10 Largest High Schools in the United States

High schools across the United States are as varied and diverse as the students who attend them. Some high schools educate only a handful of kids, while the student bases of others reach the thousands. The student capacity of high schools has skyrocketed with the increasing availability of online education, taking head counts to a whole new level!

So just how many students can one American high school handle? Today we’ll be taking a look at the 10 largest high schools in the United States by the number of attending students, as well as learning a little bit about what sets each one apart from the rest.

10. Acero Schools Chicago

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This public charter school aims to provide its diverse student base with a well-rounded education that prepares them for college, careers, and a future of healthy citizenship. Acero Schools Chicago also provides opportunities for high school students to participate in athletic programs and play competitive games.

Did You Know?

Teachers from Acero Schools recently went on strike and demanded pay raises, shorter school years, and more protection for undocumented students.

9. Agora Cyber Charter School

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Agora Cyber Charter School offers students ample opportunities for flexible education, as well as socialization through online events and social clubs. Alongside the usual course materials, Agora also provides students with their own laptops, LaserJet printers, and ink cartridges to use when completing assignments.

Did You Know?

Some of the teachers from the Agora Cyber Charter School were assigned as many as 300 students to look after, which turned tasks like essay grading into overwhelming challenges.

8. Chicago International Charter School

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The Chicago International Charter School strives for unparalleled inclusivity, requiring no entrance exams or tuition fees to enroll. This school also takes added measures to ensure that the distribution of students across campuses is fair, assigning places at random with a lottery-style system.

Did You Know?

Acknowledging that each student has unique needs, the Chicago International Charter School provides a variety of innovative and diverse learning models for its students.

7. The Keystone School

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The Keystone School offers tuition-based education that pairs teacher and counselor support with all the flexibility of online learning. Students can enroll either full or part time, and can even take advantage of credit recovery and year-round enrollment.

Did You Know?

Alongside a focus on course flexibility, The Keystone School also pairs with brick-and-mortar private schools in order to help students get a more personalized education that suits their individual learning style.

6. Commonwealth Charter Academy

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Commonwealth Charter Academy goes the extra mile when it comes to empowering students with the resources they need to survive. In addition to engaging the entire family in each student’s education, CCA provides students with invaluable equipment such as laptops and workbooks.

Did You Know?

In an effort to equip students to educate themselves more effectively, teachers at the Commonwealth Charter Academy have begun providing classes on how to spot fake news.

5. Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber)

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The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School teaches students from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade, striving to provide students and their families with personalized resources and assistance. While many people think positively of cyber-schooling, a proposal known as Senate Bill 34 may threaten its future in the state of Pennsylvania.

Did You Know?

Along with fostering a positive student environment, PA Cyber is also said to treat its employees well, having been ranked by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as one of the “Top Places to Work” in 2011.

4. Ohio Virtual Academy

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This online public school provides students with full-time, tuition-free education complete with extensive career exploration opportunities. Ohio Virtual Academy’s Destinations program is inspired by the idea that middle and high school is the best time for students to begin considering their future career path, and offers a variety of learning paths to help. 

As strong writing skills are vital, many students independently seek out resources like a paper writing service online to enhance their research and composition abilities.

Did You Know?

In addition to core classes, Ohio Virtual Academy also offers AP-level and honors courses.

3. Georgia Cyber Academy

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The Georgia Cyber Academy offers students the opportunity to learn outside of a traditional learning environment by taking their courses online. In addition, this high school provides its Georgia resident students with a tuition-free, full course load. The well-rounded course selection includes electives such as world languages, and enables ambitious students to dual-enroll for college credit as well.

Did You Know?

Georgia Cyber Academy strives to make education accessible to everyone, and provides special assistance to migrant and homeless students.

2. BYU Independent Study High School

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BYU Independent Study High School strives to make its educational opportunities available to everyone, servicing all 50 states and more than 90 other countries around the globe. Their online courses provide students from all areas and backgrounds with equal opportunity to learn and excel.

Did You Know?

A number of financial aid programs have been made available to help struggling students receive the education they need, including university scholarships for students who have shown exceptional promise.

1. Penn Foster High School

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Penn Foster High School is the largest high school in the United States by number of students. It is also one of the oldest high schools in America, with a long history of specialized education aimed at helping students choose and prepare for a promising career path.

Did You Know?

While Penn Foster High School is headquartered in Pennsylvania, it enrolls students in distance learning courses across all 50 states.