Michigan: Here’s the No. 1 Public and Private High School in the State

There's a fresh ranking of public and private high schools across the U.S., and a handful of Michigan schools have been named the best. It's great to see our state so well-represented in a list like this. Getting a great high school education is crucial to anyone looking to succeed and thrive in life. My parents were high school educators, so I'm always extra curious to see a list like this. So, what's the No. 1 public and private high school in the state?

Niche has released their 10th annual Best Schools and Districts Rankings for 2024. The study looks at about 125,000 public and private schools throughout the U.S. "While traditional rankings rely almost exclusively on metrics like test scores and academic performance, Niche’s rankings combine user input — ratings from current students, alumni and parents — with quantitative data from sources like the U.S.," Niche states in the article. "Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities, extracurricular activity opportunities and more."

Let's count down to No. 1 for the best public high schools in the state. Coming in at No. 5 in the state is International Academy/Oakland Schools. No. 4 is Novi High School/Novi Community School District, followed by Troy High School/Troy School District at No. 3; and Huron High School/Ann Arbor Public Schools at No. 2. The No. 1 best public high school in Michigan is Washtenaw International High School/Washtenaw Independent School District.

Now, onto the best private high schools in the state. Coming in at No. 5 is Interlochen Arts Academy/Interlochen. Then, there's Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit/West Bloomfield at No. 4; Detroit Country Day/Beverly Hills at No. 3; and Greenhills School/Ann Arbor at No. 2. So, what's No. 1? That's Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills. Find the full list of the best public and private high schools in the state here.

The fall season is a glorious time in America. From coast to coast, many different areas off beautiful fall colors in radiant reds, oranges and yellows. So, what are the most beautiful spots for fall colors in America?

Peak fall foliage season is different based on where you are located. Some areas of the U.S. see fall colors as early as September, while others peak later on, such as in October or even November. Generally speaking, areas with longer winters will have earlies fall colors, and areas with longer summers will have later fall colors. Most of America hits peak fall foliage season in the month of October. Of course, areas bordering Canada will be the first to see those colors.

If you're wondering the science behind the fall colors, the color that the leaves become depends on a few factors. Those include the chlorophyll and weather conditions during the summer or fall. Chlorophyll is a pigment that aids in giving leaves their color. In general, big changes from the norm in precipitation, whether it's getting way too much rain or not enough, can really impact the fall foliage season.

Also, I remember last year, the radiant colors in my area fell off the trees early. The reason was that we had a wind storm come through, so the leaves fell prematurely. I was pretty upset about it, because not only do I like to see beautiful fall colors, I also like to paint fall colors. So, my muse was gone.

That said, if you are in the mood to view fall colors this year, here are some great places to do it. Read on for 10 Beautiful spots in America for fall colors. What are your favorite areas to see fall foliage? Reach out to me on social media here and let me know.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning any time of the year, but especially in the fall. The trees on this 469-mile Appalachian attraction turn beautiful shades in the fall, so it's a splendor for the senses. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and is divided into four districts: the Ridge region, the Plateau region, the Highlands region, and the Pisgah region.

If you're looking for a late spot to view vibrant fall colors, then we have just the area for you. Vogel State Park, located around the Chattahoochee National Forest in Blairsville, Georgia, is a great area to see fall foliage going into the first half of November. It's a great late-season trip.

https://gastateparks.org/Vogel

Cape May in New Jersey is a delightful area to see autumn colors later in the season. From mid-October and through November, the colors here are bright. Don't miss the views of the historic lighthouses in the area, too, plus all the area parks.

https://www.capemay.com/

Lamoille Canyon in Nevada offers some stunning looks in the autumn months. The area is located in the Ruby Mountains and offers a wide array of fall colors with plenty of different kinds of trees. You can drive on the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a prime view.

https://travelnevada.com/outdoor-recreation/lamoille-canyon-ruby-mountains/

The north parts of Michigan are glorious in the fall months. Traverse City is located on Lake Michigan, and in the fall, the trees turn bright orange and yellow. This area gets really cold in the winter, so the summer and fall months are the best time to travel there. Spring is nice, too.

https://www.michigan.org/city/traverse-city

I know what you're thinking. Fall colors in Florida? The Sunshine State isn't known for their fall colors, but Torreya State Park offers some great, late-season views. The area has quite a few varieties of trees that show their colors in early November. It's worth the road trip, if you live south of there.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/torreya-state-park

Waterfalls and fall colors? That sounds great to me. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park has one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This state park is huge, too, offering 50,000 acres of forest. It's beautiful in the fall.

https://www.michigan.org/property/tahquamenon-falls-state-park

The Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special, historical area, because it's the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in 1776. Aside from its history, this Pennsylvania landmark is beautiful in the fall. It offers plenty of bright trees, as well as a colonial reenactment event.

https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/

The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has some of the greatest fall foliage in America. It also has one of the longest fall foliage seasons, so you get plenty of time to take it in. The colors can arrive as early as the middle of September and go all the way through the middle of November. Take it in.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers a great spot for a hike in the middle part of October, because the colors are so vivid. Expect a delightful view of the vibrant colors. It's a nice area if you don't want to travel to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont, and it's a bit more off the radar.