2026 Best Secondary Schools in York Area

York secondary schools achieve an average Attainment 8 score of 46, well above England's 39, with an average FMS Inspection Score of 8.2/10, Excellent band, compared with England's 7.4/10 (Good). Archbishop Holgate's School leads among state secondary schools with strong GCSE results, while Queen Ethelburga's Prep School and Bootham School are top-ranked independent options. With 22 schools serving York, families across the historic city have access to a mix of high-performing comprehensives and selective independent schools. The city's academic heritage enriches the educational environment, with many schools benefiting from university partnerships and cultural resources. Use the search filters to compare schools by Attainment 8 or FMS Inspection Score.