Walnut Hills ranks No. 1 in Ohio, among top 100 nationwide

CINCINNATI — For the second year in a row, Walnut Hills High School has been named the top public high school in Ohio by U.S. News & World Report, reinforcing its long-standing reputation for academic excellence.

The selective Cincinnati public school, which requires students to pass an entrance exam for admission, draws students from across the city. Many students commute long distances for a chance to attend.

“It’s really amazing to be in a place like this where I know that I am being prepared to reach those goals and follow my dreams,” said junior Satiana Hackworth, who balances sports, music and her role as a student ambassador.

According to the rankings, Walnut Hills also placed No. 91 nationally out of nearly 18,000 high schools. The report evaluated schools based on college readiness, graduation rates, state assessment performance, and other key metrics.

Walnut Hills performance breakdown:

• Overall Score: 99.49 out of 100
• Graduation Rate: 95% 
• AP Participation: 91% 
• Reading Proficiency: 97%

“Our motto is ‘rise to the highest,’ and we walk it and talk it every single day,” said Principal John Chambers. “We’ve built a culture here that supports student success at every level.”

Founded over 125 years ago, Walnut Hills offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, including 35 Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The school also boasts a robust extracurricular landscape with hundreds of clubs and a dedicated student success center, which provides academic interventions and support.

Hackworth, who plans to study biomedical engineering or nursing in college, said the school’s high standards and strong support systems help students stay on track.

“I honestly was not surprised [by the ranking] because I think that we are a very good school,” she said. “We’re very competitive and colleges know about us.”

Social studies teacher Michael Cabral, now in his fifth year at Walnut Hills, said the school’s culture of excellence keeps both students and faculty motivated.

“Seeing these kids grow, change and evolve is probably the most rewarding part of the job,” he said. “It’s why my colleagues and I keep coming back here every day.”

Walnut Hills improved both its national ranking and overall performance score compared to last year.

Following Walnut Hills in the state rankings are Bexley High School, Ottawa Hills, Solon and Rocky River. Several other southwest Ohio schools also made the top 10, including Wyoming, Indian Hill, Madeira, Oakwood and Mariemont.