from Oregon and Siskiyou County, California, who are planning to complete a four-year degree at a college in their home state. Covering up to 90% of unmet financial need, this award recognizes students with exceptional character, leadership, community care, and motivation to succeed.

GPHS students also continue to excel beyond the classroom. The school’s marching band and color guard are the reigning Northwest Association for Performing Arts (NWAPA) champions for seven consecutive years.

The 2026-2027 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings evaluated approximately 27,000 eligible public high schools nationwide, with nearly 18,000 receiving rankings. According to U.S. News, schools are evaluated using six key performance indicators, including college readiness, curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency and performance, underserved student performance, and graduation rate. College readiness includes student participation and performance in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate examinations. The rankings use the most current available data from the 2023-2024 school year.

“Recognition like this is a direct reflection of the dedication of our staff,” Superintendent Sweeney says. “Our staff works tirelessly to meet students where they’re at and take them to new heights. We are incredibly proud of the way they support, challenge, and believe in our students every day.”

The full U.S. News ranking for Grants Pass High School is available through U.S. News & World Report.