Brighton High School landed at No. 19 in Utah and earned "Best High Schools" status in U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 rankings, released Tuesday, Aug. 18. The Cottonwood Heights school posted a 48 percent AP participation rate among seniors, a key factor in the methodology.

Brighton was one of four Canyons School District high schools to make the cut. Alta, Corner Canyon and Hillcrest also earned the designation, which goes to schools finishing in the top 40 percent of nearly 18,000 public high schools evaluated nationwide.

The recognition matters here.

As we reported Aug. 18, the new rankings reshuffled several local schools. Corner Canyon climbed to No. 5 in the state, according to the Canyons District, while Olympus High in Holladay also earned a top-tier spot. Brighton's 48 percent AP participation rate trails Olympus's 58 percent but still helped push the Bengal program into the top 20 statewide.

U.S. News weighs college readiness at 30 percent of each school's score, measuring how many 12th graders took at least one AP or International Baccalaureate exam, with extra weight for qualifying scores. The rankings also factor graduation rates, state assessment proficiency, college curriculum breadth and performance among underserved students. Data comes from the 2023-2024 school year, produced with research firm RTI International.

"Each of our high schools has its own programs and traditions while sharing a commitment to high expectations and preparing students for what comes next," Canyons District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood said in the district's announcement.

Sherwood previously served as Brighton's principal before moving to his current district-level role. Brighton enrolls roughly 2,435 students in grades 8 through 12.

For families weighing course loads this fall, the formula offers a concrete takeaway: AP participation and qualifying scores carry outsized weight in the rankings, meaning students who sit for exams and perform well directly lift their school's standing.