MaxPreps Cup: Top 10 high school sports programs since 2018

The MaxPreps Cup honors the nation’s premier high school athletic programs and over the past decade 10 schools have consistently separated themselves from the field. Leading the way is Carmel (Ind.), which sits atop the 2025-26 standings.

Carmel racked up 1,408 points during the fall season, opening an 80-point cushion over No. 2 Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.).

Since 2018, Carmel has established itself as the most dominant program in the country according to the MaxPreps Cup dynasty rankings, narrowly edging La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.) and Bentonville (Ark.) for the top overall spot.

The dynasty rankings compile total points earned in the MaxPreps Cup standings from 2018 through 2025, excluding the COVID-affected 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons when many states did not complete full schedules. 

Although the MaxPreps Cup dates back to 2012, the scoring formula was revised in 2018 to factor in enrollment division size and number of participating schools.

Across the six seasons included in the dynasty rankings, Carmel finished no lower than 18th nationally and placed in the top 10 four times. The Greyhounds also claimed the Cup during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign, a year not counted in the dynasty totals.

Carmel captured 31 state championships during that six-year span. The accomplishment is even more impressive considering Indiana crowns a single state champion in sports such as cross country, swimming, track and field and golf.

La Salle Academy amassed 53 state titles over the same period, finished in the top 10 five times and totaled 10,853 points. Bentonville added 45 state championships and 10,822 points, highlighted by three consecutive third-place finishes in the most recent MaxPreps Cup standings. The Tigers won the Cup in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

The top 10 programs in the dynasty rankings are listed along with their yearly state championship totals and MaxPreps Cup finishes. Each school's overall point total represents the combined sum from the six qualifying seasons.

The MaxPreps Cup formula awards points for state championships, runner-up finishes and appearances in national rankings. Scoring is weighted based on factors such as state size, sport popularity, enrollment division size and number of participating schools.

Top athletic programs since 2018

1. Carmel (Ind.) — 11,057

2. La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.) — 10,853
2018: No. 9, boys soccer, football, girls soccer, girls tennis, boys indoor track, girls basketball, girls indoor track, boys ice hockey, boys lacrosse
2019: No. 3, girls tennis, girls soccer, girls ice hockey, girls indoor track, girls swimming, girls basketball, girls track, boys lacrosse, girls softball
2022: No. 2, boys soccer, boys cross country, girls tennis, girls cross country, boys indoor track, girls indoor track, boys golf, boys lacrosse, boys tennis, boys track, girls track
3. Bentonville (Ark.) — 10,822

4. Westminster (Atlanta, Ga.) — 10,135

5. Jesuit (Portland, Ore.) — 10,075

6. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) — 9,771

7. Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii) — 9,672

8. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) — 9,046

9. Champlain Valley Union (Hinesburg, Vt.) — 9,045
2018: No. 24, boys volleyball, girls soccer, girls cross country, girls gymnastics, girls tennis, boys lacrosse
2019: No. 24, boys golf, girls cross country, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls tennis, baseball, boys lacrosse2025: No. 12, boys golf, boys soccer, football, girls golf, girls soccer, girls cross country, girls indoor track, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, girls tennis, girls track