This Is 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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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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