The best school district in every state

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, November 30, 2021

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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 factors parents must weigh when considering a new district.

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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

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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

JulieTFarbarik // Wikimedia Commons

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

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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

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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

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Colorado: Cheyenne Mountain School District 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Illinois: Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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North Dakota: Edmore School District 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

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

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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

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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

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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

Architectsea // Wikimedia Commons

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

Rido // Shutterstock

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

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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

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

Wyoming: Sheridan County School District 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

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