Most Loved High School Subjects: What Students Really Prefer

Trying to find the most loved subject in high school is like asking people their favorite pizza topping—everyone has a strong opinion, and the answers cover a wild range. But when you look at massive student surveys and actual data from the past decade, some patterns jump out. For years, the usual suspects—English, Math, and Science—jostled for the top spot. But if we dig into why kids love what they love, you spot some surprising reasons behind those preferences. Did you know that in the annual YouthTruth survey, over 45% of high schoolers chose English (Language Arts) as their favorite class, with Science sneaking up close behind? That flips what your math teacher always says about numbers ruling the world, right? Yet, the secret sauce isn't just the subject. It's the teacher's style, the way topics connect to real life, and even what kind of future paths students see for themselves. Buckle up, because what high schoolers truly crave might not be what you expect.

What Makes a Subject the 'Most Loved'

There's nothing magic about a textbook, but the right subject can work magic on a bored teenager. For most teens, the subjects they love aren't just about easy A's or fun projects; it's about how that subject fits into their lives or makes them feel a spark. English grabs a big crowd thanks to its space for opinions, creativity, and discussing things that actually matter to students—like novels set in rough schools, debates over banned books, or slam poetry sessions. The National Center for Education Statistics found that even in 2023, most loved subject in high school responses pointed to the subjects letting kids “express themselves” as the ones holding their loyalty.

Look at Science for a minute. It climbed the rankings in the last five years, especially after hands-on STEM programs and even TV shows like "Stranger Things" made physics and biology cool again. Teachers who mix in experiments, group projects, and science competitions draw big crowds. One Chicago public school I visited set up a forensics lab where students got to "solve" mock crime cases, and suddenly the most reluctant kids were fighting to take advanced biology as juniors. These real-world connections completely reshape how students relate to learning.

Then there's Math. Yeah, it gets a reputation for being the least liked, but a chunk of students—especially those into puzzles, games, or computer coding—absolutely adore math class when it's interactive. The more flexible schools bring in coding projects or math-related art, and the enthusiasm goes up. According to a Pew Research Center study from spring 2024, classrooms that mixed in real-life statistics or sports data had a 28% jump in reported student enjoyment. The trick? Make it make sense, and students will love it.

But it's not just about the books and tests—think about the teacher. Ask any tenth grader in Chicago which class is best, and they'll shout out a teacher's name before even naming the subject. Charismatic teachers who listen, who care about what students think, and who push them to try weird, creative stuff become legendary. A fun study by the American Psychological Association in 2022 clocked this: students with a “trusted adult” in a subject class were twice as likely to rate it as their favorite, no matter what the subject actually was. That connection can even convince a die-hard science kid to fall in love with writing.

Finally, the wave of electives—like Art, Music, or Computer Science—is reshaping what “most loved” means. Courses where students feel autonomy, create something their own, or see direct connections to modern life are grabbing more headlines than ever. Computer Science in particular, with its promise of jobs and new technology, jumped into the fourth favorite spot in nationwide surveys run by YouthTruth. There's nothing fake about that trend—students are hungry for skills they actually think they'll use, both now and years from graduation.

The Big Players: Breaking Down Top High School Subjects

The top three have held their thrones forever—English, Science, and Math. But their hold isn't just tradition. There's a running argument between English and Science for “most loved,” with Math usually tucked in third. But why does it shake down that way?

English, for one, brings a bit of everything—storytelling, debate, blasting through current news, and even watching movies "for homework". It's the class where you might stage a mock trial, write dystopian short stories, or perform scenes from Shakespeare with ridiculous accents. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores from 2024 echo this—student engagement with reading and writing tasks correlates with higher student satisfaction. And engagement spikes when reading isn't just about classics, but books that reflect students' lives now—think Angie Thomas or Jason Reynolds, not just Dickens. So it’s no shock that students put English at the top.

Science is hardly playing second fiddle, though. A ton of students credit lab work with sparking their interest. In 2022, the Illinois Science Assessment reported a 15% increase in science club memberships and STEM contest participation, and student surveys put "lab days" as their favorite class events. Teachers with wild demos—think elephant toothpaste or dissecting cow eyes—always come up in student stories. Plus, the growth of environmental science classes, robotics clubs, and hands-on tech, especially in schools that landed pandemic recovery grants, leveled up science’s cool factor.

Math sways between love and hate, but schools getting creative are changing minds. Gamified lessons, stock market simulations, or even sports brackets that run the numbers draw in all sorts of students. According to a 2023 MIT Learning Lab report, sophomore math classes using blended game-based teaching saw test scores jump and student “joy” ratings double compared to traditional classes.

But here’s a twist: Art and Music may not be official “core” subjects, but they run strong in the rankings. In Chicago Public Schools, 38% of students polled put an elective (usually Art or Music) as their favorite. Why? These classes tap into stress relief, personal expression, and a sense of accomplishment that’s different from the pressure cooker of core classes. And with mental health finally getting attention, these subjects keep getting love.

Check out this data table based on a 2025 survey of 12,000 high schoolers nationwide:

Patterns shake down differently if you look by region, age, or even gender—some Midwest schools report spikes in Agriculture Science, while urban schools favor Media Arts. More than ever, what students love reflects what matters to their world right now, not just the standards.

How to Find (and Fuel) Your Own Favorite Subject

So, if you’re a high schooler searching for what you’ll actually like, here’s the real trick: experiment and pay attention to when you lose track of time or find yourself telling others about what you learned in class. It’s less about picking what everyone’s voting for, and more about hacking your own enthusiasm.

Start by mapping out what sparks you—do you get caught up arguing your case, getting your hands dirty, or figuring out nitty-gritty problems? If you like telling stories or debating, English and Social Studies are obvious homes. Drawn to why stuff works, or how the world ticks? Science or Math could surprise you. For those building things or coding late at night, Computer Science, Engineering, or Visual Arts are your lanes.

You don’t have to be a natural hero in a subject to love it, either. Some of the most obsessed students in Science or English start out average but get charged up by the right teacher, a fun unit, or a club. Try out electives that sound just a bit wild or new, even if you worry you’ll mess up—Art, Robotics, Drama, Digital Media. In Chicago, tons of students only found their “thing” by joining afterschool photography or startup coding clubs. If choice feels out of reach, talk to teachers about what’s possible—they’ll usually give you a shot at something outside the strict curriculum.

Here are some solid tips for sniffing out your favorite subject:

• Check out club fairs early in the year; those “nerdy” booths often hide big surprises.
• Ask teachers or friends about special elective or advanced options for juniors and seniors.
• Use projects as an excuse to do something out of left field—like a math video game, real-world science experiment, or creative writing zine.
• Pay attention to afterschool programs; these usually feel more relaxed and experimental than the main classes.
• Notice when you like what you're doing—even if it's just a small part—then see what subjects hit the same spot.

Don’t ignore how much a great teacher can change everything. If someone leads the kind of class where you can actually laugh, or try wild ideas, sign up for more, even if you aren't sure about the subject itself. On the flip side, don’t get discouraged just because you don’t click with a required class—it might just be about the format, not the topic. There’s almost always a way to rebuild how you interact with the subject, whether that’s through clubs, online resources, or hands-on projects.

Stick with your gut, take chances, and don’t box yourself in just because your friends are taking Spanish or Chemistry or Ceramics. Your future favorite subject might be waiting where you least expect it—and once you find it, school doesn’t just get easier; it’s actually something to look forward to. Who knows? That oddball elective or offbeat teacher might just flip the script and make you love learning way more than you ever thought possible.