All five Douglas County School System high schools have earned spots on U.S. News & World Report's List of Best High Schools in America.

Douglas County High School led all county schools on the list, which was released Aug. 18, placing 158th among 433 Georgia high schools ranked and 96th in metro Atlanta.

Nationally, DCHS ranked No. 6,096 out of nearly 18,000 ranked schools, putting it in the top 34% in the country. DCHS also ranked higher than all but two high schools in neighboring districts, including Bremen City, Carroll County, Carrollton City, Haralson County and Paulding County.

Chapel Hill ranked No. 210 on the list, followed by Alexander at No. 250, New Manchester at No. 261 and Lithia Springs at No. 265.

Among the areas where Douglas County High School stood out in the rankings was math, with a proficiency rate of 33% that topped both the district and state averages. U.S. News also cited Douglas County's reading and science proficiency rates in the rankings.

Kenja Parks, Executive Director of School Improvement and Building Operations, served as principal at DCHS for five years before moving into her current role for the 2026-2027 school year. Parks said the national recognition for Douglas County is well deserved.

"What an incredible honor it is for Douglas County High School to be recognized on a national scale by U.S. News & World Report," Parks said. "This distinction is a testament to the hard work, dedication and collective commitment of our students, teachers and leaders.

"Douglas County High School is truly a special place where students have the opportunity to experience all that high schools should offer, from rigorous academics and academic competitions to athletics, fine arts, student organizations and a vibrant school culture filled with Tiger Pride.

"Most importantly, our continued gains reflect a school community committed to growth, achievement and intentional relationships which are captured in the data. The graduation rate for the four-year cohort climbed 10 percentage points over five years, from 84% to 94%. Over the course of three years, Algebra and Biology saw an increase of 10%, while U.S. History made the largest gains by almost 20%.

"Together, we believed that our students could flourish and together we celebrate their success."

Schools are ranked based on six factors: college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, college curriculum breadth, underserved student performance and graduation rate. College readiness measures participation and performance on AP and IB exams.

"This national recognition affirms the intentional work that raises the bar by expanding opportunities and creating an environment where every student can build a legacy of excellence," Parks added.

To view the full rankings, visit U.S. News & World Report's Best High Schools rankings.