The suburbs of Chicago are home to some of the best public school districts in the country, characterized by high graduation rates and high rates of proficiency in math and language arts. It should come as no surprise that all five of the best school districts in Illinois are located in this area. 

The best school district in Illinois is Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, which comprises three high schools in the communities of New Lenox and Frankfort. Lincoln-Way is an excellent district that continues to improve, hitting its highest graduation rate in history in the most recent school year (98%). Furthermore, 85% of district students went on to a 2 or 4-year college within 16 months of graduation. 

Not far behind is Community High School District 155 (#2), which encompasses 4 high schools serving several communities in McHenry County. The district boasts a graduation rate of 95%, which is ten points higher than the state average, and 2019 graduates were awarded $11.7 million in scholarship money. 

Placing 3rd in Illinois is Hinsdale Township High School District 86, which operates two schools serving the communities of Hinsdale and Darien. Like the first two districts in the ranking, D86 has a very high graduation rate, and a remarkable 98% of graduates go on to attend the higher learning institution of their choosing. 

Consolidated High School District 230, which serves several southwest suburbs of Chicago in Cook County, earns the #4 spot on the list. CHSD230 is another high-performing high school district, boasting a graduation rate in the 90’s, a 91% college persistence rate, and 72% participation in co-curricular activities.  

Rounding out the list of Illinois’ five best school districts is Lyons Township High School District 204, which consists of a single high school with two campuses in LaGrange and Western Springs. Lyons Township High School has been named one of the best high schools in America by U.S. News and World Report.  

Top School Districts in Illinois, 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, Indiana’s public education isn’t the best, but it isn’t the worst, either. In fact, it’s somewhere near the middle. However, the state is home to a handful of truly excellent public school districts. Let’s take a closer look at the five best in the state. 

The best school district in Indiana is Zionsville Community Schools, which comprises five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school located in the town of Zionsville. The high-performing district has many achievements to its name, including a 98.2% graduation rate in 2018, and 11 National Merit Finalists. 

Indiana’s 2nd best school district is Northwest Allen County Schools, a large district consisting of 10 schools serving an enrollment of over 7,800 students. NACS regularly accomplishes a graduation rate north of 95% and its students score above state and national averages in every subject.

You don’t have to travel far to hit Indiana’s 3rd best school district Southwest Allen County Schools, which comprises six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school in Aboite and Lafayette Townships. Like its neighboring district in the northwest, SACS consistently performs above state and national averages in assessment tests and its students boast a high rate of reading proficiency. 

Ranking 4th in Indiana is Plainfield Community School Corporation, comprising six schools and a host of other facilities in the town of Plainfield. PCSC schools have been recognized for their excellent performance of the years, most recently with its Van Buren Elementary winning a 2019 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. 

Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools fills out the list of Indiana’s five best school districts. The district’s five schools are all AdvancED accredited and perform above state standards in academics. 

Top School Districts in Indiana, 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.

Iowa is quite possibly the top Midwestern state in terms of public education. In 2019, the state’s high school graduation rate hit an all-time high of 91.4%, which is over six points higher than the national rate. Unsurprisingly, the Hawkeye State’s five best school districts perform remarkably well in all areas. 

Johnston Community School District is the best public school system in Iowa. Comprising five elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, and a number of other facilities, JCSD is one of the largest districts in the state and has an enrollment of around 7,400 students. Despite its size, JCSD boasts a long tradition of academic excellence, boasting a 97% graduation rate and Math and RLA proficiency scores of 88% and 86%, respectively. 

Earning the #2 spot is Southeast Polk Community School District, serving an enrollment of 7,000 students in the Des Moines Metro area. The district’s 98% graduation rate is tied for the best in the state. 

Linn-Mar Community School District is the 3rd best in Iowa. Students at Linn-Mar’s seven elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school all perform above state and national levels in assessment tests, and seven became National Merit Scholar Semifinalists in 2018. 

#4 Ames Community School District is perhaps the most decorated public school district in Iowa state history. Throughout its history, Ames High School has produced 15 Presidential scholars, 23 straight State Science Olympiad Championships, and more athletic state championships than any other school in the state. 

Rounding out the list is Cedar Falls Schools, a large district comprising seven elementary schools, two junior high schools, and one high school. Every school in the district is among the highest-performing in the state, academically, and CFS was recognized by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council for advancing STEM education throughout the state. 

Top School Districts in Iowa, 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.

Kansas is quietly one of the best states in the nation in terms of K-12 education, achieving high outcomes while spending less money per pupil than other high-ranking states. This standard of excellence is reflected in the state’s five best school districts, as each one excels academically, and has earned its share of merits. 

The best school district in Kansas is Unified School District 232, which comprises 12 schools serving over 7,400 students hailing from several communities in Johnston County. USD 232 boasts a high record of achievement in both academics and co-curricular activities and has been recognized with numerous awards over the years. 

Maize Unified School District 266 is Kansas’ #2 public school system. The district’s 15-year-long strategic plan known as “Journey to Excellence” has been a great success, resulting in high levels of math and language arts proficiency and a 99% graduation rate in 2018. 

Placing 3rd in the state of Kansas is USD 265 Goddard Public Schools, serving over 5,500 students in the Goddard and Wichita region. Goddard Public Schools effectively prepares its students for higher education, reflected in the 87% of students that go on to enroll in 2 or 4-year colleges post-graduation.

Gardner Edgerton School District 231 earns the 4th spot in the ranking of Kansas’ best school districts. A medium-sized district of 11 schools with an enrollment of around 6,100, USD 231 boasts high-end facilities and is home to three schools that have earned National Blue Ribbon honors. 

Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437 rounds out the ranking of Kansas’ top five public school districts. Serving an enrollment of 6,400 students, USD 437 balances its stellar academics with a wide variety of co-curricular activities available for students to participate in. 

Top School Districts in Kansas, 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.

Overall, Kentucky lags behind most other states in the field of public education. However, this is not the case for the state’s five best school districts, all of which compare favorably with the best school districts in the nation. Let’s have a closer look at them. 

The best school district in Kentucky is Fort Thomas Independent Schools, which consists of three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in the city of Fort Thomas, near the state’s northern border. Fort Thomas is one of the best school districts in the nation: it boasts a 99% graduation rate, and four of its schools have been named Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Kentucky’s #2 top school district is McCracken County Public Schools, encompassing eleven schools serving an enrollment of almost 7,000 students. The district’s McCracken County High School is one of the best in the area for preparing students for the future, offering 26 AP courses and 13 career certifications. Students can leave the school with two years of college credits in tow. 

Placing 3rd is Henderson County Schools, which is a large district of thirteen schools with a total enrollment topping 7,400. Students of HCS are in good hands, as 79% of the district’s teachers have a Master’s Degree or higher.

Meade County Schools earns the 4th spot in the ranking of Kentucky’s best school districts.  MCS is headquartered in Brandenburg and consists of six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Students of the district excel academically, earning high rates of proficiency in reading and mathematics. 

Floyd County Schools rounds out the list of Kentucky’s five best school districts. The district comprises eleven schools with a total enrollment of around 6,000. FCS boasts AdvancED accreditation and won the District of Distinction honor three years in a row.

Top School Districts in Kentucky, 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.

Though Louisiana isn’t among the top states in terms of public education, it is home to a handful of school districts that excel in academics and co-curricular activities. Here’s a closer look at Louisiana’s five best school districts. 

Plaquemines Parish School System is the best school district in Louisiana. The district is headquartered in Belle Chasse and administers over seven schools and a learning center. PPSS is the top district in the state in proficiency rates on End of Course tests, and in the top ten in average ACT composite scores. 

Earning Louisiana’s #2 spot is Zachary Community School District, which comprises six schools and an early learning center in the city of Zachary, a suburb of state capital Baton Rouge. Despite being the fastest-growing school district in the state, ZCSD has performed well in the areas of academics, extracurricular activities, and athletics since its founding in 2003. 

Louisiana’s 3rd best school district is DeSoto Parish Schools, which is headquartered in Mansfield and consists of nine schools. DPS maintains a standard of excellence and is continually improving, with two-thirds of its schools earning an “A” grade in the area of student achievement progress.  

Placing 4th is Jefferson Davis Parish Schools, a district of thirteen schools headquartered in the city of Jennings, the parish seat of Jefferson Davis Parish. The district counts a 92.5% graduation rate among its accolades. 

Lincoln Parish Schools is Louisiana’s 5th best public school system. Headquartered in Ruston, LPS is a large district comprising thirteen schools in Ruston and several adjacent communities. The district’s 96% graduation rate and high proficiency scores are well above state averages. 

Top School Districts in Louisiana, 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.

Like other states in the New England region, Maine has a long tradition of excellence in public schooling. In particular, Maine spends more money per pupil and has a smaller average class size than the United States, at large, which has yielded positive results. Nowhere is Maine’s high standard of education more evident than in its five best school districts. 

Falmouth Public Schools is a small, high-performing school district of three schools in the coastal town of Falmouth. The district’s students benefit from a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 11.5, which may explain why over 70% of students are proficient in math and RLA. 

Maine’s 2nd best school district is the Yarmouth School Department, a modestly sized district made up of one kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school in the Portland suburb of Yarmouth. In 2019, Yarmouth High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. 

Coming in 3rd is MSAD #51, another small district of four schools headquartered in the affluent town of Cumberland. Students of the district excel in all areas, consistently scoring above state averages in assessment tests, and graduating at a rate of over 95%.

Cape Elizabeth School Department is the 4th best school system in the state of Maine. Like other exceptional school districts in the state, CESD is small, consisting of three schools with a total enrollment of around 1600. The district’s Cape Elizabeth High School has been named a Blue Ribbon School twice in the past fifteen years. 

Rounding out Maine’s top five is Scarborough Schools, another three-school district based in the coastal resort town of Scarborough. Students of the district excel in academics, participate enthusiastically in academics and extracurriculars, and pursue post-secondary graduation at a rate of 90%. 

Top School Districts in Maine, 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.

Maryland is among the top states in terms of K-12 academics, with well-funded school districts and above-average proficiency rates in math and reading. In 2019, Education Week magazine gave the state a B grade, which bests the national grade of C, and ranked Maryland 4th in the nation in education. Let’s take a closer look at the five best school districts in Maryland. 

The best school district in Maryland is Montgomery County Public Schools, which is the largest school system in Maryland comprising 206 schools with a total enrollment of over 163,000. MCPS is home to a remarkable 41 National Blue Ribbon Schools. 

Placing 2nd is Prince George’s County Public Schools, another vast district made up of over 200 schools serving more than 130,000 students. Despite the district’s size, PGCPS schools are well-funded, and have earned national recognition for their innovative learning programs and focus on career and technical education. 

Baltimore County Public Schools is the 3rd best school district in Maryland. Like the first two entries, BCPS is a large school district that is home to many schools that have received national attention for their high academic performance. In total, over 20 BCPS schools have won a National Blue Ribbon Award.

Earning the #4 spot is Howard County Public Schools, consisting of 77 schools with a diverse student population of nearly 59,000. The district’s 4-year graduation rate of 92% is nearly five percentage points higher than the state average. 

Top School Districts in Maryland, 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.