Columbus (FL) tops Best High Schools for Athletes in America list

Niche.com, a website that helps students find the best high schools and colleges that fit their preferences, came up with the Best High Schools for Athletes in America list. Out of 21,716 entries, Columbus High School emerged as the top choice.

Niche based the ranking on six factors. In addition to parent and student surveys, they also looked at the school’s total enrollment, sports championships, athletic participation, and the number of sports it offers. They based enrollment and athletic participation data from the National Center of Education Statistics and the Civil Rights Data Collection.

Since Niche gets 50 percent of the score from surveys, Columbus gets the number one spot in the Best High Schools for Athletes in America list after getting 540 five-star and 192 four-star reviews.

Meanwhile, Columbus has an overall niche grade of A+ based on six factors. They have the same grade for their sports program, and the results show, especially with their men’s basketball team. Led by Cayden and Cameron Boozer, the Explorers won their fourth consecutive Florida high school basketball Class 7A state championship.

They also solidified the claim as the nation’s best team by winning the Chipotle Nationals. That result, as well as their 29-3 record, also made them the No. 1 team in the United States based on the On3 Composite Team Rankings for the 2024-25 high school basketball season. Likewise, Columbus’ track and field team are two-time defending state champions, while their high school football team was state champions in 2022 and 2023.

Columbus received high marks for their academics (A+), clubs and activities (A+), teachers (A-), and college prep (A). Only in diversity (B-) did the school get a grade lower than A. Niche came up with these grades through a combination of user insights, gathered data, statistical analysis, and on-the-ground input.

Based on Niche.com’s rankings, here are the Top 10 Best High Schools for Athletes in America.

1. Columbus (Miami, Florida)

2. St. John’s Prep (Danvers, Massachusetts)

3. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

4. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Arizona)

5. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California)

6. Bishop Hendricken (Warwick, Rhode Island)

7. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, California)

8. Gonzaga High School (Washington, D.C.)

9. Boston College High School (Boston, Massachusetts)

10. St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)