Between parental politics, after-school programs, and PTA meetings, navigating school districts can be hard—and choosing the district that is best for your child is even harder.
Stacker analyzed 2021 data from Niche to calculate the best school district in every state. Niche rankings rely on statistics from the U.S. Department of Education, SAT/ACT scores, college readiness, teacher quality, and graduation rates. Of course, ratings are one thing and experiences another—which is why it's always smart to do your research and learn about the families, teachers, and students in a given district before basing something as important as a move on a particular school.
Various districts prioritize funding for different programs, and some have more of a knack for hiring and retaining nurturing teachers. For some districts, it seems to be a numbers game without any thought regarding the learning environment. Still other districts encourage kids to explore passions and make friends but are lagging academically. A top school district isn't just one or the other; it's a combination of the two.
Keep reading to see how your district stacks up, or to help narrow your search for where you plan to move and raise a family.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor's degree
Alabama: Madison City Schools
- Location: Madison, AL
- Students: 11,290
- Student to teacher ratio: 18:1
- Reading proficient: 74%
- Math proficient: 76%
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Expenditure per student: $10,075
- Average teacher salary: $56,964
Alaska: Skagway School District
- Location: Skagway, AK
- Students: 141
- Student to teacher ratio: 10:1
- Reading proficient: 87%
- Math proficient: 82%
- Graduation rate: data unavailable
- Expenditure per student: $27,098
- Average teacher salary: data unavailable
Arizona: Catalina Foothills Unified School District
- Location: Tucson, AZ
- Students: 5,427
- Student to teacher ratio: 19:1
- Reading proficient: 70%
- Math proficient: 69%
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Expenditure per student: $9,023
- Average teacher salary: $45,311
Arkansas: Haas Hall Academy
- Location: Fayetteville, AR
- Students: 941
- Student to teacher ratio: 16:1
- Reading proficient: 91%
- Math proficient: 90%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: $8,247
- Average teacher salary: $19,430
California: Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District
- Location: Los Gatos, CA
- Students: 3,520
- Student to teacher ratio: 22:1
- Reading proficient: 84%
- Math proficient: 74%
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Expenditure per student: $22,373
- Average teacher salary: $109,507
Colorado: Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12
- Location: Colorado Springs, CO
- Students: 5,274
- Student to teacher ratio: 15:1
- Reading proficient: 69%
- Math proficient: 62%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: $12,794
- Average teacher salary: $49,119
Connecticut: Westport School District
- Location: Westport, CT
- Students: 5,509
- Student to teacher ratio: 11:1
- Reading proficient: 85%
- Math proficient: 81%
- Graduation rate: 99%
- Expenditure per student: $24,436
- Average teacher salary: $78,283
Delaware: Cape Henlopen School District
- Location: Lewes, DE
- Students: 5,643
- Student to teacher ratio: 13:1
- Reading proficient: 63%
- Math proficient: 54%
- Graduation rate: 87%
- Expenditure per student: $27,295
- Average teacher salary: $54,163
Florida: St. Johns County School District
- Location: St Augustine, FL
- Students: 41,897
- Student to teacher ratio: 18:1
- Reading proficient: 74%
- Math proficient: 79%
- Graduation rate: 93%
- Expenditure per student: $10,614
- Average teacher salary: $40,715
Georgia: Buford City Schools
- Location: Buford, GA
- Students: 4,966
- Student to teacher ratio: 12:1
- Reading proficient: 65%
- Math proficient: 75%
- Graduation rate: 93%
- Expenditure per student: $14,134
- Average teacher salary: $62,865
You may also like: 50 Best Value Public Colleges in America
Hawaii: Hawaii Department of Education
- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Students: 181,278
- Student to teacher ratio: 15:1
- Reading proficient: 54%
- Math proficient: 42%
- Graduation rate: 84%
- Expenditure per student: $15,305
- Average teacher salary: $64,871
Idaho: McCall-Donnelly School District
- Location: Mccall, ID
- Students: 1,285
- Student to teacher ratio: 16:1
- Reading proficient: 76%
- Math proficient: 64%
- Graduation rate: 92%
- Expenditure per student: $12,644
- Average teacher salary: $63,957
Illinois: Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125
- Location: Lincolnshire, IL
- Students: 4,265
- Student to teacher ratio: 15:1
- Reading proficient: 77%
- Math proficient: 78%
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Expenditure per student: $27,205
- Average teacher salary: $93,403
Indiana: West Lafayette Community School Corporation
- Location: West Lafayette, IN
- Students: 2,411
- Student to teacher ratio: 17:1
- Reading proficient: 84%
- Math proficient: 80%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: data unavailable
- Average teacher salary: data unavailable
Iowa: Pleasant Valley Community School District
- Location: Bettendorf, IA
- Students: 5,084
- Student to teacher ratio: 16:1
- Reading proficient: 90%
- Math proficient: 93%
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Expenditure per student: $12,790
- Average teacher salary: $62,711
Kansas: Blue Valley Unified School District (Overland Park)
- Location: Overland Park, KS
- Students: 22,783
- Student to teacher ratio: 14:1
- Reading proficient: 63%
- Math proficient: 57%
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Expenditure per student: $12,597
- Average teacher salary: $52,026
Kentucky: Fort Thomas Independent Schools
- Location: Fort Thomas, KY
- Students: 3,129
- Student to teacher ratio: 17:1
- Reading proficient: 79%
- Math proficient: 76%
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Expenditure per student: $13,947
- Average teacher salary: $61,062
Louisiana: Zachary Community Public Schools
- Location: Zachary, LA
- Students: 5,551
- Student to teacher ratio: 18:1
- Reading proficient: 84%
- Math proficient: 83%
- Graduation rate: 93%
- Expenditure per student: $11,024
- Average teacher salary: $63,115
Maine: Yarmouth Schools
- Location: Yarmouth, ME
- Students: 1,652
- Student to teacher ratio: 13:1
- Reading proficient: 77%
- Math proficient: 70%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: $15,532
- Average teacher salary: $76,051
Maryland: Howard County Public Schools
- Location: Ellicott City, MD
- Students: 57,907
- Student to teacher ratio: 13:1
- Reading proficient: 55%
- Math proficient: 59%
- Graduation rate: 92%
- Expenditure per student: $17,691
- Average teacher salary: $75,357
You may also like: These Are the Best Places to Raise a Family in the U.S.
Massachusetts: Hopkinton Public Schools
- Location: Hopkinton, MA
- Students: 3,685
- Student to teacher ratio: 14:1
- Reading proficient: 81%
- Math proficient: 80%
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Expenditure per student: $21,205
- Average teacher salary: $90,157
Michigan: Novi Community School District
- Location: Novi, MI
- Students: 6,694
- Student to teacher ratio: 16:1
- Reading proficient: 58%
- Math proficient: 65%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: $15,743
- Average teacher salary: $64,153
Minnesota: Minnetonka Public School District
- Location: Minnetonka, MN
- Students: 10,970
- Student to teacher ratio: 16:1
- Reading proficient: 82%
- Math proficient: 81%
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Expenditure per student: data unavailable
- Average teacher salary: $70,887
Mississippi: Petal School District
- Location: Petal, MS
- Students: 4,137
- Student to teacher ratio: 15:1
- Reading proficient: 62%
- Math proficient: 74%
- Graduation rate: 88%
- Expenditure per student: $9,121
- Average teacher salary: $45,799
Missouri: School District of Clayton
- Location: Clayton, MO
- Students: 2,644
- Student to teacher ratio: 11:1
- Reading proficient: 74%
- Math proficient: 74%
- Graduation rate: 99%
- Expenditure per student: $24,173
- Average teacher salary: $87,936
Montana: Hobson Public Schools
- Location: Hobson, MT
- Students: 117
- Student to teacher ratio: 8:1
- Reading proficient: 65%
- Math proficient: 45%
- Graduation rate: data unavailable
- Expenditure per student: $20,536
- Average teacher salary: $47,034
Nebraska: Elkhorn Public Schools
- Location: Elkhorn, NE
- Students: 9,857
- Student to teacher ratio: 16:1
- Reading proficient: 81%
- Math proficient: 82%
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Expenditure per student: $12,789
- Average teacher salary: $52,076
Nevada: Eureka County School District
- Location: Eureka, NV
- Students: 321
- Student to teacher ratio: 5:1
- Reading proficient: 67%
- Math proficient: 42%
- Graduation rate: data unavailable
- Expenditure per student: $31,373
- Average teacher salary: $86,955
New Hampshire: SAU 70
- Location: Hanover, NH
- Students: 1,125
- Student to teacher ratio: 11:1
- Reading proficient: 85%
- Math proficient: 76%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: $26,401
- Average teacher salary: $97,402
New Jersey: Princeton Public Schools
- Location: Princeton, NJ
- Students: 3,809
- Student to teacher ratio: 11:1
- Reading proficient: 78%
- Math proficient: 65%
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Expenditure per student: $25,217
- Average teacher salary: $80,903
You may also like:
New Mexico: Los Alamos Public Schools
- Location: Los Alamos, NM
- Students: 3,749
- Student to teacher ratio: 15:1
- Reading proficient: 57%
- Math proficient: 49%
- Graduation rate: 89%
- Expenditure per student: $12,679
- Average teacher salary: $53,559
New York: Jericho Union Free School District
- Location: Jericho, NY
- Students: 3,075
- Student to teacher ratio: 9:1
- Reading proficient: 88%
- Math proficient: 91%
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Expenditure per student: $36,392
- Average teacher salary: $131,477
North Carolina: Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
- Students: 12,422
- Student to teacher ratio: 14:1
- Reading proficient: 67%
- Math proficient: 59%
- Graduation rate: 90%
- Expenditure per student: $13,086
- Average teacher salary: $45,683
North Dakota: Edmore School District No. 2
- Location: Edmore, ND
- Students: 50
- Student to teacher ratio: 4:1
- Reading proficient: 75%
- Math proficient: 65%
- Graduation rate: data unavailable
- Expenditure per student: $28,918
- Average teacher salary: $39,357
Ohio: Indian Hill Exempted Village School District
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Students: 2,037
- Student to teacher ratio: 13:1
- Reading proficient: 92%
- Math proficient: 92%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: $19,658
- Average teacher salary: $78,941
You may also like: Here's How Much Parental Leave You Get in Every U.S. State
Oklahoma: Jenks Public Schools
- Location: Jenks, OK
- Students: 12,465
- Student to teacher ratio: 17:1
- Reading proficient: 44%
- Math proficient: 42%
- Graduation rate: 89%
- Expenditure per student: $9,864
- Average teacher salary: $40,194
Oregon: Lake Oswego School District
- Location: Lake Oswego, OR
- Students: 7,066
- Student to teacher ratio: 20:1
- Reading proficient: 85%
- Math proficient: 75%
- Graduation rate: 93%
- Expenditure per student: $11,810
- Average teacher salary: $63,837
Pennsylvania: Radnor Township School District
- Location: Wayne, PA
- Students: 3,682
- Student to teacher ratio: 13:1
- Reading proficient: 89%
- Math proficient: 79%
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Expenditure per student: $23,994
- Average teacher salary: $95,865
Rhode Island: Barrington Public Schools
- Location: Barrington, RI
- Students: 3,343
- Student to teacher ratio: 14:1
- Reading proficient: 71%
- Math proficient: 63%
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Expenditure per student: $15,529
- Average teacher salary: $87,640
South Carolina: Fort Mill School District
- Location: Fort Mill, SC
- Students: 16,081
- Student to teacher ratio: 15:1
- Reading proficient: 68%
- Math proficient: 73%
- Graduation rate: 94%
- Expenditure per student: $15,825
- Average teacher salary: $53,305
South Dakota: Brandon Valley School District
- Location: Brandon, SD
- Students: 4,284
- Student to teacher ratio: 18:1
- Reading proficient: 75%
- Math proficient: 68%
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Expenditure per student: $9,699
- Average teacher salary: $49,540
Tennessee: Collierville Schools
- Location: Collierville, TN
- Students: 9,096
- Student to teacher ratio: 16:1
- Reading proficient: 60%
- Math proficient: 60%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: $15,810
- Average teacher salary: $54,202
Texas: Eanes Independent School District
- Location: Austin, TX
- Students: 8,132
- Student to teacher ratio: 14:1
- Reading proficient: 80%
- Math proficient: 81%
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Expenditure per student: $24,109
- Average teacher salary: $51,587
Utah: Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Nuames)
- Location: Layton, UT
- Students: 875
- Student to teacher ratio: 22:1
- Reading proficient: 74%
- Math proficient: 72%
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Expenditure per student: $6,834
- Average teacher salary: $34,263
Vermont: South Burlington School District
- Location: South Burlington, VT
- Students: 2,759
- Student to teacher ratio: 13:1
- Reading proficient: 71%
- Math proficient: 59%
- Graduation rate: 91%
- Expenditure per student: $22,235
- Average teacher salary: $79,969
You may also like: These Are the Most Popular Baby Names in Every State
Virginia: Falls Church City Public Schools
- Location: Falls Church, VA
- Students: 2,620
- Student to teacher ratio: 14:1
- Reading proficient: 92%
- Math proficient: 82%
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Expenditure per student: data unavailable
- Average teacher salary: $95,479
Washington: Mercer Island School District
- Location: Mercer Island, WA
- Students: 4,522
- Student to teacher ratio: 18:1
- Reading proficient: 87%
- Math proficient: 83%
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Expenditure per student: $15,721
- Average teacher salary: $73,066
West Virginia: Monongalia County Schools
- Location: Morgantown, WV
- Students: 11,679
- Student to teacher ratio: 15:1
- Reading proficient: 54%
- Math proficient: 50%
- Graduation rate: 90%
- Expenditure per student: $13,372
- Average teacher salary: $51,077
Wisconsin: Elmbrook School District
- Location: Brookfield, WI
- Students: 7,334
- Student to teacher ratio: 15:1
- Reading proficient: 63%
- Math proficient: 68%
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Expenditure per student: $14,092
- Average teacher salary: $80,756
Wyoming: Sheridan County School District No. 2
- Location: Sheridan, WY
- Students: 3,532
- Student to teacher ratio: 14:1
- Reading proficient: 75%
- Math proficient: 72%
- Graduation rate: 89%
- Expenditure per student: $15,520
- Average teacher salary: $69,785
