In Canyons District, winning isn’t just measured by championship trophies and roaring crowds on Friday nights. Our high schools are proving they can dominate in the academic arena, too — earning top spots in Money Inc.’s 2025 list of “30 Best High Schools.”
Four of Canyons’ five traditional high schools are ranked among the top 13 statewide, according to the magazine. From nationally recognized Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs to cutting-edge STEM classes, award-winning arts programs, and title-winning sports teams, these schools show sharp minds and strong performances go stride for stride.
The schools were chosen for their academic rigor — Canyons has the highest number of students in Utah earning an 18 or better on the ACT college entrance exam —breadth of extracurricular offerings, modern facilities, and pathways to career and college success.
Here’s how our schools ranked:
Brighton High School in Cottonwood Heights earned a podium finish, coming in third place. The school was celebrated for its breadth of Advanced Placement offerings, with more than 20 courses available, and strong AP exam pass rate (north of 70 percent). The school also boasts more team state championships than any high school in Utah and an internationally-ranked Model UN program. The Bengals’ newly remodeled campus features one of the most scenic football stadiums in Utah, modern science labs, and upscaled spaces for woodworking, diesel mechanics, jewelry design, and the culinary arts.
Hillcrest High School in Midvale stands proudly at No. 7. It’s a standout for its International Baccalaureate (IB) program and nationally-recognized performing arts programs (dance, theater, orchestra, choir, marching band, etc.). The Huskies have high college-readiness rates with more than 80 percent of the school’s graduates pursuing higher education, a richly diverse student body, and newly modernized campus. The school routinely produces international science fair winners, nearly unmatched rates of National Merit Scholars, and Ivy League-bound graduates.
Alta High School in Sandy holds a strong position at No. 11. Known for its breadth of Advanced Placement and concurrent enrollment courses, the school has an early-college focus in partnership with local colleges and universities. The school maintains above-average graduation and college acceptance rates. Its excellence extends to athletics and the arts with multiple state championships, a massive marching band, and award-winning ballroom dancing program. The Hawks also excel in Esports and other extra-curriculars.
Corner Canyon High, the District’s newest high school in Draper (established in 2013), comes in at No. 13. This relatively young school has rapidly built a reputation for academic rigor and strong success in the performing arts, football, basketball, lacrosse, wrestling, and track and field. The school has affectionately become known as a “quarterback factory,” due to its track record of producing QBs who go on to play at the collegiate and professional levels. The Chargers consistently beat state average graduation rates and claim Sterling Scholar awards, and many alumni continue to prestigious universities.
