Top School Districts in South Dakota, 2018

The Mount Rushmore State is no slouch when it comes to public school education, placing in the top 20 in both college readiness and NAEP math scores in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the fifty states in Pre-K-12 education. South Dakota’s finest school districts compare favorably with the best in the nation.

The state’s top school district is comprised of one school, Chester Area School in Chester, SD with elementary, middle, and high school branches. According to Niche.com, a remarkable 95% of the elementary school students are proficient in mathematics.

Number two in the ranking is Parker School District, another one school district located in Parker, SD. The district is the only school district in South Dakota to receive the Distinguished School District award for seven straight years, and Parker Elementary earned the National Blue Ribbon Award in 2012.

Warner School District, a small but excellent school district serving the town that lends it its name comes in at #3.

At #4 is Groton Area School District, comprising one elementary school and one combined middle school/high school in Groton, SD. Groton’s two schools regularly deliver a high level of academic excellence, with Groton Area Elementary taking home the National Blue Ribbon School Award in 2012.

Closing out the top five is Harrisburg School District, larger than the preceding districts on the list with six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school serving Lincoln County, SD.

Top School Districts in South Dakota, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Chester Area School District 39-1South Dakota
2Parker School District 60-4South Dakota
3Warner School District 06-5South Dakota
4Groton Area School District 06-6South Dakota
5Harrisburg School District 41-2South Dakota
6Plankinton School District 01-1South Dakota
7Arlington School District 38-1South Dakota
8Brandon Valley School District 49-2South Dakota
9Dakota Valley School District 61-8South Dakota
10Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1South Dakota
11Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7South Dakota
12Webster Area 18-5South Dakota
13Ethan School District 17-1South Dakota
14Deubrook Area School District 05-6South Dakota
15Brookings School District 05-1South Dakota
16Montrose School District 43-2South Dakota
17Mitchell School District 17-2South Dakota
18Parkston School District 33-3South Dakota
19Garretson School District 49-4South Dakota
20Howard School District 48-3South Dakota
21De Smet School District 38-2South Dakota
22Hamlin School District 28-3South Dakota
23Pierre School District 32-2South Dakota
24Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3South Dakota
25Wall School District 51-5South Dakota
26Gettysburg School District 53-1South Dakota
27Canton School District 41-1South Dakota
28Platte - Geddes School District 11-5South Dakota
29Beresford School District 61-2South Dakota
30Sioux Falls School District 49-5South Dakota
31Lake Preston School District 38-3South Dakota
32Faulkton Area Schools 24-4South Dakota
33Milbank School District 25-4South Dakota
34Dell Rapids School District 49-3South Dakota
35Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3South Dakota
36Miller 29-4South Dakota
37Watertown School District 14-4South Dakota
38Rosholt School District 54-4South Dakota
39Burke School District 26-2South Dakota
40Aberdeen School District 06-1South Dakota
41Sioux Valley School District 05-5South Dakota
42Lennox School District 41-4South Dakota
43Tea Area School District 41-5South Dakota
44Langford Area 45-5South Dakota
45Meade School District 46-1South Dakota
46Britton-Hecla School District 45-4South Dakota
47Madison Central School District 39-2South Dakota
48West Central School District 49-7South Dakota
49Vermillion School District 13-1South Dakota
50Bridgewater-Emery 30-3South Dakota
51Redfield School District 56-4South Dakota
52Yankton School District 63-3South Dakota
53Baltic School District 49-1South Dakota
54Bon Homme School District 04-2South Dakota
55Tri-Valley School District 49-6South Dakota
56Avon School District 04-1South Dakota
57Menno School District 33-2South Dakota
58Kimball School District 07-2South Dakota
59Mccook Central School District 43-7South Dakota
60Castlewood School District 28-1South Dakota
61Ipswich Public School District 22-6South Dakota
62Haakon School District 27-1South Dakota
63Flandreau School District 50-3South Dakota
64Deuel School District 19-4South Dakota
65Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1South Dakota
66Chamberlain School District 07-1South Dakota
67Gregory School District 26-4South Dakota
68Spearfish School District 40-2South Dakota
69Custer School District 16-1South Dakota
70Douglas School District 51-1South Dakota
71Stanley County School District 57-1South Dakota
72Leola School District 44-2South Dakota
73Colome Consolidated 59-3South Dakota
74Rapid City Area School District 51-4South Dakota
75Newell School District 09-2South Dakota
76Hanson School District 30-1South Dakota
77Highmore-Harrold 34-2South Dakota
78Hill City School District 51-2South Dakota
79Lemmon School District 52-4South Dakota
80Tripp-Delmont School District 33-5South Dakota
81Scotland School District 04-3South Dakota
82Mount Vernon School District 17-3South Dakota
83Northwestern Area School District 56-7South Dakota
84New Underwood School District 51-3South Dakota
85Hot Springs School District 23-2South Dakota
86Freeman School District 33-1South Dakota
87Colman-Egan School District 50-5South Dakota
88Wilmot School District 54-7South Dakota
89Gayville-Volin School District 63-1South Dakota
90Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6South Dakota
91Mobridge-Pollock 62-6South Dakota
92Huron School District 02-2South Dakota
93Clark School District 12-2South Dakota
94Dupree School District 64-2South Dakota
95Wagner Community School District 11-4South Dakota
96Timber Lake School District 20-3South Dakota
97Elkton School District 05-3South Dakota
98Willow Lake School District 12-3South Dakota
99Viborg-Hurley School District 60-6South Dakota
100Wessington Springs School District 36-2South Dakota

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.

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Top School Districts in Tennessee, 2018

The Volunteer State is exceptionally good at sending kids out into the world with a satisfactory education: U.S. News & World Report ranked Tennessee 9th in the nation in graduation rate in their most latest survey.

Tennessee’s best public school district is Williamson County Schools, a large district comprising 44 schools serving Williamson County, TN. WCS is one of the fastest growing in the state, and plans to open three more schools for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. The expansion hasn’t hurt the district’s academic performance any, as the WCS’s 2017 graduating classes’ ACT composite score of 25.2 is the highest in the district’s history.

At #2 is Maryville City Schools, comprising seven schools serving Maryville, TN. In 2017, the district managed a remarkable graduation rate of 94.3%, with 90% of graduating students going on to some form of secondary education.

Johnson City Schools, a district made of up of eight elementaries, two intermediate/middle schools and one high school, comes in third place.The district’s students’ ACT and SAT scores consistently exceed state and national averages, perhaps owing to the high qualifications of JCS’s teachers, 20 of which have received National Board Certification.

Gibson Special Schools, a well rated district based in Dyer, TN, ranks #4, followed by Rutherford County Schools (#5) of Murfreesboro, TN, a large school district that received AdvancED accreditation in 2010.

Top School Districts in Tennessee, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Williamson CountyTennessee
2MaryvilleTennessee
3Johnson CityTennessee
4Gibson Co Sp DistTennessee
5Rutherford CountyTennessee
6Wilson CountyTennessee
7Sumner CountyTennessee
8Oak RidgeTennessee
9BradfordTennessee
10KingsportTennessee
11Dickson CountyTennessee
12Lawrence CountyTennessee
13GreenevilleTennessee
14Dyer CountyTennessee
15Knox CountyTennessee
16Washington CountyTennessee
17Loudon CountyTennessee
18Henderson CountyTennessee
19Lincoln CountyTennessee
20AlcoaTennessee
21Trousdale CountyTennessee
22Cheatham CountyTennessee
23BristolTennessee
24Weakley CountyTennessee
25Montgomery CountyTennessee
26Obion CountyTennessee
27Chester CountyTennessee
28MckenzieTennessee
29ElizabethtonTennessee
30Tipton CountyTennessee
31Smith CountyTennessee
32Bradley CountyTennessee
33ClevelandTennessee
34HuntingdonTennessee
35Blount CountyTennessee
36Hamilton CountyTennessee
37Stewart CountyTennessee
38Robertson CountyTennessee
39White CountyTennessee
40MilanTennessee
41Meigs CountyTennessee
42Hamblen CountyTennessee
43Henry CountyTennessee
44Roane CountyTennessee
45Moore CountyTennessee
46Marion CountyTennessee
47Putnam CountyTennessee
48Sullivan CountyTennessee
49Franklin CountyTennessee
50Marshall CountyTennessee
51Bedford CountyTennessee
52TullahomaTennessee
53Cumberland CountyTennessee
54Mcminn CountyTennessee
55Sevier CountyTennessee
56Rhea CountyTennessee
57Humphreys CountyTennessee
58West Carroll Sp DistTennessee
59Dekalb CountyTennessee
60Overton CountyTennessee
61Lewis CountyTennessee
62Maury CountyTennessee
63South CarrollTennessee
64Coffee CountyTennessee
65Anderson CountyTennessee
66Decatur CountyTennessee
67Johnson CountyTennessee
68Hickman CountyTennessee
69Hawkins CountyTennessee
70Polk CountyTennessee
71Macon CountyTennessee
72Hollow Rock - BrucetonTennessee
73TrentonTennessee
74DyersburgTennessee
75Mcnairy CountyTennessee
76Cannon CountyTennessee
77Perry CountyTennessee
78Benton CountyTennessee
79Greene CountyTennessee
80Jefferson CountyTennessee
81Unicoi CountyTennessee
82Houston CountyTennessee
83Davidson CountyTennessee
84Sequatchie CountyTennessee
85Scott CountyTennessee
86Claiborne CountyTennessee
87Pickett CountyTennessee
88Bledsoe CountyTennessee
89Lenoir CityTennessee
90Hardin CountyTennessee
91OneidaTennessee
92Warren CountyTennessee
93Monroe CountyTennessee
94Giles CountyTennessee
95Cocke CountyTennessee
96Wayne CountyTennessee
97Union CityTennessee
98Campbell CountyTennessee
99Crockett CountyTennessee
100Lauderdale CountyTennessee

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.

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Top School Districts in Utah, 2018

With its stark desert beauty, friendly, well-educated residents, expanding economy, and myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation, more and more Americans are migrating to Utah, and they’re bringing their children with them; the state’s public school enrollment exceeded 650K for the first time in 2017. Luckily for them, the Beehive State has plenty of excellent school districts to choose from.

Cache County School District is the state’s best public school system. Comprising 16 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 4 high schools and 1 special school, Cache County leads the state in both language arts and math proficiencies, as well as earning the highest scores on the 2016 SAGE tests.

Utah’s #2 public school district is Park City School District, located in the mountain town of Park City, UT. Long recognized as one of the state’s best school districts, PCSD has achieved a 95% graduation rate, 10 points above the Utah average and in the top 1% in the U.S., overall.

Ranking #3 is Morgan County School District, a smaller district of two elementaries, one middle school and one high school. According to Niche.com, the district boasts a graduation rate of 92%.

At #4 is South Summit School District based in Kamas, UT. The district is growing fast and hopes to build a new high school. Located 42 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City, the town is known as the “Gateway to the Uintas.”

The fifth best school district in Utah is the Alpine School District , the largest school district in the state with 86 total schools and over 75,000 students enrolled.

Top School Districts in Utah, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Cache DistrictUtah
2Park City DistrictUtah
3Morgan DistrictUtah
4South Summit DistrictUtah
5Alpine DistrictUtah
6Wasatch DistrictUtah
7Rich DistrictUtah
8Canyons DistrictUtah
9Provo DistrictUtah
10Davis DistrictUtah
11Beaver DistrictUtah
12Washington DistrictUtah
13Box Elder DistrictUtah
14Jordan DistrictUtah
15Nebo DistrictUtah
16South Sanpete DistrictUtah
17Tooele DistrictUtah
18Juab DistrictUtah
19Tintic DistrictUtah
20Garfield DistrictUtah
21Kane DistrictUtah
22North Sanpete DistrictUtah
23Murray DistrictUtah
24Sevier DistrictUtah
25North Summit DistrictUtah
26Uintah DistrictUtah
27Iron DistrictUtah
28Logan City DistrictUtah
29Salt Lake DistrictUtah
30Weber DistrictUtah
31Emery DistrictUtah
32Duchesne DistrictUtah
33Millard DistrictUtah
34Wayne DistrictUtah
35Granite DistrictUtah
36Carbon DistrictUtah
37Grand DistrictUtah
38Piute DistrictUtah
39Ogden City DistrictUtah
40San Juan DistrictUtah

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.

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Top School Districts in Vermont, 2018

Vermont, with its tranquil lakes, impressive mountains, and dense forests, is a great place for children to learn about and experience the natural world, and the New England state’s school system certainly picks up the slack; it was rated #4 in the nation in Pre-K-12 education by U.S. News & World Report.

Vermont’s best public school system is South Burlington School District, comprising five schools in the state’s second largest city and headquarters of the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Company. The district’s schools excel in academics, performing above the state and national averages in standardized tests.

Rivendell Interstate School District, one of the few interstate school districts in the nation, serving three towns in Vermont and one New Hampshire town, ranks #2 on the list.

At #3 is Colchester School District, administering five schools in Colchester, VT, a suburb of Burlington. CSD is known for its vibrant music and art programs and excellent physical education program.

Placing fourth is Montpelier School District, comprising three schools serving Montpelier and parts of several other towns. U.S. News & World Report honored Montpelier High School with a silver medal, naming it the 2nd best within the entire state.

Closing out the list of Vermont’s top five best school districts is Hartford School District. The district’s six schools have been repeatedly recognized for their academic excellence, performing above the national average in standardized test scores.

Top School Districts in Vermont, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1South Burlington School DistrictVermont
2Rivendell Interstate School DistrictVermont
3Colchester School DistrictVermont
4Montpelier School DistrictVermont
5Hartford School DistrictVermont
6Burlington School DistrictVermont
7Milton Incorporated School DistrictVermont
8Blue Mountain Usd #21Vermont
9Springfield School DistrictVermont
10Rutland City School DistrictVermont
11Winooski School DistrictVermont

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.

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Top School Districts in Virginia, 2018

As the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents and carrying a long history of its sons and daughters leaving school to serve in the federal government, Virginia’s public school systems are held to a high standard of academic excellence. Luckily, the state boasts some of the finest public school divisions (the term used to denote subsections of schools in Virginia, rather than “school district”) in the country.

Virginia’s top school division is Falls Church City Public Schools, administering five schools serving the Washington, D.C. suburb. FCCPS has an excellent, well earned reputation for academic excellence, recently boasting an on-time graduation rate of 100% and SAT scores over 200 points higher than the state average.

At #2 we have Arlington Public Schools, a large school division of over 30 schools and an enrollment topping 25K serving Arlington County, VA, which sits across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Students of this affluent county are known for their diversity, hailing from 122 nations and able to speak over 100 languages.

Ranking third is Loudoun Public Schools, a massive school division with enrollment topping 80K headquartered in Ashburn, VA. 2017 witnessed 40 LCPS students becoming National Merit Semifinalists.

Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest school division in the country, boasting an enrollment of over 180,000, ranks #4.

York County School Division, a modestly sized (for Virginia), yet high-performing school division, is #5. At 95.4%, YCSD’s 2017 graduation rate was over 4 points above Virginia’s already excellent statewide average.

Top School Districts in Virginia, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Falls Church City Pblc SchsVirginia
2Arlington Co Pblc SchsVirginia
3Loudoun Co Pblc SchsVirginia
4Fairfax Co Pblc SchsVirginia
5York Co Pblc SchsVirginia
6Hanover Co Pblc SchsVirginia
7Botetourt Co Pblc SchsVirginia
8Roanoke Co Pblc SchsVirginia
9Goochland Co Pblc SchsVirginia
10Albemarle Co Pblc SchsVirginia
11Williamsburg-James City Pblc SchsVirginia
12Montgomery Co Pblc SchsVirginia
13Poquoson City Pblc SchsVirginia
14Prince William Co Pblc SchsVirginia
15Powhatan Co Pblc SchsVirginia
16Gloucester Co Pblc SchsVirginia
17Stafford Co Pblc SchsVirginia
18Floyd Co Pblc SchsVirginia
19West Point Pblc SchsVirginia
20King Geo Co Pblc SchsVirginia
21Manassas Park City Pblc SchsVirginia
22Salem City Pblc SchsVirginia
23Chesterfield Co Pblc SchsVirginia
24Henrico Co Pblc SchsVirginia
25New Kent Co Pblc SchsVirginia
26Fauquier Co Pblc SchsVirginia
27Middlesex Co Pblc SchsVirginia
28Franklin Co Pblc SchsVirginia
29Va Beach City Pblc SchsVirginia
30Prince George Co Pblc SchsVirginia
31Chesapeake City Pblc SchsVirginia
32Rockingham Co Pblc SchsVirginia
33Charlottesville Cty Pblc SchsVirginia
34Isle Of Wight Co Pblc SchsVirginia
35Colonial Heights City Pblc SchsVirginia
36Fluvanna Co Pblc SchsVirginia
37Augusta Co Pblc SchsVirginia
38Clarke Co Pblc SchsVirginia
39Scott Co Pblc SchsVirginia
40Spotsylvania Co Pblc SchsVirginia
41Radford City Pblc SchsVirginia
42Washington Co Pblc SchsVirginia
43Culpeper Co Pblc SchsVirginia
44King And Queen Co Pblc SchsVirginia
45Rockbridge Co Pblc SchsVirginia
46Pittsylvania Co Pblc SchsVirginia
47King William Co Pblc SchsVirginia
48Patrick Co Pblc SchsVirginia
49Nelson Co Pblc SchsVirginia
50Frederick Co Pblc SchsVirginia
51Manassas City Pblc SchsVirginia
52Northumberland Co Pblc SchsVirginia
53Bedford Co Pblc SchsVirginia
54Orange Co Pblc SchsVirginia
55Richmond Co Pblc SchsVirginia
56Giles Co Pblc SchsVirginia
57Pulaski Co Pblc SchsVirginia
58Alexandria City Pblc SchsVirginia
59Campbell Co Pblc SchsVirginia
60Wise Co Pblc SchsVirginia
61Craig Co Pblc SchsVirginia
62Dinwiddie Co Pblc SchsVirginia
63Bland Co Pblc SchsVirginia
64Appomattox Co Pblc SchsVirginia
65Tazewell Co Pblc SchsVirginia
66Suffolk City Pblc SchsVirginia
67Alleghany Co Pblc SchsVirginia
68Louisa Co Pblc SchsVirginia
69Shenandoah Co Pblc SchsVirginia
70Russell Co Pblc SchsVirginia
71Southampton Co Pblc SchsVirginia
72Fredericksburg City Pblc SchsVirginia
73Highland Co Pblc SchsVirginia
74Warren Co Pblc SchsVirginia
75Page Co Pblc SchsVirginia
76Carroll Co Pblc SchsVirginia
77Wythe Co Pblc SchsVirginia
78Caroline Co Pblc SchsVirginia
79Greene Co Pblc SchsVirginia
80Henry Co Pblc SchsVirginia
81Winchester City Pblc SchsVirginia
82Rappahannock Co Pblc SchsVirginia
83Mecklenburg Co Pblc SchsVirginia
84Charlotte Co Pblc SchsVirginia
85Colonial Beach Pblc SchsVirginia
86Amherst Co Pblc SchsVirginia
87Norton City Pblc SchsVirginia
88Mathews Co Pblc SchsVirginia
89Staunton City Pblc SchsVirginia
90Roanoke City Pblc SchsVirginia
91Waynesboro City Pblc SchsVirginia
92Lee Co Pblc SchsVirginia
93Surry Co Pblc SchsVirginia
94Halifax Co Pblc SchsVirginia
95Smyth Co Pblc SchsVirginia
96Bath Co Pblc SchsVirginia
97Galax City Pblc SchsVirginia
98Covington City Pblc SchsVirginia
99Grayson Co Pblc SchsVirginia
100Dickenson Co Pblc SchsVirginia

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.

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Top School Districts in Washington, 2018

The Evergreen State is home to some of the most interesting and varied ecosystems in the United States: ice-capped mountain ranges, jagged, rocky coastline, temperate rainforests in the west and flat, arid basin in the east, as well as the largest and most unique city in the region, Seattle. Along with this interesting environment which grows and fosters creativity in the state’s youth, Washington is also home to numerous high performing public school districts serving the state’s children.

Washington’s best public school system is the Mercer Island School District, comprising six schools and one learning center located in the affluent suburb of Seattle that lends the district its name. Students of the district make good on excellent funding--with over $2 million dollars contributed by the school’s PTA--by maintaining a graduation rate of 95%.

Lake Washington School District, based in King County, WA, ranks #2. A large district administering over 50 schools, LWSD students perform excellently on standardized tests, with SAT scores 76 points higher than the national average.

At #3 is Snoqualmie Valley School District, one of the largest districts in the state covering over 400 square miles in King County, WA. Academic achievement in the district continues to improve, with Snoqualmie Valley becoming the only district in the state to be named on the AP Honor Roll for six straight years from 2010 through 2015.

Completing the top five are Bellevue School District (#4), another large, high performing King County school district, and Camas School District, comprising 10 schools serving Clark County, WA.

Top School Districts in Washington, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Mercer Island School DistrictWashington
2Lake Washington School DistrictWashington
3Snoqualmie Valley School DistrictWashington
4Bellevue School DistrictWashington
5Camas School DistrictWashington
6Issaquah School DistrictWashington
7Bainbridge Island School DistrictWashington
8Northshore School DistrictWashington
9Tahoma School DistrictWashington
10Tumwater School DistrictWashington
11Ridgefield School DistrictWashington
12Shoreline School DistrictWashington
13Anacortes School DistrictWashington
14University Place School DistrictWashington
15Lake Stevens School DistrictWashington
16Hockinson School DistrictWashington
17Seattle Public SchoolsWashington
18Everett School DistrictWashington
19Olympia School DistrictWashington
20Pullman School DistrictWashington
21Peninsula School DistrictWashington
22Mead School DistrictWashington
23Arlington School DistrictWashington
24Rochester School DistrictWashington
25Bellingham School DistrictWashington
26Riverview School DistrictWashington
27Puyallup School DistrictWashington
28Orcas Island School DistrictWashington
29Cascade School DistrictWashington
30Steilacoom Hist. School DistrictWashington
31North Kitsap School DistrictWashington
32Colfax School DistrictWashington
33Edmonds School DistrictWashington
34Nooksack Valley School DistrictWashington
35Sumner School DistrictWashington
36Richland School DistrictWashington
37Vashon Island School DistrictWashington
38Stanwood-Camano School DistrictWashington
39Central Valley School DistrictWashington
40Napavine School DistrictWashington
41Lynden School DistrictWashington
42Snohomish School DistrictWashington
43Mukilteo School DistrictWashington
44Monroe School DistrictWashington
45White River School DistrictWashington
46West Valley School District (Yakima)Washington
47Yelm School DistrictWashington
48Sultan School DistrictWashington
49Kent School DistrictWashington
50Reardan-Edwall School DistrictWashington
51Asotin-Anatone School DistrictWashington
52Port Angeles School DistrictWashington
53Evergreen School District (Clark)Washington
54Meridian School DistrictWashington
55Wilbur School DistrictWashington
56North Thurston Public SchoolsWashington
57Ferndale School DistrictWashington
58South Kitsap School DistrictWashington
59San Juan Island School DistrictWashington
60Cheney School DistrictWashington
61La Center School DistrictWashington
62Enumclaw School DistrictWashington
63Chehalis School DistrictWashington
64Washougal School DistrictWashington
65Sequim School DistrictWashington
66Battle Ground School DistrictWashington
67Clover Park School DistrictWashington
68Woodland School DistrictWashington
69Vancouver School DistrictWashington
70Bethel School DistrictWashington
71Oak Harbor School DistrictWashington
72Freeman School DistrictWashington
73Auburn School DistrictWashington
74Stevenson-Carson School DistrictWashington
75Franklin Pierce School DistrictWashington
76Spokane School DistrictWashington
77Central Kitsap School DistrictWashington
78Coupeville School DistrictWashington
79Renton School DistrictWashington
80Ellensburg School DistrictWashington
81La Conner School DistrictWashington
82Blaine School DistrictWashington
83Moses Lake School DistrictWashington
84Granite Falls School DistrictWashington
85Ritzville School DistrictWashington
86Methow Valley School DistrictWashington
87South Whidbey School DistrictWashington
88Colville School DistrictWashington
89Chewelah School DistrictWashington
90Liberty School DistrictWashington
91Newport School DistrictWashington
92Eatonville School DistrictWashington
93Federal Way School DistrictWashington
94Nine Mile Falls School DistrictWashington
95Naselle-Grays River Valley School DistrictWashington
96Montesano School DistrictWashington
97Eastmont School DistrictWashington
98Cashmere School DistrictWashington
99Mount Vernon School DistrictWashington
100West Valley School District (Spokane)Washington

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.

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Top School Districts in West Virginia, 2018

West Virginia, known for its mining and logging industries, thick forests and dazzling karst formations, also has some educational achievements to its credit: The Mountain State ranks 18th in the nation in high school graduation rate, according to U.S. News & World Report. Unlike many states, all of West Virginia’s public school districts are divided exactly by the counties in which they are based.

Putnam County Schools is West Virginia’s best public school district. Putnam County stands tall among all of the state’s school systems, with numerous achievements under its belt, including being number one in the state in school attendance, and outperforming state averages in all standardized tests.

At #2 is Monongalia County Schools, comprising 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools serving its namesake county. Recognizing its excellence, U.S. News honored Morgantown High School with a silver medal, naming it the best high school in the state.

Placing third is Ohio County Schools, administering 13 schools in Ohio County, WV. As an indication of the district’s quality, Niche.com named it both the best place to teach in West Virginia, as well as the district with the best teachers in the state.

Closing out the list of West Virginia’s top five public school districts is Jefferson County Public Schools (#4), serving the state’s easternmost county, and Harrison County Schools (#5), one of the larger districts in the state with 25 schools.

Top School Districts in West Virginia, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Putnam County SchoolsWest Virginia
2Monongalia County SchoolsWest Virginia
3Ohio County SchoolsWest Virginia
4Jefferson County SchoolsWest Virginia
5Harrison County SchoolsWest Virginia
6Marion County SchoolsWest Virginia
7Hancock County SchoolsWest Virginia
8Berkeley County SchoolsWest Virginia
9Kanawha County SchoolsWest Virginia
10Gilmer County SchoolsWest Virginia
11Jackson County SchoolsWest Virginia
12Greenbrier County SchoolsWest Virginia
13Tyler County SchoolsWest Virginia
14Nicholas County SchoolsWest Virginia
15Raleigh County SchoolsWest Virginia
16Wood County SchoolsWest Virginia
17Taylor County SchoolsWest Virginia
18Brooke County SchoolsWest Virginia
19Cabell County SchoolsWest Virginia
20Mercer County SchoolsWest Virginia
21Pendleton County SchoolsWest Virginia
22Pocahontas County SchoolsWest Virginia
23Monroe County SchoolsWest Virginia
24Doddridge County SchoolsWest Virginia
25Preston County SchoolsWest Virginia
26Mason County SchoolsWest Virginia
27Wyoming County SchoolsWest Virginia
28Clay County SchoolsWest Virginia
29Wayne County SchoolsWest Virginia
30Pleasants County SchoolsWest Virginia
31Hampshire County SchoolsWest Virginia
32Randolph County SchoolsWest Virginia
33Boone County SchoolsWest Virginia
34Morgan County SchoolsWest Virginia
35Marshall County SchoolsWest Virginia
36Upshur County SchoolsWest Virginia
37Mineral County SchoolsWest Virginia
38Hardy County SchoolsWest Virginia
39Braxton County SchoolsWest Virginia
40Lewis County SchoolsWest Virginia
41Grant County SchoolsWest Virginia
42Ritchie County SchoolsWest Virginia
43Summers County SchoolsWest Virginia
44Mingo County SchoolsWest Virginia
45Wetzel County SchoolsWest Virginia
46Logan County SchoolsWest Virginia
47Wirt County SchoolsWest Virginia
48Lincoln County SchoolsWest Virginia
49Roane County SchoolsWest Virginia
50Barbour County SchoolsWest Virginia
51Fayette County SchoolsWest Virginia
52Webster County SchoolsWest Virginia
53Tucker County SchoolsWest Virginia
54Calhoun County SchoolsWest Virginia
55Mcdowell County SchoolsWest Virginia

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.

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Top School Districts in Wisconsin, 2018

The Badger State compares very favorably in pre-K-12 education with the rest of the nation, ranking 6th in the U.S. in NAEP math scores and high school graduation rate, as well as 8th in NAEP reading scores according to U.S. News & World Report. Wisconsin offers its residents some of the best public school districts in the nation.

Wisconsin’s best public school district is Mequon-Thiensville School District, comprising six schools serving Mequon and Thiensville, two suburbs of Milwaukee. MTSD has been repeatedly recognized nationally for its academic excellence, with three of its schools earning the National Blue Ribbon Award in the past fifteen years, most recently Oriole Lane Elementary in 2017.

Waunakee Community School District is Wisconsin’s #2 school district. Administering one independent kindergarten, three elementaries, one intermediate school, and one high school, WCSD schools either meet or exceed expectations in every academic measure.

Ranking third is Whitefish Bay School District, a small system comprising four schools serving Whitefish Bay, WI. The district has consistently excelled in academics and standardized testing compared with the rest of the state, recently becoming the only district in Wisconsin to boast an average ACT score above 25 for over 16 years.

#4 Kohler District honors Wisconsin’s legacy of excellent public schooling, with one of its schools earning a National Blue Ribbon Award in 2013.

Elmbrook School District places fifth due to its students high academic performance: the district’s graduation rate regularly reaches 98%.

Top School Districts in Wisconsin, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Mequon-Thiensville School DistrictWisconsin
2Waunakee Community School DistrictWisconsin
3Whitefish Bay School DistrictWisconsin
4Kohler School DistrictWisconsin
5Elmbrook School DistrictWisconsin
6Hamilton School DistrictWisconsin
7Middleton-Cross Plains Area School DistrictWisconsin
8Benton School DistrictWisconsin
9Mcfarland School DistrictWisconsin
10Kettle Moraine School DistrictWisconsin
11Germantown School DistrictWisconsin
12De Pere School DistrictWisconsin
13Franklin Public School DistrictWisconsin
14Grafton School DistrictWisconsin
15New Berlin School DistrictWisconsin
16Monona Grove School DistrictWisconsin
17Cedarburg School DistrictWisconsin
18Wauwatosa School DistrictWisconsin
19Northern Ozaukee School DistrictWisconsin
20Mukwonago School DistrictWisconsin
21Shorewood School DistrictWisconsin
22Pewaukee School DistrictWisconsin
23Kimberly Area School DistrictWisconsin
24Menomonee Falls School DistrictWisconsin
25Oregon School DistrictWisconsin
26Slinger School DistrictWisconsin
27Mount Horeb Area School DistrictWisconsin
28Howard-Suamico School DistrictWisconsin
29Oconomowoc Area School DistrictWisconsin
30Greendale School DistrictWisconsin
31Muskego-Norway School DistrictWisconsin
32Gibraltar Area School DistrictWisconsin
33Hudson School DistrictWisconsin
34River Falls School DistrictWisconsin
35West De Pere School DistrictWisconsin
36Grantsburg School DistrictWisconsin
37Deerfield Community School DistrictWisconsin
38Winneconne Community School DistrictWisconsin
39Spring Valley School DistrictWisconsin
40Oostburg School DistrictWisconsin
41Sun Prairie Area School DistrictWisconsin
42Southern Door County School DistrictWisconsin
43Pecatonica Area School DistrictWisconsin
44Hilbert School DistrictWisconsin
45Sauk Prairie School DistrictWisconsin
46Howards Grove School DistrictWisconsin
47Neenah Joint School DistrictWisconsin
48New Glarus School DistrictWisconsin
49Pulaski Community School DistrictWisconsin
50Onalaska School DistrictWisconsin
51De Forest Area School DistrictWisconsin
52Verona Area School DistrictWisconsin
53Hortonville Area School DistrictWisconsin
54West Salem School DistrictWisconsin
55Cedar Grove-Belgium Area School DistrictWisconsin
56Platteville School DistrictWisconsin
57Fall River School DistrictWisconsin
58Whitnall School DistrictWisconsin
59Lake Mills Area School DistrictWisconsin
60Wrightstown Community School DistrictWisconsin
61Dodgeville School DistrictWisconsin
62Elk Mound Area School DistrictWisconsin
63Port Washington-Saukville School DistrictWisconsin
64Plymouth Joint School DistrictWisconsin
65Wild Rose School DistrictWisconsin
66Elkhorn Area School DistrictWisconsin
67Highland School DistrictWisconsin
68Rosendale-Brandon School DistrictWisconsin
69Ashwaubenon School DistrictWisconsin
70Green Lake School DistrictWisconsin
71Somerset School DistrictWisconsin
72Denmark School DistrictWisconsin
73Beloit Turner School DistrictWisconsin
74Random Lake School DistrictWisconsin
75New Richmond School DistrictWisconsin
76Stoughton Area School DistrictWisconsin
77Turtle Lake School DistrictWisconsin
78Prescott School DistrictWisconsin
79Columbus School DistrictWisconsin
80Sheboygan Falls School DistrictWisconsin
81Holmen School DistrictWisconsin
82Altoona School DistrictWisconsin
83Ellsworth Community School DistrictWisconsin
84Spencer School DistrictWisconsin
85Luxemburg-Casco School DistrictWisconsin
86Osceola School DistrictWisconsin
87Reedsville School DistrictWisconsin
88Belleville School DistrictWisconsin
89Kiel Area School DistrictWisconsin
90Tomorrow River School DistrictWisconsin
91Milton School DistrictWisconsin
92Cochrane-Fountain City School DistrictWisconsin
93Evansville Community School DistrictWisconsin
94Lodi School DistrictWisconsin
95Prentice School DistrictWisconsin
96Weyauwega-Fremont School DistrictWisconsin
97Saint Croix Central School DistrictWisconsin
98East Troy Community School DistrictWisconsin
99River Valley School DistrictWisconsin
100Amery School DistrictWisconsin

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?

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