New Mexico’s unique culture is a product of years of mixing between Hispanic, Native American and European traditions. With the highest percentage of Hispanic Americans, and second highest percentage of Native Americans of any state, students enrolled in New Mexico’s public schools come from a slew of distinct backgrounds.

The best district in the state is Los Alamos Public Schools, a system of seven schools serving Los Alamos and neighboring White Rock. Los Alamos lays claim to a number of achievements, including being rated an “A” school district, and boasts an 87% graduation rate.

Ranking #2 is Logan Municipal Schools, serving Logan, NM. In 2017, Logan Elementary was rated an “A” school.

Third on the list is Rio Rancho Public Schools, a large system of 18 schools based in Rio Rancho, NM. According to the district’s website, its mission is “graduating students who are responsible, ethical, and productive citizens, equipped with a solid foundation for individual success.”

Dora Consolidated Schools, located in Dora, NM, follows at #4. According to Niche.com, students of the district have achieved a 90% graduation rate.

Rounding out the top five is Moriarty-Edgewood School District, consisting of three elementaries, two middle schools, and one high school in its namesake communities. In 2017, the district’s South Mountain Elementary and Edgewood Middle School performed better than over 80% of New Mexico’s schools.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?

The White Mountain State compares very favorably with the rest of the nation in education; New Hampshire ranks second overall in the country in Pre-K-12 education, and first in NAEP reading scores according to U.S. News & World Report’s latest survey.

New Hampshire’s best school district is Bedford School District, comprising six schools in Bedford, NH with a total enrollment of about 4,500 students. Bedford High School’s students continually meet a high standard of excellence, achieving a graduation rate of 97.4%, which is nine percentage points higher than the state average.

The second ranked school district in New Hampshire is SAU 70, which is an administrative unit comprising three separate districts in Hanover, Norwich, and Dresden. Serving students in Vermont, as well as New Hampshire, SAU 70 is the first interstate school district in the nation.

Hollis Brookline Cooperative School District SAU 41, serving Hollis and Brookline, NH, ranks third. The district is one of the highest testing in the state, with 81% of students achieving proficiency in reading.

Fourth on the list is Oyster River Cooperative School District, based in Durham, NH and serving students from three different towns. Established in 194, Oyster RIver Cooperative School District is the oldest district of its type in the state.

Another cooperative district, SAU 67, fills out the top five. The district of four schools has a great reputation for exceeding statewide educational standards.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?

Frosty Minnesota takes public education seriously; the Land 10,000 Lakes ranked seventh in the nation in pre-K-12 education in US News & World Report’s latest survey of nationwide public education quality. The pleasant demeanor and high rate of civic participation of Minnesota’s citizens is a testament to the state’s terrific school systems.

Leading the pack at #1 is Wayzata Public Schools, an extensive district of 16 schools and over 11,000 students serving several cities in Hennepin County, MN (with but one school, West Middle School, actually located in the city of Wayzata). Owing to the excellence of its schools, a remarkably high percentage of the district’s graduates go on to pursue a college education.

Minnesota’s second best school district is Edina Public Schools, a smaller system, compared to the preceding entry on the list, of six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. EPS’s honors are myriad; six of its schools have earned Blue Ribbon School Awards, and Newsweek recently named Edina High School in its 2016 ranking of the nation’s best.

Ranking third is another excellent district, Minnetonka Public Schools, a system of 10 schools centered in Minnetonka, MI. Like other districts on the list, Minnetonka’s honors are too numerous to mention: 90% of its 2017 graduates went on to college, and the district was named a top workplace in the state by the Star Tribune.

Filling out the list of Minnesota’s top five school districts are Waconia Public Schools ISD 110 (#4) serving Carver and Hennepin counties, and Mahtomedi Public Schools ISD 832 (#5), whose students’ test scores regularly rank among the highest in the state.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?

Massachusetts reputation for educational excellence is unrivaled in the nation: the state placed first overall in US News & World Report’s ranking of Pre-K-12 public education. The Bay State’s high educational standard dates back to the 17th century, when it was first state to require that all its municipalities employ a teacher. Massachusetts also boasts the nation’s oldest university (Harvard), public elementary (The Mather School), and high school (Boston Latin School).

The best public school district in a state full of them is Lexington Public Schools. Lexington’s nine schools have earned numerous honors recognizing their excellence, including a Blue Ribbon Award for Jonas Clarke Middle School in 2013.

Massachusetts #2 ranked public school district is Westford Public Schools, centered in Westford, MA. The district exceeds state standards in nearly every category, according to the 2017 district report card.

Placing third is Winchester Public Schools, a system of eight schools in Winchester, MA, a suburb eight miles north of downtown Boston. All of its schools rank among the best in the state, and WInchester High School’s graduation rate regularly tops 95%.

Westwood Public Schools is Massachusetts fourth-best public school district. Along with its remarkable high graduation rate, over 80% of the district’s students are at least proficient in both math and reading, as reflected in state test scores.

At #5 is Shrewsbury Public Schools, a district of nine schools headquartered in the nearly 300-year-old town of Shrewsbury, MA. The high achieving district is considered one of the best systems for teachers to earn a living, and it attracts the best, as 100% of its core classes are taught by those considered highly qualified.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?

The Great Lakes State has a lot to offer: its natural beauty makes it major regional travel destination, and it remains a leading player in the high-tech, agriculture and manufacturing industries. Additionally, Michigan has many excellent public districts that play a large role in preparing the state’s youngsters for the future.

The best school district in Michigan is the Novi Community School District of Novi, MI, a suburb 25 miles outside of Detroit. NCSD’s eight schools regularly rank among the best the state has to offer, with Novi Woods earning a Blue Ribbon School Award in 2015, a distinction only afforded to the nation’s best schools.

Michigan’s #2 school district is Rochester Community Schools District, a large system serving communities in both Oakland and Macomb Counties with an enrollment topping 14,500 students. Recently, the district was awarded the Association of School Business Officials International Meritorious Budget Award for its 2017-2018 budget year, recognizing its financial efficiency and budget transparency.

Ranking third is the Troy School District, comprising 20 schools in Troy, MI, a city that is part of the Greater Detroit area. The district’s accolades are numerous; it is one of four districts in the area to be granted an “A+” rating from Detroit News, and Troy High School earned a gold medal from U.S. News & World Report, ranking it among the nation’s best public high schools.

The fourth position on the list belongs to Okemos Public Schools, a recently reorganized district of seven schools located in Okemos, MI, followed by #5 East Rapids Public Schools, whose schools have earned two Blue Ribbon School honors in just the past three years.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?

Kansas is a midwestern agricultural powerhouse served by many excellent public school districts. The state’s top school districts span many counties in regions all over the state.

The top ranking school district in Kansas is Waconda USD 272, a smaller system of one elementary school and one junior/senior high school located in Cawker City, KS. Despite its size, the district’s schools have received numerous awards over the years, including a Blue Ribbon School honor and a number of Governor’s Awards.

Blue Valley USD 229, serving portions of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, is second on the list of Kansas’s top school districts. A large system of over 30 schools, Blue Valley’s schools have received a great many accolades over the years. Most recently, 52 high school seniors from the district’s five high schools were named National Merit semifinalists.

Third in the ranking is Spring Hill School District USD 230, a large district serving parts of two counties which is growing at almost five percent annually. Spring Hill schools perform very well, and around 85% of its graduates go on to some form of post-grad education.

De Soto USD 232 (#4) is another large school district of over 7,000 students serving De Soto, KS and parts of several other nearby communities. De Soto USD schools have garnered multiple awards over the years.

Closing out the top five list is Andover USD 385, a large unified district in Andover, KS with a reputation for academic excellence.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?

The Bayou State’s top school districts are spread out all across its confines, great school systems are located in the Baton Rouge area, the New Orleans metro area, and other regions further west. Owing to its old world influence, Louisiana is the only U.S. state whose political subdivisions are referred to as parishes, and many of its school districts are named after the parish in which they are based. As a whole, the state’s school districts have steadily improved in recent years.

Louisiana's highest ranked school district is Zachary Community School District, serving Zachary, LA, a city located 15 miles north of capital city Baton Rouge. Founded in 2003, ZCSD was named the #1 district in the state for a remarkable 11 years in a row through 2016, and continues to grow faster than any district in the state.

The #2 school district in the state is West Feliciana Parish Public Schools, based in St. Francisville, LA, and serving parts of other surrounding communities, as well. Unique for a public school district, West Feliciana requires all of its students to wear uniforms. The district’s schools regularly excel in both academics and athletics on the state level.

St. Tammamy Parish Public Schools places third among the state’s districts. In 2017, St. Tammamy once again maintained its “A” rating given by the Louisiana Department of Education.

Hit hard by Hurricane Katrina back in 2005, Plaquemines Parish School Board has overcome adversity to be named the state’s #4 best school district.

Rounding out the top five is Ascension Parish School Board, a large system of 27 schools based in Donaldsonville, LA,.

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

Did your district make the list?