Vermont's Top 5 Public HS Football Programs (2021-2025)

Public Schools Top 25 | National Series — Part 45/50Vermont turned out to be one of the more interesting states in this entire 50-state series — not because of a complicated playoff structure, but because of the public vs. independent school distinction.The state has remained a three-division football structure throughout the 2021–2025 stretch, with Division I, Division II, and Division III operating as separate statewide brackets under the Vermont Principals' Association (VPA).Unlike many larger states, Vermont’s format has stayed relatively stable over the past five seasons. The real challenge here was identifying which programs truly belong in a public-school-only ranking.Programs like Burr and Burton Academy make Vermont unique. Burr & Burton is an independent boarding school that also serves local public sending towns, which can blur the line between public and private. Because this series has remained strict about ranking only public schools that do not have any tuition, schools like Burr & Burton and St. Johnsbury Academy were excluded.Once those independent schools are removed, a very clear group of public programs rises to the top.Here are the Top 5 Public HSFB Programs in Vermont over the past five years.🥇 1. Champlain Valley Union High SchoolRésumé (2021–2025)Division I Runner-Up — 2021Division I State Champion — 2022Division I State Champion — 2024Multiple semifinal appearancesWhen you weigh this series the same way we have across every state — titles first, classification strength second, consistency third — CVU is the clear No. 1.Two Division I state titles in the highest classification carries the most weight in Vermont football.Add in another Division I title game appearance in 2021 and consistent deep playoff runs, and CVU has the strongest résumé of any public program in the state over this window.Verdict:The most accomplished public program in Vermont’s top classification.🥈 2. Bellows Falls Union High SchoolRésumé (2021–2025)Division II State Champion — 2021Division II Runner-Up — 2022Division III State Champion — 2025Bellows Falls has been one of the most recognizable public football programs in Vermont for years, and this five-year stretch backs that up.A title in Division II, another finals appearance the next year, and then another championship to close the window in 2025 gives them one of the best full-span résumés in the state.The only reason they sit behind CVU is the weight of Division I hardware.Verdict:Best long-term consistency outside of CVU.🥉 3. Middlebury Union High SchoolRésumé (2021–2025)Division I Runner-Up — 2022Division I State Champion — 2025Middlebury surged late in this five-year span and closed it with the most important piece of hardware possible: a Division I state title in 2025.Winning the largest classification immediately elevates the résumé.Even without multiple titles, a Division I championship plus another title game appearance is enough to place them firmly in the top three.Verdict:Late-window Division I power.4️⃣ Windsor High SchoolRésumé (2021–2025)Division III State Champion — 2021Division III State Champion — 2022Division III State Champion — 2023Three straight state championships is impossible to ignore.Windsor’s run from 2021–2023 was one of the most dominant streaks by any public program in the state during this stretch.The only thing keeping them from climbing into the top three is that all of it came in Division III, the smallest classification.Still, three titles in five years is elite.Verdict:Most dominant lower-division dynasty in Vermont.5️⃣ Fair Haven Union High SchoolRésumé (2021–2025)Division II State Champion — 2024Division II Runner-Up — 2025This final spot was the toughest call.Fair Haven gets the nod because of a very strong recent two-year peak in the middle classification.Back-to-back championship game appearances with a title in 2024 puts them just ahead of Woodstock, Mount Anthony, and Colchester.Verdict:Best recent Division II résumé.Just Outside the Top 5Woodstock Union High School — 2024 Division III ChampionMount Anthony Union High School — 2022 Division II ChampionColchester High School — 2025 Division II ChampionAll three had strong cases, but the full five-year body of work gave the edge to Fair Haven.Final Ranking — Vermont (2021–2025)1. Champlain Valley Union2. Bellows Falls3. Middlebury4. Windsor5. Fair HavenVermont may be a smaller football state, but this one had some fascinating nuances.The biggest storyline was the need to separate traditional public schools from Vermont’s independent boarding academies, something that makes this state unique compared to almost every other one in the country.Once that line is drawn, CVU stands out as the clear top public program of the past five years.This is Part 45/50 in our nationwide series breaking down the Top 5 Public HSFB Programs of the Past 5 Years (2021–2025).Next Up: Part 46/50 - VirginiaHere is the full thread to catch up on any states that you may have missed: 👉CLICK HEREIf you like this series and want to help out, I greatly appreciate any likes, reposts, bookmarks, or comments. It all really helps the algo put these articles in front of more people.Thank you for reading.— Alex | T25PS