Hence why a lot of these super-competitive schools strive to hire the best possible coaches they can find. Let’s take a look at the best possible high schools in the country for sports. We’ll also reveal some of the biggest names in professional sports to have passed through their halls.
Hoover High School
The “Bucs” of Hoover High School in Alabama just played their first game of the season in the Mercedes Benz dome in Georgia, at the Corky Kell Classic. This makes them the first out-of-state team to play in the CKC in its 30 years of existence. The team’s coach, Josh Niblett, is the highest-paid high school coach in the nation, bringing in $125,000 every year.
Niblett has a record of 84 wins to six losses, so it’s easy to see why he gets paid so much. After all, football is a huge deal in Alabama. But Niblett is also a teacher at the school, so he makes a yearly salary of over $56,000 for teaching and $68,000 for coaching.
Soldotna
If you aren’t from Alaska, this picture of football players playing a game on a grassy green field on a sunny day might shock you. But it’s actually very popular there, too, just as much as the rest of the country. Soldotna High is known for its awesome football team, who won their 8th straight state title in 2019.
The SoHi “Stars,” as the team is named, walked away with a 69-13 victory over the Malamutes of Lathrop High. That marks their 10th state title since 2006. The Stars are coached by Galen Brantley Jr, who’s used to traveling all over the country with his team. They’ve flown to multiple destinations and have even taken a 15-hour ferry ride to play in the past.
Canyon del Oro
Arizona may get very hot but at least it’s a dry heat, so during the fall, Arizona is one of the best places to be, so you can imagine what it’s like to play an outside game in Oro Valley. The Dolphins of Canyon del Oro are known for being the team to beat. But they aren’t just known for their football team. They’ve got loads of talented teams.
These include a basketball, baseball, and softball team, among others. The Dolphins football players have taken home eight state championships. The softball team, which has sent off 24 Division I players, has taken 9. In fact, this school has seen its share of future sports stars, including five major league baseball players.
Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff is one of Arkansas's best schools for turning out champion sports players. Back in 1925, they won the title of National Champions when they defeated Baton Rouge 26-0 and no one has been able to beat it since then. So it goes without saying, this football team is one of the best in the country and has won more than 700 games in total.
Several NFL players got their start at Pine Bluff High, including Gordon Norwood, Bill Kennedy, and quarterback Eric Mitchel. Nearly all of the sports teams at Pine Bluff are extremely competitive, the track and field team has taken home 14 state championships in 30 years. The baseball team has won a record of 10-state titles, too.
De La Salle
This private Catholic school in sunny Concord, California is home to the Spartans. The football team is one of the most coveted aspects of the school. And it’s no wonder, considering they hold the record of a 151-game winning streak between 1992 and 2004. They’ve received praise and promotion from several national media outlets, naming them national champions five times.
They have been hailed as being the best team in their state 19 times! 'USA Today' called them the 18th-best high school football team in the country. The team has even had two books written about them, called "When the Game Stands Tall." In 2014, a movie of the same name was released, which follows the team after winning their 151 games in a row.
Cherry Creek
Collectively, the teams at Cherry Creek High in Colorado have won more than 200 state titles, three Wells Fargo Cups, and an All-Sport Championship. They were named the 5th best high school athletics program in the USA by Sports Illustrated in 2005. But above all, Cherry Creek is most well-known for their tennis team. The boy's team holds the record of 300 consecutive wins!
But their football team is also worth noting, especially because Broncos president John Elway once coached for it. He worked as a quarterback’s coach on the varsity team. Five-time Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken helped them bring home a state championship while winning two of her own during her time at Cherry Creek.
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is known for being one of the best high schools in the state of Connecticut. In 2015, the school’s athletic programs were ranked first in the state, and 14th in the country. The Tomahawks soccer team is the pride of the school, and the town, apparently invested over $1.5 million in its indoor soccer stadium.
After earning 14 state titles, it’s easy to see why those who live in the town of Glastonbury are so proud of their local high school team. The girls’ soccer team is also a force to be reckoned with as they finished their 2019 season with a 14-1-1 record.
Newark
Newark in Delaware is another high school that’s well known for both its academic and athletic programs. Newsweek magazine called them one of the “Top Schools in America.” The school is one of the oldest in the state, with its first class graduating in 1893 and in 2009, it saw its 20,000th student graduate.
Since 1949 they’ve won 39 state championships and have amazing athletic teams all around. Their football, swimming and diving, baseball, basketball, and volleyball have all won multiple titles over the past several decades. Six NFL players have emerged from Newark, including Orien and Kwame Harris, Rich Parson, and Conway and Gary Hayman.
The Bolles School
The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida is a prestigious private boarding school that’s known for its superiority in sports. Several of their teams have been recognized by national media outlets, including being ranked first in the nation by ESPN RISE for their overall boys’ athletic program and they continue to be recognized as the best sports school in the state of Florida.
They’ve won the Florida High School Association’s Sunshine Cup 24 times. But even though they may be known for being good at basically everything, they’re especially well-known for their incredible swimming and diving team. The boys’ and girls’ teams have won more than 70 state titles combined since 1988. They’ve also taken home 17 national championships.
Parkview
Parkview is a public school in Gwinnett County, Georgia. They are well-known for having an outstanding academic program, but they’re even more popular for their athletics. Several NFL players have graduated from Parkview and played for their football team; including Ainsley Battles, Chris Carson, and Michael Palmer. Their baseball has also won seven state titles and three national championships.
Major league baseball players Jeff Francoeur, Matt Olsen, Clint Sammons, and White Sox infielder Jeff Keppinger all got their start playing for the school. Between several of their sports teams, including football, baseball, swimming, and soccer, Parkview has won 57 state titles. Josh Wolff of the US men’s national team and World Cup player graduated from the school in 1995.
Punahou
This private preparatory school in Honolulu is known for being prestigious and educating members of the Hawaiian royal family. In 2006, they were named as the greenest school in the country and Sports Illustrated also called them the best school in the US for sports. All students take some form of athletics when they go to Punahou, as they need two credits to graduate.
They offer a ton of unusual sports, like judo, riflery, kayaking, and gymnastics. They’re also well-known for their most notable alumni – former president Barack Obama, who attended in the late 1970s. The president played for the basketball team and helped them take home a state title in 1979, the same year that he graduated. His jersey, number 23, later sold for $120,000.
Boise
Boise is a public school in Idaho that caters exclusively to grades 10-12, rather than 9-12 like most high schools. The original school was opened in 1882 under the name “Central.” At the time, it cost $44,000 to build – which was nearly double what the initial estimate was. In the 1800s, that was a lot of money for construction.
The school was actually the first in its area to offer free athletics programs during night school. But their boys’ basketball team, along with the track, soccer, golf, and tennis teams, have all managed to bring home more than 20 state titles over the past few decades. The girls’ cross-country team has also won their fair share.
Mount Carmel High School
Mount Carmel is a prestigious, all-boys Catholic school in Chicago. It was established by the Carmelite order of Catholic priests in the fall of the year 1900. During its first year, there were only 13 students and five priests that worked as teachers. With all of the young men who were being drafted and going off to fight in WWI, the school was changed to cater to younger students.
Since then, they’ve been recognized for their exemplary academics and athletics programs. The football team is among the best of the best that the Mount Carmel sports programs have to offer. They’ve won more than 14 state championships since 1980 and the school also has impressive hockey and wrestling teams.
Pike High School
Pike High is a public school located on the Northside of Indianapolis, near the Castleton Mall area. They are widely regarded for being home to one of the best high school basketball teams in the state, and possibly the nation. In 2003, coach Larry Bullington led the boys’ basketball team to a 29-0 season finish and another state championship victory.
That year, they held the title of best in Indy. DeKalb remained hot on their tail, finishing their own season 26-2. Several NBA players and other notable sports alumni have graduated from Pike over the years. Courtney Lee, David, Jeff, and Marquis Teague, and R.J Hunter have all come through the midwestern school.
Washington High School
Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was initially just called “the schoolhouse,” when it first opened its doors in 1857. 100 years later it was expanded and evolved into what it is known as today. The school’s sports teams, collectively known as “The Demons” are a force to be reckoned with in their area and have competed in several state championships over the years.
Aside from their impressive athletics programs, they’re also known for having a talented yearbook staff and even competitive physics teams. Well, that and one of their most notable alumni: Ashton Kutcher. Washington has also seen a few NFL players (and coaches) come through its halls, including Adrian Arrington and Dedric Ward.
Lawrence High School
The Lawrence High Chesty Lions are members of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, and offer a variety of athletic teams. These teams have collectively won more than 100 state championships, which is one of the highest records in the country. Several of those championships are thanks to the football team, who’ve managed to walk away from 31 of their seasons with an undefeated record!
In 1960, the Chesty Lions took home a national victory, and have won five consecutive Kansas State High School Activities Association championships. Sports Illustrated recognized Lawrence High School as having the top athletics program in Kansas. It has also been featured on ESPN, as a candidate for Titletown, United States.
St. Xavier High School
St. Xavier is a private, all-boys Catholic school in Louisville that’s been operating since 1864. They’ve received the Blue Ribbon of Excellence a record four times. Also, the school's participated in “Project X,” which is responsible for the donations of over $25 million to build additional athletics and academic facilities.
They are renowned for their athletics teams as much as they are for their academic status. In fact, they’re the only school in the state that’s won a state title in every single Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) event they’ve attended. Across their 13 KHSAA-sponsored sports, they’ve brought home 172 state titles throughout the years.
Jesuit High School
Jesuit High School is a private Catholic school in Louisiana and home to the Blue Jays. The school was founded as The College of the Immaculate Conception in 1847, and since 1933, it has won a number of state championships in a variety of different sports, including basketball, football, baseball, soccer, and wrestling.
In the 2004-2005 school year, the Blue Jays went to the state championships with an undefeated season. They also managed to earn state championships in six sports that year. Their cross-country team became the first in the state to earn three state championships in a row in 2005. The soccer team won a record of 94 games.
Waynflete School
Waynflete is a private, co-ed school in Portland, which opened its doors in 1898. The school actually caters to students between grades K-12 and divides the school into three “separate” campuses: Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. The Upper School, however, is where the title-taking varsity teams are located.
They are particularly well-known for a few different sports, including tennis, cross country, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and Nordic skiing. The varsity cross country team has won a number of state titles, including Western Main Champion in 2007, 2008, and 2010. The soccer team has won their fair share of championships, as well, which includes 19 between the boys’ and girls’ teams from 1990-2019 alone.
Gilman School
Gilman is located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, right around the same area as Johns Hopkins University. In fact, it’s named after the first president of the prestigious university. The school enrolls students in the K-12 grade brackets and is known for its well-versed academic and impressive athletic programs.
The school has been referred to by the author Fraser C. Smith as the most prestigious in Maryland. It’s a member of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and is best known for its talented football and lacrosse team. Gilman’s lacrosse team was ranked first in the entire country during their 2008 and 2009 season. Six of their varsity teams brought home conference titles in the 2005-2006 school year alone.
Cushing Academy
Cushing is a co-ed, private prep school located outside of Boston, MA. It was founded in 1865, and the athletics programs started to form just around 10 years later. The first-ever baseball game was played at the school in 1876. A couple of decades later, they formed the boys’ basketball team and started a girls’ team a year later.
They’re also well-known for their long-running ice hockey program, which has seen a number of professional and Olympic hockey players come through. The boys’ varsity team has won an impressive amount of 21 championships. Some notable alumni to graduate from the school include pro hockey players Broc Little, Brad Malone, Meghan Duggan, Erika Lawler, and John Lilley.
Muskegon High School
The first class of this school graduated in 1875 and consisted of only two students. Since then, this school in Michigan expanded quite a bit and built their first large gym in 1902, which included a swimming pool, and an outdoor track. In '78, an Olympic-sized pool, weight room, and athletics offices were added.
Muskegon’s sports teams are known as the “Big Reds,” and include baseball, basketball, football, bowling, and competitive cheerleading. The school is perhaps most well-known for its boy’s football team, which has won the state championship six times. The boys’ basketball team has also won a few state titles, mainly in the 1920s and ’30s, but again in 2014.
Cretin-Durham Hall High School
This private Catholic school in Minnesota is known best for their talented baseball team, which has won several titles over the past few decades alone. They are a part of the Minnesota State High School League and played in the Saint Paul City Conference for two and a half decades.
The baseball team has won eleven state championships, and there have been several more earned by the boys’ and girls’ ultimate frisbee teams, along with football and basketball. There have been several notable sports stars to emerge from Cretin-Durham Hall, including Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Michael Floyd, and Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson. Professional ultimate frisbee player Kate Nicholson also graduated from the private school.
Jackson Academy
Jackson Academy is a prestigious private school in the middle of Jackson, Mississippi. It’s particularly well-known for its academic and theater programs. In 2010, Jackson Academy opened an 800-seat performing arts center. As for their athletic programs, they shine in areas that simply aren’t well represented in the media, like girls’ basketball and volleyball.
Their girls’ basketball team has won four state championships under the guidance of coach Jan Sojourner. The girls' volleyball team has won six titles since 2014 and has played in every MAIS championship match since 2012. They offer a wide variety of sports programs, from football and baseball to dance, cheerleading, and track. The Jackson Academy football team has won seven MAIS AAA Division I Championships.
Christian Brothers College High School
This Catholic boy’s school in St. Louis, Missouri is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis. The athletics team mascots were originally named the “Hi-Pointers,” but were renamed the Cadets in the 1930s. Games are played in the Stadium that accomodates football, lacrosse, and ultimate frisbee. They also have the Cadet Park practice fields, which have two football fields and tennis courts.
The Christian Brothers College soccer team won 16 national collegiate championships between the 1890s and early 1900s. These days, their ice hockey team is leading the charge, who’s won 16 of their own state championships between 1983-2017. Notable professional sports stars to graduate from CBC include NBA shooting guard Larry Hughes and the NHL’s Philip McRae.
Butte High School
Butte High School was established 125 years ago in 1896 and since then, there have been quite a few big names in sports to emerge from this public high school situated in Butte, Montana. NFL players Colt Anderson and Milt Popovich, along with former player Pat Ogrin attended at one point.
But perhaps the most notable alumni is daredevil Evel Knievel, who ran track and field, played ice hockey, and did ski jumping during his time at Butte. Butte’s teams are collectively known as the Bulldogs. The football team has taken home several state championships, including one of their more recent wins in 2012.
Creighton Prep
This all-boys prep school in Omaha was founded in the 1870s and are well-known for their competitive athletics teams, the Junior Jays. The Junior Jays have won more than 140 state championships across the board, between their many sports teams, including basketball, football, baseball, tennis, cross country, track, swimming, soccer, and golf.
The tennis team has taken home 37 titles, which is the most titles for Creighton. The football team has won 27, and the swim team is right on their tail with 25 of their own. The Junior Jays have also won 27 All Sports Championships. NFL players Titus Adams and Junior Bryant, along with MLB players Loren Babe and Rex Barney, are among the notable alumni from Creighton Prep.
Bishop Gorman High School
Bishop Gorman is a private, Catholic prep school that teaches both boys and girls. They’re known for having impressive athletics programs for both, and they’ve got the state championship titles to prove it. Not to mention being named as one of the top 10 programs in the country by both Sports Illustrated and USA Today.
The Gaels baseball team was the first in Nevada to win the American Legion World Series in 2008. In 2009, the school became the first in four decades of the state’s history to win state titles in three major sports (basketball, football, and baseball.) A number of professional athletes have graduated from Bishop Gorman, including MLB players Joey Rickard and Donn Roach, and Xavier Grimble.
Phillips Exeter Academy
This prestigious boarding school is oftentimes simply referred to as “Exter.” It’s located in New Hampshire, and known for being highly selective when it comes to who they take in. Exeter has a whopping 65 junior varsity and varsity teams, along with 27 intermural sports. But the school is most well-known for its talent when it comes to water sports.
The campus is well equipped to train their water polo and swimming teams, with multiple pools, including the Roger Nekton Championship Pool, which is named for a former coach. There has been an array of big names in pro sports to leave Exeter, including the Miami Heat’s Duncan Robinson, and Olympic mountain biking gold medalist, Georgia Gould.
Don Bosco Prep
The Don Bosco Ironmen are a part of both the Big North Conference and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Ironmen were ranked as the 9th best high school athletic program in the country as they've won 15 state championships, not to mention being the first school in the state of New Jersey to win the High School Football National Championship.
But the football team isn't the only one with talented athletes, their basketball team has won plenty of state championships, as has the ice hockey team! The fencing team also finds itself ending the year with an undefeated status. Don Bosco's notable alumni include Miami Dolphins wide receiver Leonte Carroo, and New York Jets long snapper, Thomas Hennessy.
La Cueva High School
La Cueva High in Albuquerque, New Mexico may have a phenomenal reputation for its athletics programs. They've managed to receive a Great Schools rating of 10, which isn’t something that’s very easily done. The school only opened in 1986, which is much later than most other institutions on this list. But since their opening, they’ve won 69 state championships.
They won the state title every single year in a row from 2006-2015. The La Cueva baseball team has also won a few championships and held the record for consecutive wins, while the football team went undefeated for two seasons. Pro basketball players A.J. Bramlett and Bryce Alford were two of the many names to first play as Bears.
Archbishop Molloy
Archbishop Molloy High School is commonly referred to as the “best private Catholic school” in Queens, NY. Molloy is particularly known for its advanced athletic programs. Jack Curran, the best coach in NYC, coached both their basketball and baseball teams. Curran helped lead the baseball team to over 1,300 wins and 17 Catholic High School Athletic Association titles since 1958.
He's led the Molloy basketball team to 870 wins and five titles. Plus, he also helped six players reach the NBA; Kevin Joyce, Brian Winters, Kenny Anderson, and Kenny Smith. Curran became the only coach in history to be named National Coach of the Year in two sports! Their track team has also won 24 CHSAA titles.
Shelby High School
Shelby High School in North Carolina caters to grades 9-12 and has a student body of around 850 people. The school, located on Dixon Highway, is home to the Golden Lions, who are known as one of the best, if not the best, high school football teams in the state.
In over 60 years, they have only had one losing season, and they’ve won more than 810 games. In fact, Shelby’s team has won more playoffs than any other public high school in the country. That means they beat out over 14,000 schools for playoff victories! In their years of existence, they’ve won a whopping 17 state titles.
Red River High School
This public high school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Their athletic teams are collectively known as the Roughriders. Red River offers a variety of sports, including all of the major activities, like football, basketball, and baseball, along with a multitude of others, like cross-country, hockey, gymnastics, volleyball, and co-ed wrestling.
The Roughriders have earned an impressive number of state championships over the years in multiple sports. Their boy’s and girls’ tennis teams are particularly known for being the ones to beat and have won 49 state titles since 1972. The volleyball, golf, and boy’s hockey team have also brought in plenty of victories of their own.
Archbishop Moeller High School
This all-boys Catholic school in Cincinnati is one of five of its kind in the area. The prestigious, private prep school was established in the late 1950s and their Crusaders football team had a strong winning streak and took home five national titles. They won two more major titles in 2012 and 2013.
The baseball team has won three state titles and their lacrosse team has gone to five state finals since 89’ and has seen a 10-game winning streak within the past couple of years. Notable alumni from Moeller include major league baseball players Bill Long, Brent Suter, and Alex Wimmers, along with NFL players Doug Williams and Tom Waddle, just to name a few.
Broken Arrow High School
The Tigers of Broken Arrow High School in Oklahoma has a total of 93 total teams between grades 7 and 12. Since they’ve been in existence, they’ve won more than 60 state titles and have been frequently recognized by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association. The girls’ soccer team, softball, and wrestling teams have won the most titles for Broken Arrow.
The wrestling team has earned the most, with 17 state championships under their belt. Notable alumni to come from the Oklahoma public school include head coach of the New York Jets and former NFL offensive lineman for the Eagles, David Alexander, and major league baseball players Andy Wilkins, Archie Bradley, and Brad Penny.
Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic initially opened as an all-boys school but became co-educational in the 1980s. Cross country is the main name of the game at the school, where the team’s clenched 11 state titles since 2003. Five of those came consecutively between 2012 and 2016. The girls’ volleyball team at Central has also won an impressive number of titles, six since 1998 alone.
And following behind the talented athletes from their cross country and volleyball team is their football team, which has earned four of its own state championships since the 1950s. Olympic silver and bronze medalist, Galen Rupp, graduated from the school, along with Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington, and NFL linebacker Brennan Scarlett.
St. Joseph’s Prep
Commonly referred to as just, “The Prep,” this private, all-boys Catholic school was founded in 1851. It’s home to the Hawks, who wear gray and crimson to destroy their opponents – particularly, their crew team. The Hawks crew team has won the Stotesbury Cup in a national competition twelve times since 1955.
Their most recent victory came just last year. They’ve also won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. The football team is also talented and has a record of winning back-to-back state championships and 15 titles. Notable former Hawks include world record holder and Olympic gold medalist in rowing, Cipollone, and Miami Hurricanes quarterback Frank Costa, among many others.
La Salle Academy
La Salle Academy’s lacrosse team is well-known for its seven consecutive state championships, but they aren’t the only reason this private school is sought-after by those looking for excellent athletic programs. The men’s cross-country team has taken home three consecutive New England Championships, and the women’s team has won eight state titles of their own.
The girls’ gymnastics team joins the lacrosse and cross-country teams with ten consecutive wins. Juliet Vongphoumy, the first woman in history to win the RIIL Singles Golf Championship, attended in the past, as did a number of other notable names in sports. Former Boston Red Sox general manager Lou Gorman and three-time Stanley Cup winner Lou Lamoriello are among them, too.
Bishop England High School
Bishop England is the largest private high school in South Carolina, and the impressive volleyball team is what the school is best known for. They’ve won every state title since 2000 and have earned 27 since their inception. The 17 consecutive titles made them the new national record holders, a record that has yet to be broken.
USA Today called Bishop England one of the top 10 high school athletic programs in the country, noting that they “carry an unmatched tradition of dominance,” in South Carolina. Houston Astros player Drew Meyer and former New York Nicks player/the varsity coach at Bishop England for 20 years, Tom Lavelle, both graduated from the school themselves.
Washington High School
The Washington Warriors are situated in South Dakota and offer some non-traditional seasons for girls’ sports, they’ve been transferred over to the Sioux Interstate Conference instead. The school’s football team has won 40 state championships for an 11-man game, which makes them the nation’s record-holders among high schools. The team remained undefeated for four consecutive seasons, from 2009 to 2012.
There hasn’t been a single decade since their inception in 1899 that the Warriors football team hasn’t earned at least one title. Today, the Warriors are known as the best high school team in the state. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker, Nathan Gerry, and former Green Bay Packers player, JaRon Harris, are among their most famous pro sports players.
Baylor School
This private prep school in the south was established in Tennessee in 1893. These days, the Baylor Red Raiders are known for being one of the best high school sports programs in the country. Between 1995 and 2012, the women’s golf team won 16 consecutive titles. The school has more than 150 championship victories to its name, many of which come from the swim team.
Baylor has some incredible athletic facilities that lend to their teams’ excellence. The facilities include three basketball courts, a weight room, and offices for the coaches. Olympic gold medalist in swimming, Geoff Gaberino, along with pro football players John Hannah and Jacques McClendon are among a few of the former Red Raiders.
Allen High School
Allen High School has one of the best football programs out of all of the schools in Texas. Since 2001, the Allen Eagles have made it to the playoffs every year, and since 2006, they’ve won every district title they’ve played for. The team set a record in 2012 for the most consecutive wins in a season, going 15-1 that year.
Aside from the impressive football team, Allen has many other talented squads. The wrestling team has won several state championships, as have the hockey, bowling, basketball, and girls’ golf teams. Multiple NFL players call Allen their alma mater, including Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyle Murray, along with Tejan Koroma, J.D Walton, and Jonathan Williams.
Highland High School
Set in Salt Lake City, Highland's athletic programs are far superior to many other schools in the country. Perhaps the most well-known team at Highland is the rugby union team, who have a 418-10 record. The rugby team was coached by Larry Gelwix from 1976-2011, and he helped lead them to 20 national high school championships.
Finally, Mark Numbers was brought on board in 2013 and has been leading the charge ever since. In 2008, the movie Forever Strong was released, which documented the Highland rugby team’s accomplishments. Several NFL players and other notable names in sports attended, including Marcus Mailei, Haloti Ngada, and retired Miami Dolphins player Nate Orchard.
Arlington Memorial High School
Located in Vermont, Arlington Memorial High School was ranked as one of the best schools in America by the U.S. News & World Report. But as impressive as their academic programs may be, the real star of the show at this school are the boys’ and girls’ various sports teams.
Since 1971, the basketball teams at Arlington Memorial have won 18 state championships. The soccer and softball teams aren’t far behind, with the soccer teams winning 16 of their own, and the softball team earning nine between 1983 and 2001. The girls’ soccer team’s record for their regular season in 2017 was an impressive 14-0.
Hampton High School
Positioned in the state of Virginia, Hampton High is known for its impressive football and basketball teams. In the 1980s, the football team won 10 straight state championships, along with two national titles. They are ranked as the #8th best high school for the sport in the country. But the basketball team is known for being the ones to beat – particularly the girls’ team.
They've won the last seven district titles and hold the VHSL Group AAA State Champion title. Their talented athletics teams have collectively won 35 state championships since 1936. NFL players Robert Banks, Elton Brown, and Ronald Curry are a few of the pro athletes to call Hampton their alma mater.
James A. Garfield High School
The James A. Garfield High School in Seattle is host to the Garfield Bulldogs. The school has been around since the early 1930s and is known for its exceptional athletic programs. The boys’ basketball team has won 14 state championships, more than any other high school in the state’s history.
The girls’ basketball has won three of their own and was coached by Joyce Walker, the third woman to join the Harlem Globetrotters, for several years. Aside from basketball, Washington also has great football and swimming programs. Olympic gold medalist Debbie Armstrong, along with NBA players Deandre Coleman and Will Conroy, are a few of the notable former Bulldogs.
Woodrow Wilson High School
Woodrow Wilson, as controversial as the name may be in and around the Washington D.C. area, is known for having one of the best high school baseball teams in the state. By 2008, the Woodrow Wilson Tigers had won 16 DCIAA championships in a row. Eddie Saah coached the team successfully for 17 years when he retired at the end of that year.
The WW ultimate frisbee team is ranked #8th in the country. The varsity softball team has won several of its own DCIAA championships, including three consecutive titles between 2007 and 2009. Most of the notable alumni to graduate from this school in D.C. are politicians, as well as baseball player Emmanuel Burriss.
Parkersburg High School
You may have heard of Parkersburg High School if you follow along with the world of high school sports. In ESPN’s search for the U.S. Titletown, Parkersburg was featured on the station in 2008. Hailing from the state of West Virginia, Parkersburg is known as the “school of champions” in the area.
Their football team holds the 12th position for most wins of any school in the country, as well. There have been a number of famous names in sports to graduate from the school, including football hall of famer, Ed “Greasy” Neale, and New York Yankees outfielder, Nick Swisher, to name a few.
Marquette University High School
The boys’ football team at this private, Roman Catholic high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has created quite a name for itself when it comes to high school sports. Since 1907, they’ve won more than 700 games, 40 conferences, and nine state titles. But the Hilltoppers soccer team is also worth noting.
In fact, they’ve won 24 state titles since 1973 alone, including ten consecutive wins between 1994-2003. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America named them 1st in the nation in 99’ and 03’. Several major athletes have emerged from Marquette University, including former Green Bay Packers player Dick Bilda, and Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Dare Ogunbowale.
Sheridan High School
The Sheridan High varsity football team has earned 26 state titles – the most of any other high school in the state of Wyoming. However, most of the wins occurred between the 1920s and 1950s. But after they went for several years without any victories, they started to win again and earned the state championships in 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
The “Broncs” of Sheridan play a wide variety of sports, which includes basketball, football, volleyball, cross country, golf, track and field, and tennis. Sheridan High is known for having impressive academic as well as athletic programs and was named for having one of the highest collective athlete GPAs in 2017; an average of 3.52.