All high schools rank in top 19 percent on National Best High School Ranking List

U.S. News and World Report has ranked all five of Fayette County’s high schools in the top 19 percent in the nation on its annual 2026-2027 Best High Schools list.

The U.S. News rankings include data on nearly 18,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. McIntosh High came in at 502 nationally; Starr’s Mill at 624; Whitewater at 1,830; Fayette County High at 2,697; and Sandy Creek at 3,360.

McIntosh is ranked in the top 3 percent nationally, with Starr’s Mill in the top 4 percent, Whitewater in the top 11 percent, Fayette County in the top 15 percent, and Sandy Creek in the top 19 percent.

All five high schools made the top 100 of Georgia high schools: McIntosh at 14, Starr’s Mill at 16, Whitewater at 51, Fayette County High at 73, and Sandy Creek at 100.

The US News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best High Schools rankings are based on six key indicators: College readiness, college curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency,  state assessment performance, underserved student performance, and graduation rate.

Schools ranked in the top 40% nationally (#7,178 or better) achieved status as U.S. News Best High Schools.