From stars of the past like Jesse Owens, Jack Nicklaus and Ken Griffey Jr. to a man many consider to be the greatest basketball player of all time in LeBron James, Ohio’s rich sports history is right up there as one of the best in the country.
That distinction continues today, with elite athletes grabbing headlines at the high school level and beyond. At the same time, the high school landscape remains integral to the storylines, setting the stage for the action.
Which Ohio high schools are considered the best for athletes in 2026?
According to a study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for “reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school”—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.
25. Minster Junior/Senior High School
Total number of sports: 14
24. Anderson High School (Cincinnati)
Total number of sports: 30
23. St. Francis de Sales School (Toledo)
Total number of sports: 15
22. Chardon High School
Total number of sports: 22
21. Olmsted Falls High School
Total number of sports: 24
20. Central Catholic High School (Toledo)
Total number of sports: 25
19. New Albany High School
Total number of sports: 23
18. Mariemont High School (Cincinnati)
Total number of sports: 22
17. Olentangy Liberty High School (Powell)
Total number of sports: 26
16. The Summit Country Day School (Cincinnati)
Total number of sports: 24
15. Pickerington High School Central (Pickerington)
Total number of sports: 27
14. Saint Ursula Academy (Toledo)
Total number of sports: 13
13. Perrysburg High School
Total number of sports: 24
12. La Salle High School (Cincinnati)
Total number of sports: 14
11. Magnificat High School (Rocky River)
Total number of sports: 15
10. Upper Arlington High School (Upper Arlington)
Total number of sports: 30
9. Gilmour Academy (Gates Mills)
Total number of sports: 26
8. Hudson High School (Hudson)
Total number of sports: 25
7. Archbishop Hoban High School (Akron)
Total number of sports: 27
6. Elder High School (Cincinnati)
Total number of sports: 14
5. Mount Notre Dame High School (Cincinnati)
Total number of sports: 11
4. Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland)
Total number of sports: 16
3. Archbishop Moeller High School (Cincinnati)
Total number of sports: 16
2. St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati)
Total number of sports: 17
1. St. Edward High School (Lakewood)
Total number of sports: 17
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: See which Ohio high schools were named best for athletes in 2026