LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lafayette High School has been ranked ninth among Kentucky public high schools in the 2026-27 Best High Schools list released by U.S. News & World Report, with Henry Clay High School placing 13th to lead Fayette County Public Schools' performance in the statewide rankings.

The achievement reflects strong academic performance at Lafayette, which maintains a 97 percent graduation rate and has nearly half its students taking at least one Advanced Placement exam. The ranking methodology evaluates schools based on six key performance indicators, including student achievement on state-required tests, college readiness, how well schools serve all students, curriculum breadth, and overall student outcomes.

In the broader Lexington metropolitan area, Lafayette topped all schools by earning the number one spot, followed by Henry Clay in second place. Frederick Douglass High School ranked fourth in the metro area, with Paul Laurence Dunbar fifth, Bryan Station seventh, and Tates Creek rounding out the top 10.

U.S. News & World Report evaluates eligible public high schools at national, state, and local levels to produce its annual rankings. The Lexington area results encompass schools from Fayette County and surrounding counties within the metro region.