AUGUST 20, 2026-Clifton High School has earned a national ranking in the top 40% and achieved status as a U.S. News and World Report Best High School. According to U.S News and World Report, Clifton High School earned high National and metro-area rankings in 2026-27 Best High Schools, which U.S. News published on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
U.S. News and World Report, recognized as the global authority in education rankings, evaluates approximately 27,000 public high schools at the national, state and local levels, ranking nearly 18,000 of those evaluated. U.S. News states that, "The 2026-27 Best High Schools national rankings identify top public schools based on six key performance indicators, including student achievement on state-required assessments, strong graduation rates and college readiness measures. Schools are evaluated on how effectively they serve all students, including underserved populations, with college readiness specifically measured through student participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams. The rankings consider curriculum breadth and overall student outcomes as well".
Clifton High School is nationally ranked #5,538 out of 17,945 high schools, #549 out of 1,592 Texas high schools and #6 in the Waco Metro Area. The latest rankings reflect significant jumps when compared to the 2025-26 rankings of #12,136 nationally, #1,109 in Texas and #15 in the Waco Metro Area.
Clifton High School’s updated U.S. News profile page, with details about its rankings, can be accessed here: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/texas/districts/clifton-independent-school-district/clifton-high-school-18824. Information about any public high school that was nationally ranked is available at this link: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools.