Marching band is one of the quintessential experiences available to high school students in America. Those who attend schools with thriving music departments can participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity centered on music, spirit, and teamwork. HS bands are responsible for pumping up their football team and the audience at games, adding a stirring musical element to local parades and other functions, and sometimes competing in regional and national contests for choreographed musical routines. Learn more about the top 10 best high school bands and their achievements.
| No. | School Name | State | Band Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avon High School | Indiana | Marching Black and Gold |
| 2 | Carmel High School | Indiana | The Marching Greyhounds |
| 3 | Broken Arrow High School | Oklahoma | The Pride of Broken Arrow |
| 4 | Vandegrift High School | Texas | Vandegrift Marching Band |
| 5 | Hebron High School | Texas | The Hebron Band |
| 6 | Flower Mound High School | Texas | Flower Mound High School Competition Band |
| 7 | Blue Springs High School | Missouri | Golden Regiment Marching Band |
| 8 | William Mason High School | Ohio | William Mason High School Marching Band |
| 9 | The Woodlands High School | Texas | Woodlands High School Marching Band |
| 10 | Marcus High School | Texas | Marcus Marching Band |
How High School Marching Bands Are Ranked
Just like when ranking college bands, the method for ranking high school bands is very subjective.
The objective factors to weigh include:
- Scores in competitions such as Bands of America
- Popularity and importance in the school’s culture
- Musicality and showmanship skills
As for objective factors, these include:
- Spirit and enthusiasm
- Song, choreography, and uniform choice
- Number of members
Each person’s opinion about a band’s performance will be different depending on what they care about and their level of expertise in critiquing performances. The high schools in this lineup frequently hold their reputations for being some of the best bands at their level in the US.
Avon (Indiana)
Marching Black and Gold
17 times ISSMA Open Class A State Champions; 5 times BOA Grand National Champions
This world-renowned group is surprisingly open to every student without the need for an audition. The program aims to provide opportunities for students to take part in a team endeavor at a professional level. The Marching Black and Gold is a central point in Avon High School’s spirit and culture, performing at home football games.
They’re known for their excellent theatrical and artistic performances in competitions, far outside the strict military precision required in more “traditional” bands. But their routines and formations in more standard fare are just as impressive.
Carmel (Indiana)
The Marching Greyhounds
6 times ISSMA State Champions, 19 times BOA Regional Champions, 32 times State Finalists
Carmel High School’s highly successful band program is also audition-free and includes about 300 participants each year. Their program directors are masters at creating musical and choreographic routines that guarantee great success in the Bands of America competitive circuit. The group has been included in several large productions, including the Rose Bowl, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the London New Year’s Parade, and playing with Hawaii’s Royal Band on the USS Missouri, establishing them as one of the best high school marching bands in America.
Broken Arrow (Oklahoma)
The Pride of Broken Arrow
31 times OBA State Champions, 4 times BOA Grand National Champions
This well-decorated group has been awarded the Sudler Shield multiple times, proving their importance in their student body's spirit as well as continued achievement in competitions. Their performances at both home and away football games promote pep among the players and the audience. They’ve been part of the Tournament of Roses Parade three times and in Presidential Inaugural Parades twice. They consistently awe audiences with their choreography and musical talent.
Discover more about what makes marching band music sound so unique.
Vandegrift (Texas)
Vandegrift Marching Band
1 time BOA Regional Champions, 1 time BOA Grand National Champions, 3 times UIL State Marching Band Competition Winners
The Vandegrift troupe is a new contender in the BOA competition circuit compared to the other schools in this lineup, having entered the competition for the first time in 2023. What makes them stand out is that not only did the group win the Super Regional competition on their first appearance, but they also scored the highest in history with a 97.6. They perform alongside the Vision Dance Company for their competition shows, incorporating instrumentation with dance. Vandegrift’s program has been hitting its stride in recent years, with a promising future on the horizon.
Hebron (Texas)
The Hebron Band
2 times UIL State Marching Band Competition Winners, 4 time BOA Regional Champions
One of Hebron High School’s claims to fame is their record-setting score at the 2015 BOA Grand Nationals, with a 97.85 in their 1st appearance. They’ve also been awarded the Sudler Shield. A consistent competitor in regional and state championships, Hebron is known for their excellent musical and visual performances at both competitions and football games. They’ve even been part of the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Flower Mound (Texas)
Flower Mound High School Competition Band
4 times BOA Super Regional Champions, 1 time UIL State Marching Band Competition Winners
The school’s Jaguar Band is open to all players, and from there, members can audition to be part of the Competition Band as well. Like many other high schools, they also have separate additional practice sessions for the drumline, which also participate in their own drum-specific competitions. The outfit performs at all football games, as well as local events like parades and the BOA Championships.
They’re known for their integral role in the community and at football games, as well as their reasonably successful championship history.
Learn more about the drum line and other marching band instruments.
Blue Springs (Missouri)
Golden Regiment Marching Band
2 times BOA Super Regional Grand Champions
This championship outfit has participated in the Macy’s Parade, the Rose Bowl Parade, and the Waikiki Holiday Parade, as well as the Inauguration Parade for Obama in 2009. They also performed in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland in 2025. The group is known for their exciting and excellent musical talent, visual performing, and pageantry, with unique costumes and props every year.
William Mason (Ohio)
William Mason High School Marching Band
6 times BOA Regional Champions, 14 times “AAAAA/Open Class” MSBA Champions
This ensemble has been awarded the Sudler Shield twice, as well as the Sudler Flag of Honor. They’re one of only a few HS bands to have been bestowed both honors from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. They’ve also marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade and several other notable events in nearby cities.
The Woodlands (Texas)
Woodlands High School Marching Band
1 time BOA Grand National Champions, 1 time BOA Regional Champion
While the group hasn’t secured very many championships, they’re consistent high-rankers in both BOA and UIL State competitions. They reached finals in every UIL State contest for 12 straight years and have made it to BOA Finals every year since 2000. Additionally, they’ve received both the Sudler Shield and Flag, as well as the Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the National Band Association (NBA). Their skills are seen both in the contest circuit and at football games, where they pump up the home team and the crowd.
Marcus (Texas)
Marcus Marching Band
5 times UIL State Marching Band Competition Winners
The Marcus Band is known for their lively performances at varsity football games, as well as their productions for contests and competitions.
Even though they haven’t taken home as many trophies as other bands in this article, they are consistent finalists in both the Band of America and University Interscholastic League competitions.
The group has received both the Sousa Shield and Flag, and was named the Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Program in 2017.
Why Should High School Students Join Marching Band?
Joining a marching band is a great opportunity that not every student gets a chance to experience. Underfunded schools or those with small student populations simply don’t have the resources to make these opportunities possible for their students.
If you’re fortunate enough to attend a high school with a group, it can be something to think seriously about joining!
Most members started practicing and playing with the program in middle school. Without that background, it might not be feasible to play in the high school band. However, some schools might have a non-competitive option for students, or you could learn how to play an instrument on your own time and prove your skills in an audition.
Being part of a marching band gives students a unique experience that can help them outside the practice room and after graduation. Members learn skills like
- Teamwork and discipline
- Making a commitment and remaining dedicated
- Time management
- Lifelong friendships and connections
- Responsibility and civic sense
- Being comfortable in front of crowds
On top of the skill involved with learning how to play an instrument in the brass, woodwind, percussion, or auxiliary section!
Plus, being part of a high school band opens up these musical students to music-based scholarship opportunities for college and university, where they can even join nationally-recognized collegiate bands like Ohio State University.
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