Few aspects play a more important role in a child’s development than their educational experience. But among the nearly 50 million American public school students in grades K-12, the quality of that experience varies considerably.
Key measures – ranging from annual budgets to graduation rates, and everything in between – show that there is no shortage of struggling school districts in the United States. Many public school districts across the country are understaffed, underfunded, and underperforming. (Here is a look at the best private high schools in America.)
Still, there are also school districts that are notable for the opposite reasons. These districts have a track record of high graduation rates, and they offer students updated facilities, a range of extracurricular activity options, and a dedicated teaching staff.
Using data compiled by Niche, an education research platform, 24/7 Wall St. identified the best public school district in each state for 2023. Niche ranked school districts based on a weighted index of seven measures, including self-reported standardized test scores, parent and student surveys, extracurricular activities, and indicators of teacher quality. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here.
School districts in the United States are often funded largely at the local level, and many of the districts on this list are in relatively wealthy areas, with a strong tax base to draw from. Several school districts on this list, including those in California, New Mexico, Ohio, and Virginia, have median household incomes in excess of $100,000. In New York, the top ranking school district is in a town where most households earn over $200,000. (Here is a look at the richest school district in each state.)
It is important to note that state governments have considerable leverage over education policy and that overall school quality can vary considerably from one state to the next. Partially as a result, high-ranking districts in some states may rank less favorably when compared to districts in other states. For example, the best school district in Mississippi ranks 286th in the nation. Meanwhile, three of the five highest rated school districts nationwide are in New York state.
Click here to see the best school district in every state.
Alabama: Madison City Schools
> Location: Madison
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Students proficient in reading: 73%
> Students proficient in math: 76%
> Total enrollment: 11,804
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Alaska: Skagway School District
> Location: Skagway
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Avg. graduation rate: N/A
> Students proficient in reading: 85% – 89%
> Students proficient in math: 75% – 79%
> Total enrollment: 144
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Arizona: Catalina Foothills Unified School District
> Location: Catalina Foothills
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 70%
> Students proficient in math: 67%
> Total enrollment: 5,190
Arkansas: Haas Hall Academy
> Location: Fayetteville
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 89%
> Students proficient in math: 89%
> Total enrollment: 1,407
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California: Palo Alto Unified School District
> Location: Palo Alto
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 81%
> Students proficient in math: 81%
> Total enrollment: 11,395
Colorado: Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12
> Location: Colorado Springs
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Students proficient in reading: 72%
> Students proficient in math: 61%
> Total enrollment: 5,270
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Connecticut: Westport School District
> Location: Westport
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Students proficient in reading: 85%
> Students proficient in math: 82%
> Total enrollment: 5,329
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Delaware: Appoquinimink School District
> Location: Odessa
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 65%
> Students proficient in math: 50%
> Total enrollment: 11,914
Florida: St. Johns County School District
> Location: St. Augustine
> Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Students proficient in reading: 75%
> Students proficient in math: 80%
> Total enrollment: 44,550
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Georgia: Buford City Schools
> Location: Buford
> Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Students proficient in reading: 67%
> Students proficient in math: 75%
> Total enrollment: 5,468
Hawaii: Hawaii Department of Education
> Location: Statewide (only school district in state)
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 85%
> Students proficient in reading: 53%
> Students proficient in math: 42%
> Total enrollment: 176,441
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Idaho: Troy School District
> Location: Troy
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 90%
> Students proficient in reading: 85% – 89%
> Students proficient in math: 80% – 84%
> Total enrollment: 270
Illinois: Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125
> Location: Lincolnshire
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Students proficient in reading: 75%
> Students proficient in math: 76%
> Total enrollment: 4,315
Indiana: West Lafayette Community School Corporation
> Location: West Lafayette
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 72%
> Students proficient in math: 72%
> Total enrollment: 2,316
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Iowa: Pleasant Valley Community School District
> Location: Riverdale
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Students proficient in reading: 87%
> Students proficient in math: 91%
> Total enrollment: 5,331
Kansas: Blue Valley Unified School District (Overland Park)
> Location: Overland Park
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Students proficient in reading: 61%
> Students proficient in math: 55%
> Total enrollment: 22,148
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Kentucky: Murray Independent Schools
> Location: Murray
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 77%
> Students proficient in math: 73%
> Total enrollment: 1,783
Louisiana: Zachary Community Public Schools
> Location: Zachary
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Students proficient in reading: 88%
> Students proficient in math: 84%
> Total enrollment: 5,444
Maine: Yarmouth Schools
> Location: Yarmouth
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 79%
> Students proficient in math: 66%
> Total enrollment: 1,670
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Maryland: Howard County Public Schools
> Location: Columbia
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Students proficient in reading: 60%
> Students proficient in math: 56%
> Total enrollment: 57,293
Massachusetts: Weston Public Schools
> Location: Weston
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 83%
> Students proficient in math: 82%
> Total enrollment: 1,906
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Michigan: Novi Community School District
> Location: Novi
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 73%
> Students proficient in math: 76%
> Total enrollment: 6,580
24/7 Wall St.Minnesota: Wayzata Public School District
> Location: Plymouth
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Students proficient in reading: 81%
> Students proficient in math: 79%
> Total enrollment: 12,013
Mississippi: Petal School District
> Location: Petal
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 90%
> Students proficient in reading: 62%
> Students proficient in math: 76%
> Total enrollment: 4,106
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Missouri: School District of Clayton
> Location: Clayton
> Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Students proficient in reading: 74%
> Students proficient in math: 72%
> Total enrollment: 2,514
Montana: Geraldine Public Schools
> Location: Geraldine
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. graduation rate: N/A
> Students proficient in reading: 20% – 29%
> Students proficient in math: 30% – 39%
> Total enrollment: 49
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Nebraska: Elkhorn Public Schools
> Location: Omaha
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Students proficient in reading: 82%
> Students proficient in math: 84%
> Total enrollment: 10,642
Nevada: Douglas County School District
> Location: Minden
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Students proficient in reading: 55%
> Students proficient in math: 44%
> Total enrollment: 5,385
New Hampshire: SAU 70
> Location: Hanover
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 92%
> Students proficient in reading: 84%
> Students proficient in math: 76%
> Total enrollment: 1,054
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New Jersey: Millburn Township School District
> Location: Millburn Township
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Students proficient in reading: 88%
> Students proficient in math: 83%
> Total enrollment: 4,697
New Mexico: Los Alamos Public Schools
> Location: Los Alamos
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Students proficient in reading: 58%
> Students proficient in math: 47%
> Total enrollment: 3,539
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New York: Great Neck Public Schools
> Location: Lake Success
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Students proficient in reading: 83%
> Students proficient in math: 86%
> Total enrollment: 6,831
North Carolina: Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
> Location: Chapel Hill
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Students proficient in reading: 67%
> Students proficient in math: 64%
> Total enrollment: 11,926
North Dakota: Edmore School District No. 2
> Location: Edmore
> Student-teacher ratio: 3:1
> Avg. graduation rate: N/A
> Students proficient in reading: 70% – 79%
> Students proficient in math: 60% – 69%
> Total enrollment: 35
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Ohio: Solon City School District
> Location: Solon
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 96%
> Students proficient in reading: 94%
> Students proficient in math: 96%
> Total enrollment: 4,521
Oklahoma: Edmond Public Schools
> Location: Edmond
> Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Students proficient in reading: 52%
> Students proficient in math: 50%
> Total enrollment: 23,496
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Oregon: Lake Oswego School District
> Location: Lake Oswego
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 84%
> Students proficient in math: 74%
> Total enrollment: 6,860
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Pennsylvania: Radnor Township School District
> Location: Radnor Township
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Students proficient in reading: 88%
> Students proficient in math: 78%
> Total enrollment: 3,624
Rhode Island: Barrington Public Schools
> Location: Barrington
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 94%
> Students proficient in reading: 75%
> Students proficient in math: 66%
> Total enrollment: 3,388
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South Carolina: Fort Mill School District
> Location: Fort Mill
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 71%
> Students proficient in math: 74%
> Total enrollment: 16,883
South Dakota: Brandon Valley School District
> Location: Brandon
> Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 72%
> Students proficient in math: 66%
> Total enrollment: 4,721
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Tennessee: Maryville City Schools
> Location: Maryville
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 58%
> Students proficient in math: 61%
> Total enrollment: 5,441
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Texas: Eanes Independent School District
> Location: Austin
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 99%
> Students proficient in reading: 82%
> Students proficient in math: 81%
> Total enrollment: 7,968
Utah: Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Nuames)
> Location: Layton
> Student-teacher ratio: 27:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 95%
> Students proficient in reading: 82%
> Students proficient in math: 79%
> Total enrollment: 1,135
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Vermont: South Burlington School District
> Location: South Burlington
> Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Students proficient in reading: 71%
> Students proficient in math: 59%
> Total enrollment: 2,688
Virginia: Falls Church City Public Schools
> Location: Falls Church
> Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 98%
> Students proficient in reading: 91%
> Students proficient in math: 90%
> Total enrollment: 2,500
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Washington: Mercer Island School District
> Location: Mercer Island
> Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 93%
> Students proficient in reading: 87%
> Students proficient in math: 83%
> Total enrollment: 4,192
West Virginia: Monongalia County Schools
> Location: Morgantown
> Student-teacher ratio: 14:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 91%
> Students proficient in reading: 55%
> Students proficient in math: 50%
> Total enrollment: 11,113
Wisconsin: Elmbrook School District
> Location: Brookfield
> Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 97%
> Students proficient in reading: 61%
> Students proficient in math: 68%
> Total enrollment: 7,280
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Wyoming: Sheridan County School District No. 2
> Location: Sheridan
> Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
> Avg. graduation rate: 86%
> Students proficient in reading: 75%
> Students proficient in math: 72%
> Total enrollment: 3,519
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