Local High Schools Excel in U.S. News Rankings

U.S. News & World Report has released its "Best High Schools" rankings for the 2026-27 academic year, highlighting several standout institutions across North Central Arkansas and South Central Missouri.

In Arkansas, four local schools - Valley Springs, Cotter, Melbourne, and Harrison - secured positions in the state's top 50 out of 339 public schools. Missouri also saw strong regional performance, with Gainesville and Branson both placing within the top 100 of the state's 726 public schools.

The rankings are determined by a comprehensive scoring system ranging from 0 to 100, reflecting a school's performance on a national percentile basis. To calculate these scores, U.S. News analyzed six key indicators of school quality:

• College Readiness: 30%
• State Assessment Proficiency: 20%
• State Assessment Performance: 20%
• College Curriculum Breadth: 10%
• Graduation Rates: 10%
• Underserved Student Performance: 10%

To be eligible, schools were required to have a 12th-grade enrollment of at least 15 students. Private schools were excluded due to limited public data, and schools falling below the 25th percentile had their specific scores concealed.

North Central Arkansas Rankings:

#11 Valley Springs, #17 Cotter, #26 Melbourne, #45 Harrison, #52 Marshall, #74 Mountain View, #75 Berman, #86 Mountain Home Career Academies, #95 Rural Special, #97 Mammoth Spring, #105 Yellville-Summit, #126 Norfork, #129 Salem, #133 Alpena, #159 Deer, #169 Flippin, #171 Ozark Mountain, #178 Calico Rock, #213 Izard County, #219 Jasper, #241-278 Guy-Berry College and Career Academy, Lead Hill, Mount Judea, Omaha, and Viola. (Unranked: Timbo).

South Central Missouri Rankings:

#77 Gainesville, #83 Branson, #107 Forsyth, #165 Ava, #186 West Plains, #204 Willow Springs, #208 Bradleyville, #214 Hollister, #221 Bakersfield, #253 Liberty (Mountain View-Birch Tree). (Unranked: Dora and Lutie).

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