The best school district in every state – Local News 8 – LocalNews8.com
MaxyM // Shutterstock
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 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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A3pfamily // Shutterstock
– 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
Vilmos Varga // Shutterstock
– 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
JulieTFarbarik // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
– 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
Mike24 // Wikimedia Commons
– 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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teofilo // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
WestportWiki // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
– 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
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Thomson200 // Wikimedia Commons
– 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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Joel Bradshaw // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
– 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
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
– 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
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
– 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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Axarchy // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
David Prahl // Shutterstock
– 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
kite studio // Shutterstock
– 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
Pat Shrader // Shutterstock
– 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
Wallstreethotrod // Wikimedia Commons
– 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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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
– 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
transly // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Christopher Boswell // Shutterstock
– 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
smolaw // Shutterstock
– 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
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
– 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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Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock
– 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
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
– 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
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
– 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
lonndubh // Shutterstock
– 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
Henry Gray // Wikimedia Commons
– 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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C4dickson // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
– 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
Unknown // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Rido // Shutterstock
– 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
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
– 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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Rido // Shutterstock
– 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
Bentoman // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
– 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
0xF8E8 // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
– 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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Lincoln Beddoe // Shutterstock
– 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
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
– 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
Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Yuganov Konstantin // Shutterstock
– 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
David Prahl // Shutterstock
– 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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
– 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
Architectsea // Wikimedia Commons
– 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
Rido // Shutterstock
– 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
hxdbzxy // Shutterstock
– 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
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
– 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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