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2024 Best School Districts in America

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About This List

The 2024 Best School Districts ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, teacher quality, public school district ratings, and more. SAT/ACT scores have been removed from this year's rankings to reflect a general de-emphasis on test scores in the college admissions process. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Where Niche Grades come from and how Niche calculates rankings.

    FAQs

    How many school districts are in America?
    There are 11,703 school districts in America. Check out their Niche profiles to find a school that best suits the needs of you and your child!

    The Best School Districts in America

    As parents, you want to give your child the best start in life possible. One of the biggest factors? A top-notch education. While a lot more than school choice goes into a child’s education, there’s no doubt that the best school districts make the task a lot easier.

    That’s why current and future parents look at nearby schools when deciding where to buy a home. The districts on this list set the bar high with strong academics, impressive facilities, and everything else a K-12 student needs.

    What is a school district?

    A school district is a governmental unit responsible for all the public schools in a given area. Usually overseen by a school board of elected officials, the district follows system-wide policies. The board may also be responsible for certain personnel and curriculum decisions.

    The size of school districts varies dramatically. The school districts of cities such as Los Angeles and New York enroll hundreds of thousands of students in more than a thousand schools. Small towns may have a single school with fewer than 100 pupils.

    What goes into selecting the best school districts?

    At Niche, our  weighs the following aspects:

    • Academics (50%)
    • Teachers (15%)
    • Culture and diversity (10%)
    • Parent/student surveys on their experiences (10%)
    • Health and safety (5%)
    • Resources and facilities (5%)
    • Clubs and activities (2.5%)
    • Sports (2.5%)

    We use multiple sources to calculate each aspect’s grade and then combine them according to the percentages above. Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education, the schools themselves, and surveys issued to parents and students.

    For example, a school’s academics grade depends on state assessment proficiency, SAT/ACT scores, and survey responses on academics.

    Things to consider about school districts when buying a home

    Even if you don’t have children, the caliber of the school district will still affect your neighborhood, the cost of your home, and the stability of its value. That house you’re eying will sell faster, too, so you may not want to drag your feet.

    If you are raising a family — or intend to — you’ll need to look at school districts even more closely. Be sure to evaluate the district against your family’s needs and values as well as national averages.

    You can filter this list of the best school districts in America by the availability of advanced academic programs, student-teacher ratio, and special needs. You can also limit your results to schools that scored highly in several areas:

    • Academics
    • Teachers
    • Diversity
    • Sports

    Remember that school districts aren’t the only factor determining the , nor are public schools your only option. Many parents carefully weigh the  and decide their family would be better suited to a private option.

    Education matters and you can ensure that your child gets the best one possible. Check out the school’s website, read Niche reviews, or ask if you can take a tour.