Beginning with the founding of Harvard University in 1636, Massachusetts has long upheld a tradition of excellence in education, and its public school systems are no exception. In fact, Massachusetts has some of the best school districts in the United States. Here’s a look at the five best school districts in the Bay State.

Lexington Public Schools is the best school district in Massachusetts. Comprising eleven schools in the town of Lexington, the district outperforms state and national averages in every possible metric, and examples include 87.3% of district students completing at least one advanced course (compared to just 65.1% in the state) while also managing a 100% completion rate of the MassCore program of studies. 

Placing second in Massachusetts is Needham Public Schools, consisting of eight schools in the Boston suburb of Needham. Needham students regularly perform well on assessment tests, earning average scores in the state top 10 in both English and language arts and science and technology in 2018. 

Massachusetts 3rd best public school district is Wellesley Public Schools, comprising seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school with a total enrollment of 4,758 in the Norfolk County town of Wellesley. In 2018, WPS’s graduation rate was above 97%, and nearly 93% of graduates went on to attend a 2 or 4-year university.   

Earning the 4th spot is Winchester Public Schools, a high performing district of eight schools in the wealthy suburb of Winchester. Students in the district regularly score well above the state average on the SAT.

Filling out the list of Massachusetts top five school districts is Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, an eight-school district that produced 18 National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists in 2017. 

Top School Districts in Massachusetts, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.

The public education situation in Michigan is one of contrasts: while student performance in Detroit, the state’s largest city, is below average (although there are promising signs of improvement), districts in the adjacent suburbs perform exceptionally well. It’s no surprise that a number of Michigan’s five best school districts are located in this region. 

Northville Public Schools is the best school district in Michigan. Comprising eleven schools in the wealthy suburb of Northville, the district consistently has a graduation rate north of 96% and its students regularly best state and national averages on the ACT and SAT’s. 

Earning the #2 spot in Michigan is Lake Orion Community Schools, a large district of ten schools with a total enrollment of over 7,500 hailing from the village of Lake Orion and several adjacent communities.  Students in the district outperform state averages on the Michigan Merit Exam, ACT, and SAT. 

Michigan’s 3rd best school district is Hudsonville Public Schools, a system of 12 schools that is the second-largest district in Ottawa County. For three years in a row, all district buildings have earned an “A” grade from the Michigan Department of Education. 

Novi Community School District places 4th among Michigan public school districts. Not only do Novi students perform exceptionally on standardized tests, they are active outside of the classroom, as well, with 56% of 7th-12th graders involved in an athletic program, and 29% of high schoolers participating in performing arts. 

Completing the list of Michigan’s five best school districts is Midland Public Schools, a ten-school district headquartered in the city of Midland. The district boasts a graduation rate of 95%.

Top School Districts in Michigan, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.

Minnesota’s public education system is stellar, characterized by low dropout rates, high test scores, and low student-to-teacher ratios. Minnesota’s high standard of education is reflected in its five best school districts. 

St. Michael-Albertville Schools is Minnesota’s best school district. Comprising one kindergarten, three elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools serving an enrollment of nearly 6,500, the high-performing district recently managed a remarkable graduation rate of over 99%

Minnesota’s 2nd best school system is Centennial School District, which is headquartered in the suburb of Circle Pines and consists of seven schools and a number of other facilities. Centennial teachers are highly qualified, with 78% holding a master’s degree, and the district has a graduation rate of 94.9%. 

Placing 3rd in the ranking is Farmington Area Public Schools, made up of five elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school in the city of Farmington. The district’s students consistently test higher than the national average on the ACT and NWEA MAP tests. 

Hopkins Public Schools is the 4th best public school district in the state of Minnesota. HPS serves an enrollment of around 6,800 students hailing from the city of Hopkins and portions of surrounding communities. Students of Hopkins schools are in good hands, as 84% of the district’s teachers have a master’s degree or higher. 

Mahtomedi Public Schools completes the ranking of Minnesota’s top school districts. Comprising four schools in the small Washington County city of Mahtomedi, MPS maintains a standard of excellence which is reflected in the district’s students’ high ACT and AP exam test scores. 

Top School Districts in Minnesota, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.

In many areas, Mississippi lags behind other states, and education is one of them. However, despite the state’s issues, there are a handful of public school districts in the Magnolia State that stack up nicely against the best in the nation. Here’s a look at Mississippi’s five best school districts. 

Ocean Springs School District is the best public school system in Mississippi. Consisting of six schools and an alternative education center in the coastal city of Ocean Springs, OCCD has a stellar track record: each of its schools has an “A” rating from the Mississippi Department of Education. The district’s students aren’t too shabby, either, with the Class of 2019 bringing in over $19 million in scholarship money.

Earning the #2 spot in the ranking is Clinton Public School District, comprising four elementary schools, one junior high, one ninth-grade school, and a high school in the city of Clinton in the Jackson metropolitan area. The district boasts an 86% graduation rate and 63% of its students are proficient in math. 

Mississippi's 3rd best school system is Oxford School District, a medium-sized district of six schools with a total enrollment of around 4,300.  OSD students earned Mississippi Academic Assessment Program scores which are among the highest-ranking in the state. 

Placing 4th is Biloxi Public School District, an “A” rated district serving students of the coastal city of Biloxi. BPSD schools have received a number of national and state awards honoring their excellent performance, including a National Blue Ribbon award for Biloxi High. 

Tupelo Public School District rounds out the list of Mississippi’s best school districts. The large district of fourteen schools serves an enrollment of nearly 7,000 students while maintaining a high standard of academic performance. TPSD’s graduation rate of 88% is above state and national averages, and over 50% of the district’s students are on the Honor Roll.  

Top School Districts in Mississippi, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.

Compared to other states, Missouri is in the middle of the pack in terms of public education quality, earning a “C” grade in the 2019 Quality Counts report card. However, you wouldn’t know it by looking at the state’s five best school districts, all of which maintain a consistently high level of performance.

Missouri’s best school system is Kirkwood School District, which comprises five elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school serving an enrollment of 5,700 students. Students of the district regularly earn test scores that are among the highest in the state while graduating at a rate of 99%. 

Lindbergh Schools earns the #2 spot in the ranking of Missouri’s best school districts. Lindbergh is a large district, with over 7,100 students attending one of eleven different campuses. The district’s schools have received a generous number of awards and achievements, including six National Ribbon School honors.

Placing 3rd in the ranking is Ladue School District, comprising seven schools and an early childhood center in the city of St. Louis. The ethnically diverse district regularly manages a graduation rate of over 90%. 

The School District of Clayton places 4th in the list of Missouri’s best school districts. Headquartered in Clayton, the district comprises six schools with an enrollment of around 2,800. A remarkable 21 Clayton High School students were named National Merit Scholars in 2020. 

Rounding out the list is Ozark School District, comprising seven schools in the city of Ozark. Students of the district consistently perform at a high academic level, which is seen in the 97.2% graduation rate, 22.6 average ACT score, and 53% of students that qualified for an A+ scholarship.  

Top School Districts in Missouri, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.

Montana is in the running for the title of the most geographically dazzling state, with its towering peaks, thousands of snaking rivers, and diverse wildlife. However, the state is merely average in terms of public education, with math and reading proficiency rates around the 50% mark. 

Despite this, Montana is home to a number of high-performing, well-rounded school districts that balance academic achievement with vigorous athletic programs. Here’s a look at the state’s five best school districts, all of which are high school districts, as Montana separates them for statistical purposes.

Bozeman High School District is the best public school system in Montana. Consisting of Bozeman High School and school-within-a-school Bridger Charter Academy, the district has an above-average graduation rate and 71% of its students are college or career ready. 

Earning the 2nd spot in the ranking is Billings High School District, which comprises three high schools in the state’s largest city. The district places a focus on STEM education and its schools have flourishing athletics programs. 

Beaverhead County High School District places 3rd in the rankings. Consisting of a single high school in the small town of Dillon, Beaverhead students graduate at a rate over ten percentage points higher than the statewide rate. 

Montana’s 4th best school district is Missoula High School District, made up of four high schools in Missoula and Seeley Lake. The district’s students benefit from a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.2.

Rounding out Montana’s top five is Park High School District, comprising a single high school in the town of Livingston, which lies just north of Yellowstone National Park. Students of Park High School are 60% proficient in reading & language arts, which is significantly higher than the statewide rate. 

Top School Districts in Montana, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.

Nebraska has one of the best public school systems in the U.S., earning high graduation rates, solid average test scores, and high levels of proficiency in math and reading. The state’s five best school districts manage to outdo Nebraska’s already-high standard of academic achievement. 

The best school district in Nebraska is Gretna Public Schools, comprising five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school in the city of Gretna. The district has long been one of the best in the state, regularly earning high test scores and graduation rates above 95%. What’s more, Gretna High School has been named a National Blue Ribbon School for its academic excellence. 

Placing 2nd in the state of Nebraska is Westside Community Schools, the 3rd largest school in the state consisting of 12 schools in the city of Omaha. Schools in the district have earned many honors, including a recent Blue Ribbon School award for Paddock Road Elementary School. 

Kearney Public Schools is the 3rd best school district in Nebraska, comprising thirteen schools in the idyllic city of Kearney. KPS’s 91% graduation rate bests state and national averages. 

Seward Public Schools earns the 4th spot. The modestly-sized district is made up of one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school.  SPS has received an “Excellent” rating by the Nebraska Department of Education for two straight years, and is one of just two districts in its class to do so.  

Filling out the list of Nebraska’s best school systems is Norris School District, which administers four schools serving an enrollment of around 2,400. The district is accredited by the Nebraska State Department of Education. 

Top School Districts in Nebraska, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.

Nevada is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. As a result, many of the state’s school districts are constantly in flux, restructuring and adding new schools in order to deal with the large number of newly arriving students. Because of this, many state school districts do not perform as well as they could. 

However, a number of Nevada school districts are characterized by high levels of achievement in academics and extracurricular activities. Here’s a look at the state’s five best school districts. 

The best school district in Nevada is Douglas County School District, comprising seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools with an enrollment of over 6,000. Students of the district graduate high school at a rate above state and national averages. 

Nye County School District is the 2nd best school district in Nevada. The expansive district consists of 15 schools and is headquartered in the town of Pahrump. NCSD is the largest district in the contiguous 48 states, geographically, serving a total area of 18,182 square miles. 

Earning Nevada’s #3 spot is Storey County School District, which is headquartered in Virginia City and comprises four schools. SCSD’s graduation rate of 90% is well above the Nevada state average. 

Humboldt County School District is the 4th best school system in Nevada. The district encompasses eleven schools with an enrollment of 3,500. HCSD schools have earned recognition as Distinguished Title I schools at both the state and national levels.

Rounding out the ranking of Nevada’s five best school districts is Lander County School District, which is headquartered in Battle Mountain and comprises four schools. The district’s Battle Mountain High School regularly achieves a graduation rate of above 95%.

Top School Districts in Nevada, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.