Top Ten High School Marching Bands

Just about every school features their own marching band, whether the band competes in state, national and world competition or is just for show. Some high schools even find their band to be the most important part of the school, and students devote huge portions of their time to the activities. What are the best high school marching bands, in your opinion?
The Top Ten
1 Carmel HS Marching Band - Carmel, Indiana

World-class instructional staff, students who push the bar and perform at an elite level, parent-run committees with hundreds of volunteers. Carmel is a well-oiled machine!

Incredible program, incredible work ethic, incredible staff. Artistic and powerful. Many of the bands are very powerful or very artistic, but few pull off a balance as well as Carmel.

They are very hardworking and dedicated to being the best possible marching band they can be!

2 Avon HS Marching Band - Avon, Indiana

World-class program, always marching with technically difficult shows and music, and executing it in a way that only Avon can, is what makes me fall in love with this band over and over. And their attitude towards competitive bands is always a delight to see. They don't seem to know "competition." Just a bunch of friends from different bands out there doing what they love, with common goals. These kids are amazing. The staff is phenomenal. And the parent support is unmatched.

The quality of their show is nothing short of excellent! The emotional moments that are felt, produced by the musical and visual elements that these kids create, is unparalleled. They are precise, dedicated, unwavering, and some of the hardest-working high schoolers I have seen. They cheer other bands on, showing respect and appreciation to adults and teammates alike. Refreshing and encouraging traits in today's youth, no doubt.

3 The Pride of Broken Arrow - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

It's a close call amongst the best bands in America, but I can conclusively say that Broken Arrow boasts the best band out there.

Broken Arrow is one of the best bands I've ever seen, and they just won BOA with the highest score ever!

Always a wonderful show. Hardworking and always great to see your band perform.

4 Reeths-Puffer HS Marching Band - Muskegon, Michigan

Best band ever. Such a dedicated staff and student performers. 2013 and 2014 were some of their best shows! Such emotion radiating from the band throughout the entire thing!

An incredible program with incredible staff dedicated to the development of musicianship and character!

Hard work and dedication mixed with fun and family. The shows are wonderful and emotional.

5 Jenison HS Marching Band - Jenison, Michigan

The show is super dynamic and everyone seems to be talking about it in Michigan!

6 Centerville HS "Jazz Band" - Centerville, Indiana
7 Petoskey HS Marching Band - Petoskey, Michigan

These guys dominate wherever they go! My greatest memory was the 2017 Jenison HS competition. They made the stadium shake and got a standing ovation! Just an amazing marching band program year over year. Although we go to watch our son who plays for a different school, the parents anxiously await to watch them perform. Keep playing!

These people are like marching band gods! They have about 1,000 people in the whole school, and 250 in their band! They have 7 bass drums in their drumline, and a HUGE sideline! They have a huge budget, and they are a joy to watch!

The best band in the state of Michigan! Such a joy to watch perform! Twenty-five percent of the student body is in this phenomenal band program at their school!

8 Pride of Bixby, Bixby HS - Bixby, OK

Bixby's success starts with the directors and their high expectations. The high level of excellence achieved by these high school students rivals musicians much older. They work hard and support each other. The support staff, volunteers, parents, and many others help make this band the best it can be. We are so proud of them all.

You'd never imagine these kids are only high school musicians. Their sound is so polished, elevated, outstanding! They never shy away from complicated songs. The directors get kudos for bringing out the best in these young musicians!

They are the hardest working, most dedicated, and great bunch of kids. I love watching them! Only the brave wear white! Won grand champion two years in a row at Owasso invitational!

9 Godwin Heights HS Marching Band - Godwin Heights, Michigan
10 Plymouth-Canton Educational Park HS Marching Band - Plymouth, Michigan
The Contenders
11 Vandegrift High School Marching Band - Austin, Texas

Classiest marching band I've ever seen. Professional, courteous, and oh so powerful. Their music and marching is precise and wonderful to watch.

If "marching" is one of the most important categories, Vandegrift band is the best. Unlike other bands that run on and off props, they march in multiple formations with precision. By far the best MARCHING band in the country.

Fantastic show! Beautiful colors! Beautiful music! Not a bunch of soloists. A true marching band!

12 Flower Mound High School Marching Band - Flower Mound, Texas

This is one of the five best bands in America, no matter how many votes they get. Bixby #3, really? A case can be made for Carmel and Broken Arrow. Bixby lost by 5 points to the #12 band in Texas, LD Bell, at the Renegade Review. Flower Mound was #2 at Texas UIL Marching Championship, and number 1 at BOA San Antonio.

I'm from Marcus, Flower Mound's rival (wish we were on here), and I feel they should be in the top ten. They consistently have stunning visuals and incredibly creative field programs every year.

The fact they aren't in the top 10 is appalling. One of the most decorated bands in the state of Texas, with brilliant shows every year.

13 Walled Lake Central HS Marching Band - Walled Lake, Michigan
14 Hebron High School Marching Band, Carrollton Texas

Right now, there is no more influential marching band in the nation than Hebron. The musical ripple effect from last year's show, Penstriped, took musicality to a much higher level in bands across the country, and especially here in Texas. Everywhere, you hear so much more double and triple tonguing, lightning-fast runs, difficult intervals, etc. All of HS instrumental music is being pushed forward by this amazing Hebron phenomenon. And all while constantly moving at an ever-increasing pace with perfect formations and glorious precision. Hebron, right now, is on another planet! Bravo!

I don't know why this isn't closer to the top 10! This band was going to perform in the Rose Bowl Parade before the coronavirus happened! Hebron has amazing musical talent, and their marching is so great, including their choreography. Great mello line!

Okay, this band is the best high school marching band in America. I don't even go here, and I have watched their shows numerous times. They are way ahead of everyone else. This should be number 1!

15 Homestead Spartan Alliance Band - Ft. Wayne, Indiana

They've won Indiana state championships six times and have been state runners-up seven times. They earned 2nd place in Class AAA at the Bands of America Grand National Contest, winning a caption in Visual. They were also named a finalist in Grand Nationals, taking 8th overall. And now tell me why they aren't on the list.

16 Marian Catholic HS Marching Band - Chicago Heights, Illinois

I love the Marian Catholic High School band. Always a nice selection of musics. The kids carry themselves in such a professional manner. Go Marian.

Great, great band. Great director!

17 Jenks HS Marching Band - Jenks, Oklahoma

Literally always entertaining and not only entertaining but always performing at such a high level compared to really any high schools out there.

Jenks has improved so much in recent years. I expect them to move towards better and brighter things in the years to come.

These guys have worked so hard this year to achieve their goals. I love their visuals, and I love their show!

18 Plainfield HS Marching Band - Plainfield, Indiana

Their performance in ISSMA state finals was amazing considering it was their first year!

19 Coppell High School Band - Coppell, Texas
20 Lassiter HS Marching Band - Marietta, Georgia

Going to Lassiter! The band is amazing! Last game, the announcer roasted the other school. I quote, "Now, for your real high school entertainment, we give you the Lassiter High School Marching Band!" I was like, "Dang!" Then, they came out and absolutely slayed Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." It should be the best in the country! This was after the other high school had a girl who hit herself in the face with a flag and knocked herself out. Super funny! The other school's performance was super cheesy. It was like some weird Halloween performance, and basically, the whole performance was some girl running around in a dress with a pumpkin, with background music. Anyway, the Lassiter Band is amazing!

The Rose Parade performance was amazing!

21 New Oxford Marching Band - New Oxford, Pennsylvania

Obviously amazing, you go guys!

Maybe not the best in the country, but easily one of the better ones.

22 L.D. Bell HS Marching Band - Hurst, Texas

One of the BEST bands I have ever heard in a long time. Most bands these days are nothing but Broadway shows, but Bell Band keeps it traditional with real marching.

23 Fort Mill HS Marching Band - Fort Mill, South Carolina
24 Park Vista Performers - Lake Worth Florida
25 Norwin High School Marching Band - North Huntington Pennsylvania
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