Where to find the best school district in every state

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.

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

- 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

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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 2022 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 are another, which is why it's always smart to research and learn about the families, teachers, and students in a given district before deciding something as important as moving based 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 factors parents must weigh when considering a new district.

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.

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- Location: Madison, Alabama

- Total students: 11,804

- National rank: 57

- Location: Skagway, Alaska

- Total students: 144

- National rank: 481

- Location: Tucson, Arizona

- Total students: 5,190

- National rank: 362

- Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas

- Total students: 1,407

- National rank: 137

- Location: Palo Alto, California

- Total students: 11,395

- National rank: 9

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- Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

- Total students: 5,270

- National rank: 290

- Location: Westport, Connecticut

- Total students: 5,329

- National rank: 17

- Location: Odessa, Delaware

- Total students: 11,914

- National rank: 489

- Location: St Augustine, Florida

- Total students: 44,550

- National rank: 848

- Location: Buford, Georgia

- Total students: 5,468

- National rank: 87

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- Location: Morgantown, Hawaii

- Total students: 11,113

- National rank: Not ranked

- Location: Troy, Idaho

- Total students: 270

- National rank: 740

- Location: Lincolnshire, Illinois

- Total students: 4,315

- National rank: 1

- Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

- Total students: 2,316

- National rank: 8

- Location: Bettendorf, Iowa

- Total students: 5,331

- National rank: 121

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- Location: Overland Park, Kansas

- Total students: 22,148

- National rank: 69

- Location: Murray, Kentucky

- Total students: 1,783

- National rank: 263

- Location: Zachary, Louisiana

- Total students: 5,444

- National rank: 306

- Location: Yarmouth, Maine

- Total students: 1,670

- National rank: 172

- Location: Ellicott City, Maryland

- Total students: 57,293

- National rank: 307

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- Location: Weston, Massachusetts

- Total students: 1,906

- National rank: 23

- Location: Novi, Michigan

- Total students: 6,580

- National rank: 60

- Location: Wayzata, Minnesota

- Total students: 12,013

- National rank: 46

- Location: Petal, Mississippi

- Total students: 4,106

- National rank: 286

- Location: Clayton, Missouri

- Total students: 2,514

- National rank: 13

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- Location: Morgantown, Montana

- Total students: 11,113

- National rank: Not ranked

- Location: Elkhorn, Nebraska

- Total students: 10,642

- National rank: 239

- Location: Morgantown, Nevada

- Total students: 11,113

- National rank: Not ranked

- Location: Hanover, New Hampshire

- Total students: 1,054

- National rank: 96

- Location: Millburn, New Jersey

- Total students: 4,697

- National rank: 29

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- Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico

- Total students: 3,539

- National rank: 329

- Location: Great Neck, New York

- Total students: 6,831

- National rank: 3

- Location: Columbus, North Carolina

- Total students: 2,154

- National rank: 399

- Location: Edmore, North Dakota

- Total students: 35

- National rank: 675

- Location: Solon, Ohio

- Total students: 4,521

- National rank: 49

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- Location: Edmond, Oklahoma

- Total students: 23,496

- National rank: 285

- Location: Tualatin, Oregon

- Total students: 9,302

- National rank: 348

- Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania

- Total students: 3,624

- National rank: 14

- Location: Barrington, Rhode Island

- Total students: 3,388

- National rank: 227

- Location: Fort Mill, South Carolina

- Total students: 16,883

- National rank: 235

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- Location: Brandon, South Dakota

- Total students: 4,721

- National rank: 639

- Location: Maryville, Tennessee

- Total students: 5,441

- National rank: 383

- Location: Austin, Texas

- Total students: 7,968

- National rank: 10

- Location: Layton, Utah

- Total students: 1,135

- National rank: 173

- Location: South Burlington, Vermont

- Total students: 2,688

- National rank: 638

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- Location: Falls Church, Virginia

- Total students: 2,500

- National rank: 220

- Location: Mercer Island, Washington

- Total students: 4,192

- National rank: 157

- Location: Morgantown, West Virginia

- Total students: 11,113

- National rank: Not ranked

- Location: Brookfield, Wisconsin

- Total students: 7,280

- National rank: 45

- Location: Sheridan, Wyoming

- Total students: 3,519

- National rank: 893

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