The 40 Most Beautiful High Schools In The United States Will Make You Want To Head Back To Class

Rushing off to class is always stressful, but doing so while crossing a bridge and approaching a stately clock tower may just take a little pressure off. Just don't look down! Withrow's unforgettable look was the brainchild of architect Frederick W. Garber, and it sets the school apart as one of the most notable academies in Ohio.

Diamond Ranch made the impossible come true. Looking more like a spaceship than a high school, this institution was the product of architect Thom Mayne. He took 72 acres of land that were thought to be unusable and transformed them into a set of modernist-style facilities designed to provide natural communal spaces for all who attend.

Just a short distance from the posh city of Newport, St. George's School gives its boarding students a world-class education. It also wows them with a view of the Atlantic Ocean from their hilltop locale. F. Scott Fitzgerald even included this scenic campus in his masterpiece This Side of Paradise.

This Spanish Revival structure looks like it could be straight out of the colonial era, though it was actually constructed in 1926. And it's a near-miracle that the school is still standing. A tornado tore through its grounds in 2012, but workers were able to repair the damage.

This celebrated public school is perhaps most famous for its massive lawn, which makes any athletic contest or graduation ceremony feel that extra bit special. Thousands upon thousands of students have received their diplomas there since the late 1920s, including actor Vince Vaughn.

Any students with their eyes set on living or working at the White House would probably feel right at home here. This private school was founded in 1890 by Horace Dutton Taft, brother of President William Howard Taft. It grew from a humble educational endeavor to the 226-acre campus that so many people love today.

Not every school can have a tower that looms 127 feet over its campus. The historic Mission High School is the exception to that rule, of course, and its Spanish-style features make it one of the most recognizable sites around the Dolores Park area of San Francisco.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a prettier school than this one. Hugged by the Tennessee River, the red-bricked Baylor School sprawls across 700 acres and has seen its pupils achieve great success in the fields of politics, literature, and professional sports.

Visitors could be forgiven if they didn't realize that this stately building is actually a public high school. Over a century ago, financial stakeholders set out for it to be a posh hotel, but an economic crisis ended those plans. The halls of the "Brown Castle" have not only delighted generations of students since then, but they also provided the setting for the film 10 Things I Hate About You.

The iconic "Handley Steps" serve as the centerpiece of this idyllic campus — and they must give students' legs a bit of a workout, too. This public school came about after Judge John Handley left the community a $250,000 grant in his will. He is remembered all these years later through Handley's mascot nickname, the Judges.

Looking more like a seaside resort than a private Catholic academy, Santa Catalina is one of the best all-girls high schools in the country. No boys allowed here — though the lower school is coed through eighth grade. It traces its roots all the way back to the 1850s when a nun formed an academy for girls in the newly established state of California.

Affectionately known as the "Lady on the Hill," El Paso High School borrows some design elements straight from ancient Greece. Just look at its fancy Corinthian columns and amphitheater-like stadium if you need proof. Perhaps those classical touches inspired the school's most famous alum, Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham.

Just over 500 students are lucky enough to attend this stunning prep school. These Hawaiian kids get a world-class education while kicking back in the shade of the mighty Haleakalā volcano, which thankfully hasn't been active for some time.

Once upon a time, girls' education was all about learning how to run a household and find a husband. But 23-year-old Emma Willard wanted more. She started a school out of her own home in 1821 to provide young women with all the intellectual opportunities that they could imagine. Her vision led to a huge expansion on Mount Ida, a serene locale near the Hudson River.

This beautiful main building was on the verge of abandonment when the Grover Cleveland High School shut its doors in 2011, but TIPS rose from its ashes. The institution lives up to its international moniker by educating young adults who, altogether, can communicate in around 40 languages. Impressive, right?

St. Albans is just a stone's throw from the White House, which makes sense, given that Harriet Lane Johnston — President James Buchanan’s niece and first lady — laid the foundation for the school. The historic campus is the brainchild of famed architect Frederick Law Olmsted, and it got a well-received update with the addition of Marriott Hall in 2009.

The Great Plains region isn't exactly known for its gothic architecture, but the exception would be the prestigious Wichita East High School. Its front lawn boasts a large fountain and statue dedicated to J. Hudson McKnight, the farmer whose property parts of the school were built on.

What began as 46 students sitting at desks in a rented room has become one of the most celebrated and beautiful high schools in the United States. It's easy to see why locals call this stone behemoth "the Castle on the Hill." The City College's famous tower dates back to 1875.

Not to be confused with their rivals at Grosse Point North, the kids attending this beautiful school are fiercely proud of their red-brick campus. A tower of over 130 feet overlooks the elegant grounds that were once undesirable wetlands.

It's hard to get a more breathtaking view out your classroom window. But clearly the students at Mountain Academy know how to focus, as an impressive 100 percent of the student body — running from preschool to high school — eventually moves on to a four-year college experience.

This curriculum isn't too easy — even though the campus is in the Big Easy. In fact, ASH has been rated the top Catholic school in all of Louisiana! With its Colonial Revival charm, this school is the pride of the French Quarter. Honoring its convent roots, Sacred Heart only accepts girls.

This school is a breath of fresh air — literally. With 300 acres sprawling across the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville School gives its students all the room in the world to explore their academic interests. It will come as no surprise to anyone that mountain climbing, hiking, and skiing are all popular recreational activities here.

Alien invasion conspiracists can relax. Although these structures look like a fleet of UFOs touching down, they actually house classrooms, hallways, and other educational facilities for a purely human student body.

Who wouldn't mind spending their teen years at this well-manicured lakeside wonderland? Windermere looks like a dream come true for anyone involved in extracurriculars. It has better athletic facilities than many colleges, and its enormous theater supports a strong community of performing artists.

Many schools on this list have history on their side, but American Canyon shines because it's so modern. Yes, this Napa Valley institution only started welcoming students in 2010. So, not only has it got state-of-the-art amenities for its students, but its design is also very eco-friendly. That’s thanks to innovative energy usage and a focus on recycled materials.

Although some of the 1960s-era facilities here have reportedly fallen into disrepair, Monument Mountain remains one of the more scenic public high schools we can imagine. Students can enjoy the serene Berkshires environment and hone their athletic skills on the spacious grounds.

Looking a bit like a modern art piece come to life, this institution is bound to spark creativity in its design-minded students. H.S. for C.T.E.A., as it is known, has links with real-world firms to give its students both a full education and practical career experience.

The winding front steps of Little Rock Central High School are impressive on their own, but they've also been deemed a National Historic Site. In 1957 the "Little Rock Nine," a group of Black teenagers integrating the school, braved the threats and jeers of a white supremacist mob. It took a military escort to keep these kids safe, but they did not back down. The current students here proudly honor their legacy.

Getting to Kodiak Island isn't easy, but once you're there, you can take in the beauty of its $81 million high school. The modern design prioritizes an open layout with a clear panorama of the nearby water. And the ocean is a big deal at Kodiak, as many students expect to go into careers as fishermen or members of the Navy or Coast Guard.

It doesn't get more picture-perfect than this Connecticut boarding school. The great Frederick Law Olmstead designed this paradise on a hill, giving students 500 acres to explore their passions and receive a world-class education. Of course, that level of quality doesn't come cheap. Yearly tuition is as high as $64,000.

Teenagers are bound to be feeling the Rocky Mountain high at this school, which is perched at 6,100 feet above sea level. There is a ton to do on the 300-acre campus, which is a former ranch, and CRMS provides incredible opportunities to students interested in the arts and outdoor sports.

Stephen King would have us believe that every Maine high school has some nasty creature lurking in the shadows, but Deering is simply too elegant for that. Though the institution once operated out of a single room, it got a major overhaul in 1922 with a Tudor Revival style. More sections have been added since then, too, making the school bigger but no less beautiful.

Hibbing has to be one of the most theatrical schools in the United States, and for good reason. Its famed auditorium, inspired by the design of the Capitol Theatre in New York, has space for a whopping 1,800 audience members. Bob Dylan himself — then known as Robert Zimmerman — went to Hibbing and even performed an early concert there... until the principal broke it up.

This New Jersey institution strives to be more than just a four-year school; it wants to be a home that students cherish forever. Newcomers are sorted into a housing system that sounds like it's straight out of Hogwarts. But they don't spend all their time cooped up in houses, of course. With top-notch athletic fields and a working farm that covers 24 acres, Lawrenceville is like its own little world.

Tabor calls itself the "school by the sea," and that's no empty nickname. Students have the chance to leave the classroom behind and learn to sail on a 92-foot schooner. And while they’re on there, they’ll carry out ecological experiments on a nearby coral reef. That sure beats the typical high school curriculum!

Since being established in 1909, Ashley Hall has stood out as one of the South's best girls' schools. The campus' Regency architecture is still charming today, and students can kick back in a historic aviary and indoor swimming pool. One of the buildings is said to be haunted by a ghost named Georgie, but she's been turned into a friendly figure for students at Ashley's lower school.

There are 18 United World College schools around the world, but their New Mexico chapter could well be the most breathtaking. The international educational organization took a posh 19th-century hotel and transformed it into a dream high school. Today, pupils and staff take advantage of every inch of the property’s 200 acres by using "the outdoors as a classroom."

Having been established in 1772, Salem Academy predates the founding of the United States! It was also one of the first institutions to value girls' education, and the single-gender school still excels at teaching young women today. But just because the students are up to their eyeballs in history, it doesn't mean that they don't have any fun. A favorite daily event is "Cookie Break," when the kitchen dishes out glasses of milk and fresh chocolate chip confections to everyone. Mmm... delicious.

When there's a building known as "The Mansion" on campus, you know that the place is going to be gorgeous. Notre Dame de Namur operates on the grounds of a 19th-century estate that's been updated with modern facilities over the years. Reportedly, the school also made an appearance in the classic film The Philadelphia Story, starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

What was once the home of the Chief Justice of New Hampshire is now one of the region's most stunning schools. It did struggle in the early 20th century — due in large part to financial difficulties and a series of fires — but the Holderness faculty pushed to become one of the most forward-thinking educational institutions in the country. It retains a strong historic character, too.