Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) claimed the top two spots in the latest U.S. News & World Report high school rankings for Kentucky, with five district schools landing in the state's top 20.
The 2026 report evaluated more than 27,000 public high schools across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Rankings are calculated using six key performance metrics, including state assessment results, graduation rates and college readiness.
duPont Manual High School named #1 in Kentucky
duPont Manual High School topped the list in Kentucky, earning the #1 ranking for its outstanding performance on state assessments, high graduation rates and college preparation. Nationally, Manual ranked #65 out of more than 27,000 public high schools.
J. Graham Brown School named #2 in Kentucky
J. Graham Brown School secured the #2 spot among all Kentucky high schools and ranked #176 nationwide.
Atherton, Ballard, and Male among top 20 in Kentucky
Three additional JCPS high schools earned top placements statewide:
Atherton High School: #5 in Kentucky
Ballard High School: #12 in Kentucky
Louisville Male High School: #18 in Kentucky
Every Student. Every Year.
The rankings reflect the district's ongoing mission to ensure meaningful academic progress for every student, every year.
"These rankings are a testament to the incredible talent of our students and the hard work of our educators, staff and families," said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood. "Having five of our high schools in the top 20 statewide reinforces our commitment to 'Every Student, Every Year'. We remain focused on driving academic growth across all of our schools so every child in Jefferson County has the opportunity to succeed."