Top School Districts in Massachusetts, 2021

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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

RankSchool DistrictCity
1LexingtonLexington
2NeedhamNeedham
3WellesleyWellesley
4WinchesterWinchester
5Acton-BoxboroughActon
6ShrewsburyShrewsbury
7BelmontBelmont
8WestfordWestford
9WachusettJefferson
10Montachusett Regional Vocational TechnicalFitchburg
11AndoverAndover
12HinghamHingham
13Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational TechnicalBillerica
14Northboro-SouthboroSouthborough
15HopkintonHopkinton
16Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational TechnicalTaunton
17Southeastern Regional Vocational TechnicalSouth Easton
18ArlingtonArlington
19Whittier Regional Vocational TechnicalHaverhill
20Tri-County Regional Vocational TechnicalFranklin
21Greater Fall River Regional Vocational TechnicalFall River
22MasconometBoxford
23Essex North Shore Agricultural And Technical School DistrictHathorne
24SharonSharon
25NatickNatick
26WaylandWayland
27FranklinFranklin
28WestboroughWestborough
29BraintreeBraintree
30WestwoodWestwood
31Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational TechnicalWakefield
32PlymouthPlymouth
33ChelmsfordChelmsford
34DuxburyDuxbury
35Old Colony Regional Vocational TechnicalRochester
36Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational TechnicalNew Bedford
37Bristol County AgriculturalDighton
38Dover-SherbornDover
39NashobaBolton
40MelroseMelrose
41ScituateScituate
42Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational TechnicalWestford
43North AndoverNorth Andover
44Bridgewater-RaynhamBridgewater
45ReadingReading
46LongmeadowLongmeadow
47MiltonMilton
48BedfordBedford
49Norfolk County AgriculturalWalpole
50WalpoleWalpole
51EastonNorth Easton
52MarshfieldMarshfield
53MedfieldMedfield
54MarbleheadMarblehead
55LynnfieldLynnfield
56CantonCanton
57King PhilipNorfolk
58Groton-DunstableGroton
59Somerset Berkley Regional School DistrictSomerset
60North ReadingNorth Reading
61WilmingtonWilmington
62MansfieldMansfield
63MedwayMedway
64AttleboroAttleboro
65NorwellNorwell
66Manchester Essex RegionalManchester
67NausetOrleans
68Hamilton-WenhamWenham
69FoxboroughFoxborough
70Hampden-WilbrahamWilbraham
71South Shore Regional Vocational TechnicalHanover
72North AttleboroughNorth Attleborough
73HarvardHarvard
74AbingtonAbington
75Silver LakeKingston
76Mount GreylockWilliamstown
77CohassetCohasset
78BurlingtonBurlington
79HollistonHolliston
80TewksburyTewksbury
81North MiddlesexTowsend
82Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational TechnicalNorth Adams
83WakefieldWakefield
84LittletonLittleton
85Old RochesterMattapoisett
86AshlandAshland
87IpswichIpswich
88HanoverHanover
89FalmouthEast Falmouth
90Whitman-HansonWhitman
91SwampscottSwampscott
92LeominsterLeominster
93BeverlyBeverly
94MaldenMalden
95SandwichSandwich
96East LongmeadowEast Longmeadow
97MethuenMethuen
98WeymouthWeymouth
99NewburyportNewburyport
100WoburnWoburn

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.

Did your district make the list? Share the good news!

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Top School Districts in Michigan, 2021

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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

RankSchool DistrictCity
1Northville Public SchoolsNorthville
2Lake Orion Community SchoolsLake Orion
3Hudsonville Public School DistrictHudsonville
4Novi Community School DistrictNovi
5Midland Public SchoolsMidland
6Bloomfield Hills SchoolsBloomfield Hills
7Brighton Area SchoolsBrighton
8Byron Center Public SchoolsByron Center
9Saline Area SchoolsSaline
10Clarkston Community School DistrictClarkston
11Spring Lake Public SchoolsSpring Lake
12East Grand Rapids Public SchoolsGrand Rapids
13St. Joseph Public SchoolsSaint Joseph
14Hartland Consolidated SchoolsHowell
15Zeeland Public SchoolsZeeland
16Okemos Public SchoolsOkemos
17Anchor Bay School DistrictCasco
18Jenison Public SchoolsJenison
19West Ottawa Public School DistrictHolland
20Berkley School DistrictOak Park
21Lakeview Public Schools (Macomb)Saint Clair Shores
22Grandville Public SchoolsGrandville
23Lowell Area SchoolsLowell
24Dewitt Public SchoolsDewitt
25Caledonia Community SchoolsCaledonia
26Dexter Community School DistrictDexter
27Howell Public SchoolsHowell
28West Bloomfield School DistrictWest Bloomfield
29Davison Community SchoolsDavison
30Grand Haven Area Public SchoolsGrand Haven
31Mattawan Consolidated SchoolMattawan
32Fraser Public SchoolsFraser
33Haslett Public SchoolsHaslett
34Marysville Public SchoolsMarysville
35Linden Community SchoolsLinden
36Oxford Community SchoolsOxford
37Grosse Ile Township SchoolsGrosse Ile
38Royal Oak SchoolsRoyal Oak
39Coopersville Area Public School DistrictCoopersville
40Romeo Community SchoolsRomeo
41East Lansing School DistrictEast Lansing
42Grand Ledge Public SchoolsGrand Ledge
43Chelsea School DistrictChelsea
44St. Johns Public SchoolsSaint Johns
45Lakeshore School District (Berrien)Stevensville
46Southfield Public School DistrictSouthfield
47Bedford Public SchoolsTemperance
48Public Schools Of PetoskeyPetoskey
49Bullock Creek School DistrictMidland
50East China School DistrictEast China
51Hamilton Community SchoolsHamilton
52Almont Community SchoolsAlmont
53Lapeer Community SchoolsLapeer
54Goodrich Area SchoolsGoodrich
55Williamston Community SchoolsWilliamston
56Greenville Public SchoolsGreenville
57Thornapple Kellogg School DistrictMiddleville
58Frankenmuth School DistrictFrankenmuth
59Houghton-Portage Township School DistrictHoughton
60Saugatuck Public SchoolsDouglas
61Holt Public SchoolsHolt
62Avondale School DistrictAuburn Hills
63Otsego Public SchoolsOtsego
64Mason Public Schools (Ingham)Mason
65Wayland Union SchoolsWayland
66Freeland Community School DistrictFreeland
67Lakeview Sch. District (Calhoun)Battle Creek
68Allendale Public SchoolsAllendale
69Glen Lake Community SchoolsMaple City
70Armada Area SchoolsArmada
71Kingsley Area SchoolsKingsley
72Trenton Public SchoolsTrenton
73Crestwood School DistrictDearborn Heights
74Bridgman Public SchoolsBridgman
75Cedar Springs Public SchoolsCedar Springs
76Mona Shores Public School DistrictNorton Shores
77Manchester Community SchoolsManchester
78New Lothrop Area Public SchoolsNew Lothrop
79Riverview Community School DistrictRiverview
80Sparta Area SchoolsSparta
81Ida Public School DistrictIda
82Lakewood Public SchoolsWoodland
83Yale Public SchoolsYale
84Blissfield Community SchoolsBlissfield
85Hopkins Public SchoolsHopkins
86Harbor Springs School DistrictHarbor Springs
87Allen Park Public SchoolsAllen Park
88Gull Lake Community SchoolsRichland
89Plainwell Community SchoolsPlainwell
90Lake Fenton Community SchoolsFenton
91Fowler Public SchoolsFowler
92Fowlerville Community SchoolsFowlerville
93Woodhaven-Brownstown School DistrictWoodhaven
94Kenowa Hills Public SchoolsGrand Rapids
95Flushing Community SchoolsFlushing
96Cass City Public SchoolsCass City
97Imlay City Community SchoolsImlay City
98West Branch-Rose City Area SchoolsWest Branch
99Pewamo-Westphalia Community SchoolsWestphalia
100Elk Rapids SchoolsElk Rapids

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.

Did your district make the list? Share the good news!

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Top School Districts in Minnesota, 2021

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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

RankSchool DistrictCity
1St. Michael-Albertville School DistAlbertville
2Centennial Public School DistrictCircle Pines
3Farmington Public School DistrictFarmington
4Hopkins Public School DistrictHopkins
5Mahtomedi Public School DistrictMahtomedi
6Orono Public School DistrictLong Lake
7Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public SchBuffalo
8Sartell-St. Stephen School DistrictSartell
9Hastings Public School DistrictHastings
10Monticello Public School DistrictMonticello
11New Prague Area SchoolsNew Prague
12Delano Public School DistrictDelano
13Forest Lake Public School DistrictForest Lake
14Waconia Public School DistrictWaconia
15St. Louis Park Public School Dist.Saint Louis Park
16Northfield Public School DistrictNorthfield
17Westonka Public School DistrictMinnetrista
18Brainerd Public School DistrictBrainerd
19St. Anthony-New Brighton SchoolsSaint Anthony
20Alexandria Public School DistrictAlexandria
21Grand Rapids Public School DistrictGrand Rapids
22Big Lake Public School DistrictBig Lake
23Becker Public School DistrictBecker
24Cambridge-Isanti Public School DistCambridge
25Esko Public School DistrictEsko
26St. Francis Area SchoolsSaint Francis
27Byron Public School DistrictByron
28Chisago Lakes School DistrictLindstrom
29Sauk Rapids-Rice Public SchoolsSauk Rapids
30West St. Paul-Mendota Hts.-EaganMendota Heights
31Hutchinson Public School DistrictHutchinson
32Rocori Public School DistrictCold Spring
33Foley Public School DistrictFoley
34Inver Grove Heights SchoolsInver Grove Heights
35Virginia Public School DistrictVirginia
36Kasson-Mantorville School DistrictKasson
37Spring Lake Park Public SchoolsSpring Lake Park
38Hermantown Public School DistrictHermantown
39Greenway Public School DistrictColeraine
40Annandale Public School DistrictAnnandale
41Dassel-Cokato Public School Dist.Cokato
42Owatonna Public School DistrictOwatonna
43Princeton Public School DistrictPrinceton
44Moorhead Public School DistrictMoorhead
45Rockford Public School DistrictRockford
46Holdingford Public School DistrictHoldingford
47Morris Area Public SchoolsMorris
48New Ulm Public School DistrictNew Ulm
49Pine Island Public School Dist.Pine Island
50Watertown-Mayer Public School Dist.Watertown
51Pequot Lakes Public SchoolsPequot Lakes
52Barnesville Public School Dist.Barnesville
53Albany Public School DistrictAlbany
54Plainview-Elgin-MillvillePlainview
55Jordan Public School DistrictJordan
56New London-Spicer School DistrictNew London
57Osakis Public School DistrictOsakis
58Red Wing Public School DistrictRed Wing
59Stewartville Public School DistrictStewartville
60Maple Lake Public School DistrictMaple Lake
61Zumbrota-Mazeppa School DistrictMazeppa
62Luverne Public School DistrictLuverne
63Hibbing Public School DistrictHibbing
64North Branch Public SchoolsNorth Branch
65Fairmont Area School DistrictFairmont
66St. Charles Public School DistrictSaint Charles
67Melrose Public School DistrictMelrose
68Chatfield Public SchoolsChatfield
69Paynesville Public School DistrictPaynesville
70Cannon Falls Public School DistrictCannon Falls
71Litchfield Public School DistrictLitchfield
72Eden Valley-Watkins School DistrictEden Valley
73Dover-Eyota Public School DistrictEyota
74Belle Plaine Public School DistrictBelle Plaine
75Maple River School DistrictMapleton
76Bemidji Public School DistrictBemidji
77Rush City Public School DistrictRush City
78Battle Lake Public School DistrictBattle Lake
79Thief River Falls School DistrictThief River Falls
80Roseau Public School DistrictRoseau
81Proctor Public School DistrictProctor
82International Falls School DistrictInternational Falls
83Warroad Public School DistrictWarroad
84La Crescent-Hokah School DistrictLa Crescent
85Braham Public School DistrictBraham
86Howard Lake-Waverly-WinstedHoward Lake
87Murray County Central School Dist.Slayton
88Montevideo Public School DistrictMontevideo
89Mora Public School DistrictMora
90Dilworth-Glyndon-FeltonDilworth
91Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa School DistBelgrade
92Jackson County Central School Dist.Jackson
93Minnewaska School DistrictGlenwood
94Lake Superior Public School Dist.Two Harbors
95St. Peter Public School DistrictSaint Peter
96Crosby-Ironton Public School Dist.Crosby
97Kimball Public School DistrictKimball
98Caledonia Public School DistrictCaledonia
99Kenyon-Wanamingo School DistrictWanamingo
100Pierz Public School DistrictPierz

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.

Did your district make the list? Share the good news!

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Top School Districts in Mississippi, 2021

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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

RankSchool DistrictCity
1Ocean Springs School DistOcean Springs
2Clinton Public School DistClinton
3Oxford School DistrictOxford
4Biloxi Public School DistBiloxi
5Tupelo Public School DistTupelo
6Gulfport School DistGulfport
7Petal School DistPetal
8Pascagoula-Gautier School DistrictPascagoula
9Lowndes Co School DistColumbus
10Pearl Public School DistrictPearl
11Lauderdale Co School DistMeridian
12Starkville- Oktibbeha Cons DistStarkville
13Long Beach School DistLong Beach
14Lee County School DistrictTupelo
15Union Co School DistNew Albany
16George Co School DistLucedale
17Hinds Co School DistRaymond
18Pearl River Co School DistCarriere
19Enterprise School DistEnterprise
20Grenada School DistGrenada
21Booneville School DistBooneville
22Neshoba County School DistrictPhiladelphia
23South Panola School DistrictBatesville
24Hancock Co School DistKiln
25Tishomingo Co Sp Mun Sch DistIuka
26Pass Christian Public School DistPass Christian
27Alcorn School DistCorinth
28Stone Co School DistWiggins
29Monroe Co School DistAmory
30Lincoln County School DistrictBrookhaven
31Lafayette Co School DistOxford
32Newton County School DistrictDecatur
33Scott Co School DistForest
34Itawamba County School DistFulton
35Webster Co School DistEupora
36Amory School DistAmory
37West Point Consolidated School DistWest Point
38New Albany Public SchoolsNew Albany
39Bay St Louis Waveland School DistBay St. Louis
40Pontotoc Co School DistPontotoc
41North Pike School DistSummit
42Smith Co School DistRaleigh
43Calhoun Co School DistPittsboro
44Prentiss Co School DistBooneville
45Pontotoc City SchoolsPontotoc
46Picayune School DistrictPicayune
47Columbia School DistrictColumbia
48Simpson Co School DistMendenhall
49Corinth School DistCorinth
50West Jasper Consolidated SchoolsBay Springs
51Greene County School DistrictLeakesville
52Poplarville Separate School DistPoplarville
53Union Public School DistUnion
54Kosciusko School DistrictKosciusko
55South Tippah School DistRipley
56Louisville Municipal School DistLouisville
57Baldwyn School DistrictBaldwyn
58Tate Co School DistColdwater
59Houston School DistHouston
60Cleveland School DistCleveland
61Tunica County School DistrictTunica
62Franklin Co School DistMeadville
63Claiborne Co School DistPort Gibson
64Copiah Co School DistHazlehurst
65Greenville Public SchoolsGreenville
66Senatobia Municipal School DistSenatobia
67North Tippah School DistTiplersville
68Meridian Public SchoolsMeridian
69Western Line School DistrictAvon
70Water Valley School DistrictWater Valley
71Natchez-Adams School DistrictNatchez
72Kemper Co School DistDekalb
73Lawrence Co School DistMonticello
74Wayne Co School DistWaynesboro
75Columbus Municipal School DistColumbus
76Marion Co School DistColumbia
77Covington County School DistrictCollins
78Marshall Co School DistHolly Springs
79Laurel School DistrictLaurel
80Hattiesburg Public School DistHattiesburg
81Sunflower Cty Cons School DistrictIndianola
82Holly Springs School DistHolly Springs
83Choctaw Co School DistAckerman
84Leake Co School DistCarthage
85Yazoo Co School DistYazoo City
86Nettleton School DistNettleton
87Forrest County Ag High SchoolBrooklyn
88East Jasper Consolidated Sch DistHeidelberg
89Canton Public School DistCanton
90Jefferson Davis Co School DistPrentiss
91Quitman Co School DistMarks
92Attala Co School DistKosciusko
93Forest Municipal School DistForest
94South Delta School DistrictRolling Fork
95Chickasaw Co School DistHoulka
96Benton Co School DistAshland
97Brookhaven School DistBrookhaven
98Walthall Co School DistTylertown
99Leflore Co School DistGreenwood
100Coahoma Early CollegeClarksdale

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.

Did your district make the list? Share the good news!

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Top School Districts in Missouri, 2021

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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

RankSchool DistrictCity
1Kirkwood R-ViiKirkwood
2Lindbergh SchoolsSt Louis
3LadueSt Louis
4ClaytonClayton
5Ozark R-ViOzark
6Nixa Public SchoolsNixa
7Webster GrovesWebster Groves
8Troy R-IiiTroy
10Kearney R-IKearney
11Northwest R-IHouse Springs
12Raymore-Peculiar R-IiPeculiar
13Jackson R-IiJackson
14Pattonville R-IiiSt Ann
15Festus R-ViFestus
16Waynesville R-ViWaynesville
17Branson R-IvBranson
18Webb City R-ViiWebb City
19Willard R-IiWillard
20Republic R-IiiRepublic
21Grain Valley R-VGrain Valley
22Farmington R-ViiFarmington
23Sedalia 200Sedalia
24BrentwoodBrentwood
25Poplar Bluff R-IPoplar Bluff
26Fort Osage R-IIndependence
27Blair Oaks R-IiJefferson City
28Richland R-IEssex
29St. Charles R-ViSt Charles
30Hancock PlaceSt Louis
31Rolla 31Rolla
32Smithville R-IiSmithville
33WashingtonWashington
34Lebanon R-IiiLebanon
35Windsor C-1Imperial
36Maplewood-Richmond HeightsMaplewood
37Warrensburg R-ViWarrensburg
38Hillsboro R-IiiHillsboro
39Affton 101St Louis
40Pleasant Hill R-IiiPleasant Hill
41Orchard Farm R-VSaint Charles
42Camdenton R-IiiCamdenton
43Belton 124Belton
44Carthage R-IxCarthage
45Ste. Genevieve Co. R-IiSte Genevieve
46Mcdonald Co. R-IAnderson
47Hannibal 60Hannibal
48Warren Co. R-IiiWarrenton
49Carl Junction R-ICarl Junction
50Lawson R-XivLawson
51Marceline R-VMarceline
52Bolivar R-IBolivar
53Hickory Co. R-IUrbana
54Valley ParkValley Park
55West Platte Co. R-IiWeston
56School Of The OsageLake Ozark
57Meramec Valley R-IiiPacific
58Jefferson Co. R-ViiJefferson City
59Oak Grove R-ViOak Grove
60BaylessSt Louis
61Cole Camp R-ICole Camp
62West Plains R-ViiWest Plains
63RitenourSt Louis
64Desoto 73Desoto
65Carrollton R-ViiCarrollton
66Savannah R-IiiSavannah
67Central R-IiiPark Hills
68Neosho School DistrictNeosho
69Fair Grove R-XFair Grove
70Odessa R-ViiOdessa
71Hallsville R-IvHallsville
72Knob Noster R-ViiiKnob Noster
73Gasconade Co. R-IiOwensville
74Forsyth R-IiiForsyth
75Potosi R-IiiPotosi
76Arcadia Valley R-IiIronton
77Reeds Spring R-IvReeds Spring
78Strafford R-ViStrafford
79SullivanSullivan
80Maryville R-IiMaryville
81Cameron R-ICameron
82Marshfield R-IMarshfield
83Cape Girardeau 63Cape Girardeau
84East Buchanan Co. C-1Gower
85Mountain Grove R-IiiMountain Grove
86Kennett 39Kennett
87Harrisonville R-IxHarrisonville
88Chillicothe R-IiChillicothe
89Lathrop R-IiLathrop
90Palmyra R-IPalmyra
91Grandview C-4Grandview
92Osage Co. R-IiiWestphalia
93Kingston K-14Cadet
94Monett R-IMonett
95Hollister R-VHollister
96Clever R-VClever
97North St. Francois Co. R-IBonne Terre
98North Platte Co. R-IDearborn
99Kirksville R-IiiKirksville
100Aurora R-ViiiAurora

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.

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Top School Districts in Montana, 2021

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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

RankSchool DistrictCity
1Bozeman H SBozeman
2Billings H SBillings
3Beaverhead County H SDillon
4Missoula H SMissoula
5Park H SLivingston
6Hamilton K-12 SchoolsHamilton
7Libby K-12 SchoolsLibby
8Choteau H SChoteau
9Helena H SHelena
10Corvallis K-12 SchoolsCorvallis
11Flathead H SKalispell
12Big Sky School K-12Big Sky
13Powell County H SDeer Lodge
14Fairfield H SFairfield
15Highwood K-12Highwood
16Polson H SPolson
17Circle H SCircle
18Chinook H SChinook
19Manhattan High SchoolManhattan
20Frenchtown K-12 SchoolsFrenchtown
21Florence-Carlton K-12 SchlsFlorence
22Simms H SSimms
23Whitefish H SWhitefish
24Malta K-12 SchoolsMalta
25Sidney H SSidney
26Red Lodge H SRed Lodge
27Culbertson H SCulbertson
28Centerville H SSand Coulee
29Baker K-12 SchoolsBaker
30Great Falls H SGreat Falls
31Gardiner H SGardiner
32Plains K-12Plains
33Butte H SButte
34Noxon H SNoxon
35Sweet Grass County H SBig Timber
36Glasgow K-12 SchoolsGlasgow
37Lincoln County H SEureka
38Columbia Falls H SColumbia Falls
39Cut Bank H SCut Bank
40Belgrade H SBelgrade
41Bigfork H SBigfork
42Plentywood K-12 SchoolsPlentywood
43Joliet H SJoliet
44Harrison K-12 SchoolsHarrison
45Laurel H SLaurel
46Twin Bridges K-12 SchoolsTwin Bridges
47Melstone H SMelstone
48Huntley Project K-12 SchoolsWorden
49Scobey K-12 SchoolsScobey
50Townsend K-12 SchoolsTownsend
51Hobson K-12 SchoolsHobson
52Thompson Falls H SThompson Falls
53Stevensville H SStevensville
54Dawson H SGlendive
55Forsyth H SForsyth
56Conrad H SConrad
57Sunburst K-12 SchoolsSunburst
58Columbus H SColumbus
59Ennis K-12 SchoolsEnnis
60Custer County H SMiles City
61Shelby H SShelby
62Darby K-12 SchoolsDarby
63Fergus H SLewistown
64Troy H STroy
65Anaconda H SAnaconda
66Whitehall H SWhitehall
67Medicine Lake K-12 SchoolsMedicine Lake
68Shepherd H SShepherd
69Dutton/Brady K-12 SchoolsDutton
70Wibaux K-12 SchoolsWibaux
71Ronan H SRonan
72Superior K-12 SchoolsSuperior
73Jefferson H SBoulder
74Havre H SHavre
75White Sulphur Spgs K-12White Sulphur Springs
76Hot Springs K-12Hot Springs
77Fairview H SFairview
78Drummond H SDrummond
79Charlo H SCharlo
80Harlem H SHarlem
81Park City H SPark City
82Cascade H SCascade
83St Ignatius K-12 SchoolsSt Ignatius
84Stanford K-12 SchoolsStanford
85Belfry K-12 SchoolsBelfry
86Victor K-12 SchoolsVictor
87Arlee H SArlee
88Dodson K-12Dodson

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.

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Top School Districts in Nebraska, 2021

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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

RankSchool DistrictCity
1Gretna Public SchoolsGretna
2Westside Community SchoolsOmaha
3Kearney Public SchoolsKearney
4Seward Public SchoolsSeward
5Norris School Dist 160Firth
6Bennington Public SchoolsBennington
7Norfolk Public SchoolsNorfolk
8Fort Calhoun Community SchsFort Calhoun
9Waverly School District 145Waverly
10Northwest Public SchoolsGrand Island
11Thayer Central Community SchsHebron
12York Public SchoolsYork
13Springfield Platteview Community SchoolsSpringfield
14North Bend Central Public SchsNorth Bend
15Sidney Public SchoolsSidney
16Aurora Public SchoolsAurora
17Mc Cook Public SchoolsMc Cook
18North Platte Public SchoolsNorth Platte
19Wayne Community SchoolsWayne
20David City Public SchoolsDavid City
21Blair Community SchoolsBlair
22Adams Central Public SchoolsHastings
23Ponca Public SchoolsPonca
24Malcolm Public SchoolsMalcolm
25Crofton Community SchoolsCrofton
26Diller-Odell Public SchoolsOdell
27Pierce Public SchoolsPierce
28Arlington Public SchoolsArlington
29Scottsbluff Public SchoolsScottsbluff
30Auburn Public SchoolsAuburn
31Milford Public SchoolsMilford
32Wahoo Public SchoolsWahoo
33West Holt Public SchoolsAtkinson
34Wisner-Pilger Public SchoolsWisner
35Ashland-Greenwood Public SchsAshland
36Holdrege Public SchoolsHoldrege
37Logan View Public SchoolsHooper
38Cross County Community SchoolsStromsburg
39So Sioux City Community SchsSo Sioux City
40Fremont Public SchoolsFremont
41Valentine Community SchoolsValentine
42Wood River Rural SchoolsWood River
43Columbus Public SchoolsColumbus
44Pender Public SchoolsPender
45Doniphan-Trumbull Public SchsDoniphan
46Battle Creek Public SchoolsBattle Creek
47Ord Public SchoolsOrd
48South Central Nebraska Unified 5Fairfield
49Centennial Public SchoolsUtica
50Falls City Public SchoolsFalls City
51Raymond Central Public SchoolsRaymond
52Chadron Public SchoolsChadron
53West Point Public SchoolsWest Point
54Boone Central SchoolsAlbion
55Mullen Public SchoolsMullen
56Louisville Public SchoolsLouisville
57Ralston Public SchoolsRalston
58St Paul Public SchoolsSt Paul
59Yutan Public SchoolsYutan
60Mitchell Public SchoolsMitchell
61Crete Public SchoolsCrete
62Osceola Public SchoolsOsceola
63Nebraska Unified District 1Orchard
64Minden Public SchoolsMinden
65Southern Valley SchoolsOxford
66Hastings Public SchoolsHastings
67Elmwood-Murdock Public SchoolsMurdock
68Centura Public SchoolsCairo
69Bloomfield Community SchoolsBloomfield
70Broken Bow Public SchoolsBroken Bow
71Lakeview Community SchoolsColumbus
72Lexington Public SchoolsLexington
73Palmyra District O R 1Palmyra
74Beatrice Public SchoolsBeatrice
75Douglas Co West Community SchsValley
76Sutton Public SchoolsSutton
77Kenesaw Public SchoolsKenesaw
78Johnson-Brock Public SchoolsJohnson
79Neligh-Oakdale SchoolsNeligh
80Stuart Public SchoolsStuart
81Heartland Community SchoolsHenderson
82Hershey Public SchoolsHershey
83Conestoga Public SchoolsMurray
84Amherst Public SchoolsAmherst
85Howells-Dodge Consolidated SchoolsHowells
86Humboldt Table Rock SteinauerHumboldt
87Perkins County SchoolsGrant
88Plattsmouth Community SchoolsPlattsmouth
89Wakefield Public SchoolsWakefield
90Cozad Community SchoolsCozad
91Central City Public SchoolsCentral City
92Ainsworth Community SchoolsAinsworth
93Ogallala Public SchoolsOgallala
94Wilber-Clatonia Public SchoolsWilber
95Plainview Public SchoolsPlainview
96Gothenburg Public SchoolsGothenburg
97Franklin Public SchoolsFranklin
98Fairbury Public SchoolsFairbury
99Chase County SchoolsImperial
100Osmond Community SchoolsOsmond

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.

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Top School Districts in Nevada, 2021

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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

RankSchool DistrictCity
1Douglas County School DistrictMinden
2Nye County School DistrictTon0Pah
3Storey County School DistrictVirginia City
4Humboldt County School DistrictWinnemucca
5Lander County School DistrictBattle Mountain
6Churchill County School DistrictFallon
7Pershing County School DistrictLovelock
8Lincoln County School DistrictPanaca
9Mineral County School DistrictHawthorne

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.

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