While the concept sounds like an education-based twist on the Needle in the Haystack, according to survey data and other sources from Niche, there is an answer to the question, “Which U.S. high schools are the best for athletes?”
Using a methodology that weighs factors such as parent and student survey responses, the total number of championships, enrollment, and sports offered, these 20 institutions stood out among the 20,000-plus high schools filled with millions and millions of students.
Publishing the findings isn’t an endorsement for successfully locating the proverbial needle, mind you, but it’s hard to overlook that many of these schools have appeared in various USA TODAY Sports Super 25s through the years.
We begin in Wichita, Kansas…
20. Bishop Carroll Catholic (Wichita, Kan.)
(USA TODAY)
19. Lincoln-Way East (Ill.)
(Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports)
18. Delbarton School (Morristown, N.J.)
(Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports)
17. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
(USA TODAY)
16. St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)
(USA TODAY)
15. St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.)
(Photo: St. Thomas Aquinas baseball).
14. Cardinal Gibbons High School (Raleigh, N.C.)
(USA TODAY)
13. St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)
(USA TODAY)
12. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
(USA TODAY)
11. Bedford High School (N.H.)
(USA TODAY)
10. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
(Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
9. La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.)
(USA TODAY)
8. Cathedral Catholic High School (San Diego, Calif.)
(Photo: Cathedral Catholic High School)
7. Gonzaga College High School (D.C.)
(Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports)
6. Boston College High School (Mass.)
(USA TODAY)
5. Xavier College Prep Roman Catholic High School (Phoenix, Ariz.)
(USA TODAY)
4. St. John’s Prep (Danvers, Mass.)
(USA TODAY)
3. Bishop Hendricken High School (Warwick, R.I.)
(USA TODAY)
2. Columbus High School (Miami, Fla.)
(USA TODAY)
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
(USA TODAY)
