List of the oldest public high schools in the United States

The following are the oldest public high schools in the United States that are still in operation. While some of these schools have operated as private schools in the past, all are currently public schools. The list does not include schools that have closed or consolidated with another school to form a new institution. The list is ordered by date of creation, and currently includes schools formed before 1870.

Boston Latin School (1635), Boston, MassachusettsAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1761. Hartford Public High School (1638), Hartford, ConnecticutR.J. Luke Williams, Hartford Public High School: A Historic School , Retrieved February 14, 2008. Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (1648), Cambridge, MassachusettsThe Harvard Crimson, "Fifteen Minutes: Trouble in the House", Retrieved December 12, 2008. Hopkins School (1660), New Haven, Connecticut Hopkins Academy (1664), Hadley, MassachusettsHopkins Academy Alumni Association, " ", Retrieved January 9, 2010. Academy of Richmond County (1773), Augusta, Georgia'', Retrieved December 11, 2023. Erasmus Hall (1786), Brooklyn, New York' Glynn Academy (1788), Brunswick, Georgia'Glynn Academy > Campus History , Retrieved June 25, 2008. Canandaigua Academy (1791), Canandaigua, New York"Canandaigua Academy, " ", Retrieved December 3, 2015. Westford Academy (1792), Westford, Massachusetts Oxford Academy and Central Schools (1794), Oxford, New YorkFred Lanfear, Oxford, Charleston, S.C., Arcadia Publishing, 2011, p. 71. New London Acadamey (1795), Forest, Virginiahttps://bedfordnla.sharpschool.net/about_us/history_of_nla Newburgh Free Academy (1796), Newburgh, New YorkAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1810. Woodstock Academy (1801), Woodstock, Connecticut ("a quasi-private, independent school") Monmouth Academy (1803), Monmouth, Maine Bacon Academy (1803), Colchester, ConnecticutAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1705. Hampden Academy (1803), Hampden, Mainehttp://www.ha.sad22.us, History of Hampden Academy, Retrieved February 14, 2008. Pinkerton Academy (1814), Derry, New Hampshire (not strictly public, yet not private) Columbia High School (1814), Maplewood, New JerseyJ. Fanning, Columbia High School History Overview , Retrieved February 14, 2008. Cony High School (1815), Augusta, Maine Bel Air High School (1816), Bel Air, Maryland Pembroke Academy (1818), Pembroke, New Hampshire Delaware Academy (1819), Delhi, New YorkDelhi Central School District, History of Delaware Academy, Retrieved February 14, 2008. English High School of Boston (1821), Boston, Massachusetts Portland High School (1821), Portland, MainePortland High School, School History: The Heritage of Portland High School , Retrieved February 13, 2008. Kentucky School for the Deaf (1823), Danville, KentuckyNational Park Service, Jacobs Hall, Kentucky School for the Deaf , Retrieved February 14, 2008. Prattsburgh Central School (1823), Prattsburgh, New YorkAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1812. New Bedford High School (1827), New Bedford, MassachusettsAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1764. Norcross High School (1827), Norcross, Georgia Keene High School (1828), Keene, New HampshireSimon Goodell Griffin;, et al., A history of the town of Keene from 1732, when the township was granted by Massachusetts, to 1874, when it became a city., Keene, N.H., Sentinel Print. Co., 1904, p. 404. Elyria High School (1830), Elyria, Ohio Lahainaluna High School (1831), Maui, HawaiiHawaii Department of Education, , Retrieved December 12, 2008. Leon High School (1831), Tallahassee, FloridaLeon High School Alumni Association, Leon High School History, Retrieved February 14, 2008. Lowell High School (1831), Lowell, MassachusettsAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1763. Newburyport High School (1831), Newburyport, MassachusettsNewburyport High School, The Clipper's Compass: A Student Handbook, 65th ed. Woodward High School (1831), Cincinnati, OhioThe Early History of Cincinnati Public Schools , Retrieved August 14, 2008. Cambridge High School (1834), Cambridge, IllinoisAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1714. Medford High School (1835), Medford, Massachusetts Bellevue High School (1836), Bellevue, MichiganAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1767. Central High School (1836), Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAmy B. Werbel, "For "Our Age and Country:" Nineteenth-Century Art Education at Central High School ", Central High School Alumni Exhibition, Philadelphia, Pa.: Woodmere Art Museum, 2002, pp. 6-12. Auburn High School (1837), Auburn, AlabamaMollie Hollifield, Auburn: Lovliest Village of the Plain (S.l.: s.n., 1955), 72; "Auburn Town Lots for Sale", Columbus Enquirer, December 22, 1836; "To the Public.", Columbus Enquirer, February 22, 1838. Windsor High School (1837), Windsor, New YorkAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1815. Barringer High School (1838), Newark, New JerseyBarringer High School, Home of the Blue Bears: Barringer High School History , Retrieved February 13, 2008. Cohasset High School (1838), Cohasset, Massachusetts Nantucket High School (1838), Nantucket, MassachusettsInglis, Alexander James (1911). The Rise of the High School in Massachusetts, Columbia University, p. 97. PPA97,M1 Taunton High School (1838), Taunton, MassachusettsAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1765. Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind (1838), Staunton, VirginiaVirginia School for the Deaf and Blind, Retrieved February 14, 2008. Baltimore City College (1839), Baltimore, MarylandAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1758. Gloucester High School (1839), Gloucester, Massachusetts Middletown High School (1840), Middletown, Connecticut Brighton High School (1841), Boston, MassachusettsAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1760. Haverhill High School (1841), Haverhill, MassachusettsAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1762. Warren Easton Charter High School, formerly known as Boys High School (1843), New Orleans, Louisiana Brookline High School (1843), Brookline, Massachusetts Classical High School (1843), Providence, Rhode IslandAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1851. Drury High School (1843), North Adams, Massachusetts1898 Drury High School, Retrieved February 14, 2008. Tennessee School for the Deaf (1844), Knoxville, TennesseeA History of the School, retrieved July 26, 2011. Western High School (1844), Baltimore, MarylandAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1759. Charlestown High School (1845), Boston, Massachusetts Lyons High School (1845), Lyons, New YorkAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1809. Mary D. Bradford High School (1845), Kenosha, WisconsinA History of Kenosha Central Senior High School, retrieved July 26, 2011. New Braunfels High School (1845), New Braunfels, TexasDabney, Edgar Robert, The Settlement of New Braunfels and the History of Its Earlier Schools, University of Texas, 1927. Windsor High School (1845), Windsor, VermontAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1868. Chelsea High School (1846), Chelsea, Massachusetts Concord High School (1846), Concord, New Hampshire, retrieved July 26, 2011. Georgia School for the Deaf (1846), Cave Spring, GeorgiaGeorgia Deaf History , retrieved July 26, 2011. Manchester Central High School (1846), Manchester, New HampshirePrincipal's Message, retrieved July 26, 2011. Pine Tree High School (1847), Longview, Texas Biddeford High School (1848), Biddeford, MaineAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1755. Lockport High School (1848), Lockport, New York Philadelphia High School for Girls (1848), Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPublic Education in Philadelphia: Philadelphia High School for Girls, retrieved July 26, 2011. B.M.C. Durfee High School (1849), Fall River, Massachusetts Charlotte High School (1849), Charlotte, MichiganAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1768. Fitchburg High School (1849), Fitchburg, Massachusetts Lawrence High School (1849), Lawrence, Massachusetts Rockport High School (1849), Rockport, Massachusetts Waltham High School (1849), Waltham, Massachusetts Ypsilanti High School (1849), Ypsilanti, MichiganAnnual reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1902. Report of the Commissioner of Education. Volume 2., Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1775. Innovation Central High School (1850), Grand Rapids, Michigan (AKA Grand Rapids High School) Somerville High School (1852), Somerville, Massachusetts Central High School (Commonly called Central VPA High School) (1853), St. Louis, Missouri Pottsville Area High School (1853), Pottsville, Pennsylvania Holmes Junior/Senior High School (1853), Covington, Kentucky New Albany High School (1853), New Albany, Indiana Arundel High School (1854), Gambrills, Maryland Norwich Free Academy (1854), Norwich, Connecticut (a "quasi-private school," "privately governed, independent secondary school") Weymouth High School (1854) Sacramento High School (1856), Sacramento, California