Canyons District high schools showed strong demand and high performance in recent rankings. Even with expanding school choice, 83 percent of local high school students chose Canyons schools, supplemented by 770 students enrolling from outside district boundaries.
This demand was supported by independent rankings where all five of the district's comprehensive schools placed among the top 20 in Salt Lake according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Four of those schools also ranked within the top 30 statewide.
Tom Sherwood, the District’s Director of High Schools, stated that the high schools continued to hold their place among the best, which he said reflects the consistency of programs and student outcomes. He noted that the district focuses on ensuring students graduate ready for future endeavors and that these rankings affirm that work.
The U.S. News & World Report methodology for rating schools included six factors: graduation rates, early-college opportunities, state tests, and college readiness. When evaluating test scores, the magazine examined the percentage of students achieving proficient or above proficient levels in math, reading, and language arts assessments.
Sherwood also noted that Canyons schools continue to stand out within Utah's high-performing educational landscape.
The 2026 U.S. News and World Report rankings for the best high schools in the Salt Lake Metro Area included the following Canyons District schools:
4th Place: Corner Canyon High
8th Place: Brighton High
9th Place: Alta High
12th Place: Hillcrest High
18th Place: Jordan High
