A BEVY OF GOOD CHOICES
High school is a formative experience in a person’s life; full of self-discovery, increased independence, and important milestones. As well as some unavoidable awkwardness and pain. Choosing the high school your teenager attends is a big decision and can be overwhelming, especially given the vast array of options. There are more than two dozen high schools in Salt Lake County, offering a range of opportunities and programs for specific interests.
Niche Homes has supported clients with buying homes in every school district in the Salt Lake Valley. We’ve gathered first-hand accounts from students and parents from across the spectrum to inform your decision. They all share one common bit of advice–know your priorities and choose accordingly.
“As much as possible, figure out what is important to your child's success and find a school that meets his or her needs.”
Lisa M.
PRIORITIZE AND PLAN
What are the most important aspects of the high school experience to you and your student? Are you more compelled by academic ratings or having a tight-knit community? By the time kids reach high school age certain traits usually become apparent. Some are drawn to perform, others are natural and committed athletes, or fascinated by science. For students who are focused on a particular field or career, there is likely a high school in the Salt Lake area that caters to their specific interests. We encourage you to spend some time thinking about your hopes and values and then finding the school that best aligns with them.
Logistics are another important consideration. How will your child get to and from school, especially if it’s not nearby? Are you willing and able to pay tuition? Does the school’s schedule fit in with other family members’ schedules? It’s wise to work through the transportation and scheduling arrangements before enrolling.
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
Every student is entitled to a free education at their local public high school. Many families go that route and are completely satisfied with their decision. Every public high school in the Salt Lake area offers something unique, such as an International Baccalaureate program, a strong emphasis on the arts, or a diverse student body. Students are allowed to attend a high school outside of their neighborhood boundary with a special variance, which will be explained later.
In addition to the standard public high schools, there are numerous public charter schools and private schools–both religious and secular–along the Wasatch Front. Private high schools vary by price, enrollment procedures, and curriculum.
Credit: FFKR Architects
PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS
Salt Lake County is divided into five school districts: Salt Lake City (SLC), Granite, Murray, Canyons, and Jordan. You can see the area for each district in the graphic below.
Each district has its own Board of Education which is elected to make decisions about the policies and procedures for the schools within the district. The Boards work with the Superintendents and administrators for their respective districts. The number and composition of high schools varies by the given population in each district; Granite School District has eight high schools while Murray has one.
Utah’s open-enrollment policy allows a student to transfer to any public school based on availability. Parents interested in enrolling their child in a different school or district other than their local school must submit an application during the open-enrollment window. For all Salt Lake County districts, this window is typically between December 1 and the third week of February.
A full-range of special education programs and related services are available from preschool to post-high school transition in all Salt Lake County School Districts. Districts work with students to develop IEP and 504 plans for class integration or special education programs.
Canyons School District High Schools
| School | Grades | Number of Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALTA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,314 | 11055 South 1000 East, Sandy, Utah 84094 |
| BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,921 | 2220 E 7695 S, Salt Lake City, UT, 84121 |
| CORNER CANYON HS | 9-12 | 2,022 | 12943 South 700 East, Draper, UT 84020 |
| *DIAMOND RIDGE HS | 11-12 | 150 | 9800 South 800 East – Sandy, UT 84094 |
| HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,948 | 7350 South 900 East, Midvale, UT 84047 |
| JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,964 | 95 Beetdigger Blvd, Sandy, UT 84070 |
Granite School District High Schools
| School | Grades | Number of Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTTONWOOD HS | 9-12 | 1,683 | 5715 S. 1300 E., Murray, UT 84121 |
| CYPRESS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,500 | 8623 W 3000 S, Magna, UT 84044 |
| GRANGER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 3,247 | 3580 3600 W, West Valley City, UT 84119 |
| *GRANITE CONNECTION | 9-12 | 402 | 501 E 3900 S, Millcreek, UT 84107 |
| HUNTER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,600 | 4200 S 5600 W, West Valley City, UT 84120 |
| KEARNS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,300 | 5525 Cougar Lane Kearns, UT 84118 |
| OLYMPUS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,583 | 4055 S 2300 E SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84124 |
| SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,044 | 3251 East 3760 South Salt Lake City, UT 84109 |
| TAYLORSVILLE HS | 9-12 | 1,863 | 5225 South Redwood Road Taylorsville, UT 84123 |
Jordan School District High Schools
| School | Grades | Number of Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| BINGHAM HS | 10-12 | 2,600 | 2160 S Jordan Parkway South Jordan, UT 84095 |
| COPPER HILLS HS | 10-12 | 2,700 | 5445 West 7800 South West Jordan, UT 84081 |
| HERRIMAN HS | 10-12 | 3,200 | 11917 South 6000 West Herriman, UT 84096 |
| KING’S PEAK VIRTUAL HS | 9-12 | ONLINE | |
| MOUNTAIN RIDGE HS | 10-12 | 1,500 | 14100 S. Sentinel Ridge Blvd., Herriman, UT 84096 |
| RIVERTON HS | 10-12 | 2,230 | 12476 S. Silverwolf Way, Riverton, UT 84065 |
| *VALLEY HS | 7-12 | 133 | 325 11000 S, South Jordan, UT 84095 |
| WEST JORDAN HS | 10-12 | 1,777 | 8136 2700 W, West Jordan, UT 84088 |
Murray School District
| School | Grades | Number of Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| MURRAY HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 1,500 | 5440 State St, Murray, UT 84107 |
Murray School District is the smallest school district in Salt Lake County and all of its elementary and junior high schools funnel into one high school–Murray High. Due its smaller size, and its ability to track students over time, it is known for being an approachable district with well-rounded programs.
Salt Lake City School District High Schools
| School | Grades | Number of Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,983 | 840 S 1300 E Salt Lake City, UT 84102 |
| HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,806 | 2166 S 1700 E Salt Lake City, UT 84106 |
| WEST HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 2,729 | 241 N 300 W Salt Lake City, UT 84103 |
| *HORIZONTE INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING CENTER | 7-12 | 329 | 1234 Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84101 |
| *INNOVATIONS EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 287 | 1700 S State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84115 |
Public Charter Schools
Public charter schools have gained momentum over the past few decades. These schools offer the core subjects with an emphasis on a certain curriculum, such as the performing arts or STEM. They are typically smaller schools and are not tied to a specific neighborhood. According to the Utah State Board of Education:
“Charter Schools are governed by independent boards and held accountable to a legally binding written contractual agreement with their authorizer. It is this charter agreement that allows for the operation of the charter school. They offer parents and students additional choices about where students attend school and the school's curricular emphasis. They allow educators freedom to try new strategies to inspire students and to experiment with innovative ways of educating students.”
Utah State Board of Education
Most charter schools begin accepting applications a year in advance, usually in September. By law, charter schools are required to have a lottery if they have more applicants than spots available. However, they are allowed to divide the year into application periods, often by month. At the end of each application period, applications turned in during that month are put in a random order through a lottery process. A waitlist, if any, is then generated. A student’s chance of acceptance is based on the number of applications, the number of openings and the number of people who accept or decline an offer of enrollment. Contact your charter school of interest for details.
Salt Lake City Area Public Charter High Schools
| School | Curriculum Focus | Grades | Number of Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMES | STEM | 9-12 | 484 | 5715 S 1300 E, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84121 |
| BEEHIVE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY | STEM | 7-12 | 295 | 2165 E 9400 S, SANDY UT 84093 |
| CITY ACADEMY | ARTS | 7-12 | 135 | 555 E 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 |
| REAL ACADEMY | SOCCER | 9-12 | 287 | 14750 South 3600 West, Herriman, UT, 84096 |
| ROOTS | FARM BASED | 9-12 | 190 | 2250 South 1300 West, West Valley, UT 84119 |
| SALT LAKE SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | ARTS | 9-12 | 287 | 2291 South 2000 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 |
| SUMMIT ACADEMY | ATHLETICS | 9-12 | 530 | 14942 South 560 West Bluffdale, UT 84065 |
Top-Rated Private Schools
Salt Lake City has some exceptional private high schools for parents looking for more individualized student attention or a like-minded community. Many schools offer financial assistance and tiered tuition pricing. We recommend contacting the school for the most current tuition information.
Salt Lake Area Private High Schools
| School | Grades | Number of Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUAN DIEGO CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 763 | 300 E 11800 S, Draper, UT 84020 |
| JUDGE MEMORIAL CATHOLIC HS | 9-12 | 720 | 650 South 1100 East Salt Lake City, UT 84102 |
| REALMS OF INQUIRY | 7-12 | 39 | 4998 Galleria Drive, Murray, UT, 84123 |
| ROWLAND HALL | Pre-K-12 | 941 | 843 Lincoln Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 |
| WATERFORD SCHOOL | Pre-K-12 | 900 | 1480 East 9400 South Sandy, UT 84093 |
PRIVATE AND CHARTER SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS
With its proximity to the University of Utah and BYU, Salt Lake County has some of the nation’s most progressive special-ability private, charter and public schools.
Highly regarded on state, national and international levels, the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning provides state-of-the-art intervention for individuals with autism through the age of 21. Read more about them in our blog, A Valentine for the Pingree Autism Center. Spectrum Academy is an innovative public K-12 charter school specializing in educating students with autism and other learning needs. The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) has been serving students who are deaf, blind, or deaf-blind throughout Utah for more than 100 years. The Utah Deaf School ranks #1 nationwide in high school completion rates for deaf students.
OTHER OPTIONS
The choices for your child’s high school education also include virtual learning and homeschooling. If either of these options seem right for your student we recommend contacting your local school district for more information.
HERE TO HELP
When it comes to high schools, Salt Lake County is full of good options. If you’re sorting through the choices and looking for more information or guidance, reach out to us!! Our team members have students attending public, private and charter schools in neighborhoods all along the Wasatch Front. We would be happy to share our experiences and advice.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Visit the school websites (hyperlinks can be found in the charts above)
- Read our other blogs about school choice:
- Meet with school counselors and PTA representatives for answers to specific questions
- School rating websites:
MEET THE SCHOOLS
Quotes from Parents and Students
Brighton High School
“I have had three children attend Brighton and we have been more than pleased with our experience.”
“Brighton High School, located in Cottonwood Heights, was recently reconstructed. The new building opened in 2021 and features impressive athletic facilities, state of the art automotive and shop areas, and modern safety and technology features that surpass many schools. Brighton High offers the AP capstone program (comparable to the IB Program), as well as the opportunity to attend CTEC (Canyons Technical Education Center) where students can earn technical certificates in their areas of interest.
Incoming freshmen who have participated in language immersion programs at the elementary and middle school levels have the opportunity to take their respective AP language test at the end of their ninth grade year and can continue with their language studies to earn additional college credits.
Brighton operates on a unique trimester schedule. Students take 5 courses at a time and attend the courses daily for twelve weeks instead of an entire semester. It is the only high school in the valley that uses this schedule and the majority of the community are staunch supporters of it. Some classes, such as AP courses, are held daily for an entire year. The increased seat time may be a contributing factor to the high AP test pass rate of Brighton students. Brighton has a variety of competitive sports teams which frequently place well in championships. There is also a growing and acclaimed music program and dozens of clubs and extracurricular opportunities.
I have had three children attend Brighton and we have been more than pleased with our experience. I was able to serve as a member of the school community council for several years and through this experience I gained a greater appreciation for the administration and school board. The teachers at the school are phenomenal!”
— Lisa R. Brighton High School Parent
Skyline High School
“Our daughter is a dancer, and Skyline offers two levels of dance teams – ‘company’ and ‘ensemble’. Many high schools only have one.”
“We wanted our daughter to have the option of IB, but be close to home as well. We both work, so having a school that is close in proximity to our home is very helpful. Skyline has an exceptional academic reputation among public high schools in the state, which was also important to us. Socially, Skyline seemed like a good fit for our daughter as well.
Our daughter is a dancer, and Skyline offers two levels of dance teams – “company” and “ensemble”. Many high schools only have one. This has given her the opportunity to be in the dance ensemble and perform at football games, concerts, etc. even though she did not make the dance company.
Skyline has a highly reputable ASL program that our daughter has enjoyed. The teacher, Jody Tolley, is exceptional. There are state competitions for ASL in which Skyline participates that our daughter was able to be involved with. Skyline also offers the IB program and has great options for AP and extracurriculars. The Granite Technical Institute (GTI) expands the options available to students by offering a wide range of classes in career and technical education.”
— Lisa M. Skyline High School Parent
West High School
“West has the academic classes I was seeking, specifically the option to do the International Baccalaureate diploma and AP classes.”
“Every high school will cater to a different type of student. Explore the community, administration, teachers, classes, clubs, and sports and pick the best option for you!
West has the academic classes I was seeking, specifically the option to do the International Baccalaureate diploma and AP classes. West has a diverse culture and rich history of being a downtown Salt Lake City High School. West has an IB Career Diploma for various trades to enter into right after graduating high school.
Amongst the diverse population, one can find almost anything they need! A wide variety of sports, clubs, and languages. Clubs include robotics, key club, HOSA, Latinos in Action, Black Student Union, Arabic Honors Society, French Club, Honors Society, Chess Club, Ultimate Frisbee, dance, etc. Languages include Arabic, French, Chinese, Spanish, and German.”
— Madelyn N. West High Student
West High School
“When I’m in the halls of West High, it feels like being in New York City, with greater racial and ethnic diversity than you will find nearly anywhere in the state of Utah.”
“We live in the Salt Lake City School District and have chosen to send two of our kids to West High. West is the school furthest from our home and it is the least convenient choice in terms of getting to and from school, but we were drawn to West initially for our oldest child because of the 7th /8th grade ELP program there. Our oldest daughter is now a senior at West, and one of my favorite things about the school is the diversity there.
When I’m in the halls of West High, it feels like being in New York City, with greater racial and ethnic diversity than you will find nearly anywhere in the state of Utah. I feel like West offers my kids a taste of what the world outside of Utah looks like, and my daughter’s group of friends has exposed her to different cultures, languages, and life experiences that have given her a broader perspective. West also offers one of the most robust IB (International Baccalaureate) programs in the state, it’s been an important part of West’s culture for over 30 years. The intellectual rigor of the program and the spirit of IB, which encourages curiosity, exploration and excellence, shows up in the students of West High – I’m continually impressed with the maturity, poise and intelligence of our IB students.”
— Amy J. West High School Parent
East High School
“When it comes to supporting our peers, East High students do not play around. Every sporting event is SO, SO FUN!”
“I am a sucker for school spirit and traditions! East has amazing athletic teams and a super outgoing student body. I was also intrigued by East High’s Dance Company and Dance Krew! When it comes to supporting our peers, East High students do not play around. Every sporting event is SO, SO FUN! East also has talented actors/actresses, singers, dancers, musicians and more who love to perform. So whether it’s going to a musical or dressing up for a football game, you’ll feel the excitement and support in the air!
As of 2021, East is now an AP school. You have the opportunity to graduate with an AP Diploma. As a student, you can join the Health Professions Academy. By the end of your senior year, you can work as a MA, CNA, EMT, etc. East also offers tech school classes. You can learn how to be a nail technician, barber, or dental hygienist. You can also take classes about different aspects of forensic science or law enforcement!
Equality and unity are a focus within the walls of East High. The Black Student Union, Latin X Student Union, Polynesian Academic Club, and the East Anti-Racism Society are four of many clubs offered! You can also join multiple service and mental health awareness clubs.”
— Megan G. East High School Student
Herriman High School
“The school offers many concurrent enrollment college and AP classes that have given my kids opportunities to work towards their college degrees in the high school setting.”
“Herriman High School is the feeder school for the boundaries we live in. We knew we wanted our kids to stay in a local school and after reviewing all of the high schools in our district, we felt Herriman was the best choice. Attending a school with a positive and uplifting group of peers was an important factor for our school choice.
The administration and teachers at the high school have a solid reputation for helping the students succeed and be prepared for college. The school offers many concurrent enrollment college and AP classes that have given my kids opportunities to work towards their college degrees in the high school setting. We have been very happy about our school choice at Herriman High School.”
— Kristin K. Herriman High School Parent
Murray High School
“I’ve had a chance to discover what I am passionate about and some possible career options through my time at Murray High.”
“Murray High School is a safe place for all students. The school gives each student an equal opportunity to explore their interests. I’ve had a chance to discover what I am passionate about and some possible career options through my time at Murray High.”
— Addie H. Murray High School Student
Highland High School
“I love that the kids can leave high school with an employable certificate or trade.“
“One of the things that I love about Highland is that the programs are as diverse as the student body. There are programs from trades to AP and IB. I love that the kids can leave high school with an employable certificate or trade. There is something for everyone.”
— Sarah W. Highland High School Parent
Highland High School
“We also love the diversity mixed with top notch educational standards.“
“Our advice is to get as involved as possible! We are particularly fans of the tennis team (it has a no-cut policy, so it’s a big inclusive group of students, and the boys and girls teams are integrated so they mutually support each other). Also the French teacher is fabulous. She’s started a French club that consists of wearing berets and eating pastries (we want to join as parents! Ha!). We also love the diversity mixed with top notch educational standards.”
— Holli Y. Highland High School Parent
Niche Homes is a full-service real estate agency specializing in Wasatch Front neighborhoods and enclaves. Contact us if you are interested in buying or selling a home.
