The Best School District in Every State

Mountain Brook City School District, located in the Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook, ranks as the best public school district in Alabama. Students in the district benefit from smaller than average class sizes, with a districtwide average student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1, compared to the average ratio across Alabama of 18-to-1.

The greater likelihood of future success for students in the district is also a product of conditions outside of the classroom. For example, poverty can greatly reduce a child’s chance for academic success, and in the Mountain Brook district, 5.8% of children live below the poverty line, compared to Alabama’s 20.7% child poverty rate.

The North Slope Borough School District, located in northern Alaska, ranks as the best district in the state. Smaller class sizes allow students to receive more individualized instruction, and with an average of 13 students for every teacher, the North Slope Borough School District has a considerable edge over public schools in Alaska as a whole, where the average student to teacher ratio is 18-to-1.

The district also invests more on education than many other districts in the state. Annual per pupil spending totals $36,416, well above the $18,394 state average.

Sedona-Oak Creek Joint Unified District, a rural district in Coconino County, Arizona, outranks every other school district in the state in child success. Advantages outside of the classroom include a greater likelihood of academic support at home, as 46.1% of area adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 28.9% of adults in Arizona.

The school system itself also offers students some notable advantages, including smaller than average class sizes and greater than average per-pupil spending.

The Fayetteville School District, which has over 10,000 students, ranks as the best district in Arkansas. According to reviews and data compiled by school review website Niche, the district gets high marks for academics, teacher quality, and college prep.

Many advantages the district has are outside of the classroom, however. For example, poverty can greatly reduce a child’s chance for academic success, and in the Fayetteville district, 12.3% of children live below the poverty line, compared to Arkansas’ 19.9% child poverty rate.

The Palo Alto Unified School District in California’s Silicon Valley ranks as the best district in the state for student success. Students in the area are far more likely than students in most other California districts to live in home environments with college-educated adults — making them more likely to succeed academically. Nearly 85%% of adults in the district have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 33.3% of adults in California.

Palo Alto is also a wealthy area, meaning the district has a strong tax base to fund operations. Partially as a result, school spending in the area totals over $23,000 per pupil, compared to $14,035 across California.

Aspen School District 1 has about 1,650 students across five schools in west-central Colorado. School review website Niche gives the district the highest possible marks for college prep, resources and facilities, and teachers. Children in the district also benefit from small class sizes, with one teacher for every 13 students, well below the statewide average student-teacher ratio of 17-to-1.

Aspen is also a wealthy area, meaning the district has a strong tax base to fund operations. Partially as a result, school spending in the area totals over $19,901 per pupil, compared to $11,030 across Colorado.

Regional School District 12, which covers the towns of Bridgewater, Roxbury, and Washington in Connecticut’s Litchfield County ranks as the best school district for student success in the state. The district’s per-pupil spending of $35,082 is nearly the highest in the state and well above the average expenditure of $21,310 per student across Connecticut.

The greater than average spending may partially explain the smaller than average class sizes in the district. There are about nine students for every teacher in the district, compared to the statewide average student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1.

Of all school districts in Delaware, students in the Brandywine district in New Castle County have the greatest chances for success. Students in the district benefit from higher than average investment in education on a per-pupil basis.

Children with college-educated parents are statistically more likely to succeed academically than those with parents who have no higher educational attainment. In the Brandywine School District, 44.2% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the largest share of any district in the state and well above the 31.4% bachelor’s degree attainment rate across Delaware.

Sarasota County School District, located along the Gulf Coast just south of Tampa Bay, ranks as the best district in Florida. The greater likelihood of future success for students in the district is largely a product of conditions outside of the classroom. For example, poverty can greatly reduce a child’s chance for academic success, and in the district, 11.0% of children live below the poverty line, compared to Florida’s 16.9% child poverty rate.

Additionally, school review website Niche gives the district high marks for college prep and academics. The Sarasota district also has smaller than average class sizes.

The Decatur City School District in DeKalb County ranks as the best school district in Georgia. Students in the area benefit from small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1, below the state average of 15-to-1.

Outside of the classroom, local students are more likely than most to live in home environments with college-educated adults — making them more likely to succeed academically. In the Decatur City School District, 74.3% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 30.7% bachelor’s degree attainment rate across Georgia.

The whole of Hawaii is covered by a single school district, and as a result, the Hawaii Public School district, which manages nearly 300 schools and has over 180,000 students, ranks as the best district in the state by default.

By some key measures, public school students in Hawaii are on better footing for success than most public school students nationwide. For example, there are an average of 15 students for every teacher in the district, one fewer than the national average. Additionally, Hawaii’s child poverty rate of 10.5% is well below the 15.8% national average.

The Blaine County School District 61 in south-central Idaho ranks as the best in the state for student success. The district receives high marks on school review website Niche for college prep, academics, and teacher quality. Students in the district also benefit from small class sizes as the local student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 is below the state average of 18-to-1.

School spending is also higher in the district on a per pupil basis than it is in much of the state. The Blaine County District spends $15,661 per student annually, compared to the average spending across the state of less than $8,000 per student per year.

The Lisle Community Unit School District 202, located just outside of Chicago, ranks as the best district for student success in Illinois. The district receives high marks on school review website Niche for college prep, academics, and teacher quality. Students in the district also benefit from small class sizes as the local student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1 is below the state average of 15-to-1.

School spending is also higher in the district on a per pupil basis than it is in much of the state. The Lisle Community Unit School District spends $27,166 per student annually, compared to the average spending across the state of less than $16,500 per student per year.

Students in the West Lafayette Community School District in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, have generally greater academic advantages than those in any other district in the state. Children with college-educated parents are more likely to succeed in school. In the West Lafayette district, 70.1% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 25.9% bachelor’s degree attainment rate across Indiana.

Additionally, on school review website Niche, West Lafayette gets the highest possible marks for teacher quality, academics, and college prep.

Conditions — both in and out of the classroom — in the Gilbert Community School District, just north of Des Moines, Iowa, offer students the best chance for success in the state. School review website Niche gives the district high marks for its teacher quality, academics, college prep, administration, and resources and facilities.

Advantages outside the classroom include relative financial security among local families and a well-educated adult population. Only 2.0% of local children live below the poverty line, compared to 11.7% of children in Iowa, and 63.9% of adults in the district have a college degree or higher, compared to 28.2% of adults in Iowa.

The Blue Valley Unified School District 229 in Overland Park, Kansas, offers students the greatest opportunity for success of any district in the state. School review website Niche gives the district perfect scores for its teacher quality, academics, college prep, administration, and clubs and activities.

Children with college-educated parents are more likely to succeed academically. In the Blue Valley District, 70.9% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 32.9% bachelor’s degree attainment rate across Kansas.

Students enrolled in one of the five schools in Kentucky’s Fort Thomas Independent School District have a greater chance for success than those in any other part of the state. While the district gets the highest possible marks for teacher quality, academics, college prep, and clubs and activities on school review website Niche, many advantages are outside of the classroom.

Children living in households facing serious financial hardship are less likely to succeed in school than those in financially secure households. Across the Fort Thomas District, just 3.5% of children live below the poverty line, well below the 19.2% child poverty rate across Kentucky.

Cameron Parish School District, located along the Gulf Coast in southwestern Louisiana, offers students the best chance for success of any district in the state. While the relationship between student outcomes and school spending is complicated, student experiences can certainly be enhanced by higher spending. In the Cameron District, annual spending totals $18,521 per pupil, well above the per pupil spending of $11,755 across Louisiana.

The higher spending may allow for the smaller than average class sizes in the school district. The local student-teacher ratio of 11-to-1 is far below the state average of 18-to-1.

Conditions in the Falmouth school district, located just north of Portland, Oregon, offer students the greatest chance for success of any district in the state. The district spends $16,611 per pupil annually and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 11-to-1. Meanwhile, across Maine, average school spending totals $14,614, and there are 12 students for every teacher.

Additionally, school review website Niche gives the district perfect scores for its teacher quality, academics, college prep, and clubs and activities.

Howard County Public Schools, a large district with nearly 60,000 students, ranks as the best in Maryland. Children of parents with high educational attainment are more likely to succeed academically. Across the district, 62.6% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 39.6% of adults across Maryland.

While the relationship between student outcomes and school spending is complicated, student experiences can certainly be enhanced by higher expenditures. In the Howard County District, annual spending totals $16,084 per pupil, higher than the comparable per pupil spending of $15,148 across Maryland.

The Cambridge School District, located just across the Charles River from Boston, ranks as the best school district in Massachusetts for a student’s likelihood of success. The district spends $29,962 per pupil annually and has a student-teacher ratio of 11-to-1. Meanwhile, across Massachusetts, average school spending totals $17,748 and there are 13 students for every teacher.

Children of parents with high educational attainment are more likely to succeed academically. Across the district, 79.0% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 42.9% of adults across Massachusetts.

With top marks in academics, college prep, and club and activities from school review website Niche, the Bloomfield Hills School District, located just northwest of downtown Detroit, ranks as the best school district in Michigan.

Students in the district have the advantage of smaller than average class sizes, with one teacher for every 14 students, compared to a statewide average student-teacher ratio of 18-to-1. Smaller classes are due in part to greater investment in education. In the Bloomfield Hills District, annual spending totals $18,614 per pupil, higher than the comparable per pupil spending of $12,756 across Michigan.

No Minnesota school district offers students a better chance for success than the Edina Public School District, located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. School review website Niche gives the district the highest possible marks for teacher quality, academics, and college prep.

Conditions outside the classroom also offer advantages. For example, children of parents with high educational attainment are more likely to succeed academically, and in the Edina district, 73.2% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 35.4% share of adults in Minnesota who do.

Conditions in the Madison County School District — both in and out of the classroom — make it the best district in Mississippi. Children of parents with high educational attainment are more likely to succeed academically, and in the district, 54.9% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the largest share of any district in the state and more than double the 21.8% bachelor’s degree attainment across Mississippi.

On school review website Niche, the Madison County District gets high marks for teacher quality, college prep, academics, and resources and facilities.

The Clayton School District, located just west of downtown St. Louis, ranks as the best school district in Missouri. School district and community data website Niche give Clayton top marks for academics, teacher quality, college prep, and clubs and activities.

Students in the district have the advantage of smaller than average class sizes, with one teacher for every 11 students, compared to a statewide average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1. The smaller class sizes are due in part to greater investment in education.Annual spending in the district totals $19,050 per pupil, higher than the per pupil spending of $11,200 across Missouri.

The Frenchtown School District in western Montana, just outside of Missoula, ranks as the best district in the state. The greater likelihood of future success for students in the district is largely a product of conditions outside of the classroom. For example, poverty can greatly reduce a child’s chance for academic success, and in the Frenchtown district, 6.6% of children live below the poverty line, less than half Montana’s 14.2% child poverty rate.

The Elkhorn School District, located just west of Omaha, Nebraska, ranks as the best school district in the state. School district and community data website Niche gives Elkhorn top marks for academics, teacher quality, college prep, and administration.

Children of parents with high educational attainment are more likely to succeed academically. In Elkhorn, 59.3% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to just 31.3% of adults in Nebraska.

The Pershing County School District in northwestern Nevada offers students more advantages than any other district in the state. The district gets high marks from Niche for teacher quality, diversity, administration, and resources and facilities.

While the relationship between student outcomes and school spending is complicated, student experiences can certainly be enhanced by higher expenditures. In the Pershing County District, annual spending totals $18,427 per pupil, higher than the per pupil spending of $9,344 across Nevada

There are just over 2,000 students in the Oyster River Cooperative School District in New Hampshire’s Strafford County — which ranks as the best school district in the state. School district and community data website Niche gives the district top marks for academics, teacher quality, and health and safety.

Children of parents with high educational attainment are more likely to succeed academically. In the Oyster River district, 65.4% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 36.5% share across the state.

The Mountain Lakes Borough School District in northern New Jersey offers students the best chance for success of any district in the state. Students in the area are far more likely than most other students in the state to live in home environments where education is valued and academics are prioritized as 85.8% of adults in the district have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 38.9% of adults in New Jersey.

Mountain Lakes is also a wealthy area, meaning the district has a strong tax base to fund school operations. Partially as a result, school spending in the area totals nearly $30,000 per pupil, compared to $20,512 across New Jersey.

The Los Alamos Public School District offers students a far greater chance at success than any other district in New Mexico. The district gets high marks for academics, teacher quality, college prep, and clubs and activities on the Niche website — but not all advantages are inside the classroom.

Children growing up in households facing serious financial hardship can be at a considerable disadvantage academically, and in the Los Alamos district, 2.8% of children live in poverty, by far the smallest share in the state and a fraction of the 22.4% state child poverty rate.

The Byram Hills Central School District in New York’s Westchester County, located just north of New York City, offers students the best opportunity for success in the state. At $35,160, annual per pupil spending in the district is $10,000 higher than average per pupil spending across the state. Among other benefits, the greater spending has resulted in smaller class sizes, with one teacher for every 10 students, compared to a statewide average student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1.

Additionally, the district gets top marks for academics, teacher quality, college prep, and resources and facilities on school district and community data website Niche.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Districts outranks all other districts in North Carolina for chances of student success. Children of college-educated parents tend to perform better academically than those raised by parents with lower educational attainment, and across the district, 73.8% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 30.5% of adults across North Carolina.

Students in the district also benefit from higher than average educational investment. The district spends $13,044 per pupil annually on its schools, compared to the state average of less than $10,000.

The Fargo Public School District in eastern North Dakota ranks as the best district in the state. The greater likelihood of future success for students in the district is largely a product of conditions outside of the classroom. For example, children of parents with a college education are more likely to succeed academically. In Fargo, 40.5% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to just 29.5% of adults in North Dakota.

Additionally, the district gets top marks for college prep, health and safety, clubs and activities, and resources and facilities on school district and community data website Niche.

The Orange City School District, located just outside of Cleveland, ranks as the best school district in Ohio. According to the website, Niche, the district excels in a number of areas, including college prep, academics, clubs and activities, resources and facilities and teacher quality.

The district also invests considerably more in its schools than others in Ohio. Partially because it is located in a wealthy area that serves as a strong tax base, per pupil spending in the district totals $24,437 annually, well above the statewide average of $13,538.

The Deer Creek Public School District, located in central Oklahoma just outside of Oklahoma City, offers students the best chance at success of any district in the state. While the district is well regarded for its academics, teacher quality, and college prep, many advantages are outside of the classroom.

For example, children growing up in households facing serious financial hardship can be at a considerable disadvantage academically, and in the Deer Creek district, 4.7% of children live in poverty, nearly the smallest share in the state and a fraction of the 18.4% state child poverty rate.

Children of college educated-parents are more likely to succeed academically. In Oregon’s Riverdale School District, located in Portland, 82.7% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, more than double the 32.9% share across Oregon. Partially as a result, the district ranks as the best in the state for the likelihood of student success.

Riverdale students also have advantages inside the classroom. According to the school and neighborhood rating website, Niche, the district excels in a number of areas, including college prep, academics, resources and facilities and teacher quality.

The Lower Merion School District, located just outside of Philadelphia, ranks as the best school district in Pennsylvania. At $25,591, annual per pupil spending in the district is nearly $9,000 more than the state average. Partially as a result, class sizes are slightly smaller than they are on average statewide, and the district gets top marks for its resources and facilities, according to school and community data website, Niche.

Children of college-educated parents are more likely to succeed academically, and in the Lower Merion district, more than three in every four adults have a bachelor’s degree, compared to fewer than one-third of adults in Pennsylvania.

The Narragansett Schools System, located in southern Rhode Island along the coast, ranks as the best school district in the state. Students in the district benefit from relatively high investment in education, as per pupil spending totals $21,254 a year, well above the $16,750 average across Rhode Island.

Outside the classroom, a relatively small share of students are economically disadvantaged. Children growing up in households facing serious financial hardship are more likely to struggle academically, and in the Narragansett district, 6.8% of children live in poverty, one the smaller shares in the state and less than half the 15.4% state child poverty rate.

Students in South Carolina’s York School District 4, also known as the Fort Mill School District, have the greatest chance of success in the state. One reason is the relative financial security of area families. Children growing up in households facing serious financial hardship can be at a considerable disadvantage academically, and in the Fort Mill district, 3.6% of children live in poverty, the smallest share in the state and a fraction of the 19.0% state child poverty rate.

Additionally, according to the school and neighborhood rating website, Niche, the district excels in a number of areas, including college prep, academics, clubs and activities, resources and facilities and teacher quality.

Harrisburg School District ranks as the best for student success in South Dakota. While the school system itself is generally well regarded, many advantages local students have are outside of the classroom. For example, children of parents with a college education are more likely to succeed academically, and in the Harrisburg district, 40.9% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 28.5% share of adults in South Dakota who do.

Additionally, children growing up in households facing serious financial hardship can be at a considerable disadvantage academically, and in the Harrisburg district, 2.7% of children live in poverty, well below the 13.6% state child poverty rate.

The Williamson County School District, located just south of Nashville, ranks as the best district in Tennessee. According to the school and neighborhood rating website, Niche, the district excels in a number of areas, including college prep, academics, clubs and activities, and teacher quality.

Children in the district are also more likely than most to have college-educated parents — which is a predictor of academic success. In the Williamson County district, 62.0% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 26.6% share of adults in Tennessee who do.

Eanes Independent School District, located just outside of Austin, Texas, ranks as the best school district in the state. Class sizes in the district are slightly smaller than they are on average across the state, allowing for students to have more individualized instruction from teachers.

Outside the classroom, many students in the district have college-educated parents — which is a predictor of academic success. An estimated 81.8% of adults in the district have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to just 29.3% of adults in Texas.

The Park City School District, located in northern Utah outside of Salt Lake City, offers students the best chance for academic success in the state. The district’s per-pupil spending of $14,110 is well above the average expenditure of $8,014 per student across Utah.

The greater than average spending may partially explain the smaller than average class sizes in the district. There are about 18 students for every teacher in the district, compared to the statewide average student-teacher ratio of 23-to-1.

The Hartford School District, located in east-central Vermont, ranks as the best school district in the state. Students in the district benefit from small class sizes, with an average of nine students for every teacher — a slightly lower ratio than the 11-to-1 average across the state.

Additional advantages outside of the classroom in the district include a well-educated adult population. Children of parents with a college education are more likely to succeed academically, and in the Hartford district, 48.0% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 37.3% share of adults in Vermont who do.

The Falls Church City Public School District, located just outside of Washington D.C., ranks as the best district for student success in Virginia. The district is a wealthy one, with a median annual household income of $127,610. As a result, it has a strong tax base to draw from to fund operations. School spending in the area totals over $19,222 per pupil, compared to $12,641 across Virginia. Additionally, according to the school and neighborhood rating website, Niche, the district excels in a number of areas, including college prep and academics.

Children in the area are also less likely to live in financially struggling households — a factor that can hinder academic success. Only 2.8% of children in the area live below the poverty line, compared to Virginia’s 12.5% child poverty rate.

Mercer Island School District is located on the island in Lake Washington, which separates Bellevue from Seattle. The district ranks as the best in the state, largely due to conditions outside the classroom. For example, children of college-educated parents are more likely to succeed academically, and in the district, 78.2% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 35.3% of adults in Washington.

Children living in households that are struggling financially are also less likely to succeed academically. In the district, only 3.0% of children in the area live below the poverty line, compared to Washington’s 11.2% child poverty rate.

The Monongalia School District, located in northern West Virginia, ranks as the best in the state, largely due to conditions outside the classroom. For example, children of college-educated parents are more likely to succeed academically, and in the district, adults are more than twice as likely to have a bachelor’s degree or higher as the typical adult in West Virginia.

Additionally, according to the school and neighborhood rating website, Niche, the district excels in a number of areas, including college prep, academics, and teacher quality.

The Gibraltar Area School District, located on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula, ranks as the best in the state for student likelihood of success. The district receives high marks on school review website Niche for college prep, academics, and teacher quality. Students in the district also benefit from small class sizes as the local student-teacher ratio of 10-to-1 is below the state average of 14-to-1.

School spending is also higher in the district on a per pupil basis than it is in much of the state. The Gibraltar Area School District spends $21,292 per student annually, compared to the average spending across the state of less than $13,000 per student per year.

The Teton County School District, located in the ski-resort community of Jackson, Wyoming, ranks as the best district for student success in the state. The district is a wealthy one, with a median household income of $84,678. As a result, it has a strong tax base to draw from to fund operations. School spending in the area totals over $18,486 per pupil, compared to $16,304 across Wyoming. Additionally, according to the school and neighborhood rating website, Niche, the district excels in a number of areas, including college prep, teacher quality, and academics.

Children living in households that are struggling financially are also less likely to succeed academically. In the district, children are half as likely to live below the poverty line as the typical child in Wyoming.