Belmont High School is among the top high schools in Massachusetts, according to a new U.S. News & World Report ranking.
BHS was ranked second in Massachusetts, behind Boston Latin School. It ranked 138th nationally.
“This is a wonderful milestone for Belmont High School and one that our entire community can be proud of,” School Committee Chair Meghan Moriarty said in a statement to The Voice. “On behalf of the School Committee, I want to recognize the hard work of our students, the dedication of our educators, and the support of families and community members.”
The rankings include data on more than 27,000 public high schools, according to U.S. News & World Report. Schools are evaluated on class offerings and scores from state standardized tests and college-level exams, graduation rates, and how effectively they serve Black, Latino, and low-income students.
“This recognition reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff to providing enriching learning experiences for our students, and the support of families and community who continue to make education a priority for Belmont,” Superintendent Jill Geiser said in a statement to The Voice. “This is an accomplishment we can all be proud of, while also recognizing that our work continues, striving to ensure all of our students grow and experience success in our schools.”
Nearby, Lexington High School was ranked 5th in the state. Massachusetts had the largest share of the best public high schools in the national ranking, with 47% of eligible schools ending up in the top 25%.
Earlier this year, Massachusetts topped the charts in Advanced Placement (AP) scores in 2025, according to data from the College Board. In 2025, 745 Belmont students took at least one AP exam. Of the 1,891 tests taken by Belmont students, about 96% achieved scores of 3 or more, according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. of Secondary and Elementary Education.Out of those exams, 940 received a 5, the highest possible score.
“Rankings are an outcome, not the goal,” Moriarty said. “We should celebrate this recognition while continuing to ask how we can be even better for every student.”