While on a whole, the Arkansas education system may not receive any special distinctions, a handful of its public school districts rank among the finest in the nation. Here’s a closer look at the Natural State’s five best school districts. 

Greenbrier Public Schools is the best school district in Arkansas. GPS is a medium-sized district of six schools serving over 3,000 students in the small city of Greenbrier, along with parts of eight other communities in the region. The district’s high school is one of the best in the state and has a graduation rate of over 97 percent.   

Earning the #2 spot is Benton School District, comprising seven schools serving the Little Rock suburb of Benton, as well as parts of surrounding communities. Every school in the district is accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education, and BSD recently reported its highest graduation rate in five years.  

The 3rd best school district in Arkansas is Greenwood School District, long one of the highest-performing in the state. Students in the district regularly earn ACT scores above state and national averages, as well as scoring among the top five schools in the state in math and literacy on the ACT Aspire exam. 

Valley View Public Schools is the 4th best school district in Arkansas. Comprising three schools in southwest Jonesboro, VVSD is accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education and its junior high earned National Blue Ribbon recognition in 2015. 

Lakeside School District, which serves the resort community of Hot Springs, completes the list of Arkansas top five school districts. Students at Lakeside’s four schools regularly distinguish themselves through high performance in assessment testing and by earning a high number of scholarships.  

Top School Districts in Arkansas, 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.

As one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, Arizona is constantly adding new school districts while adjusting existing ones. The constant change and upheaval mean that public school districts in the state do not perform as well as they could. However, a number of Arizona school districts truly excel in academics and other areas.

The best in the state is Catalina Foothills School District, made up of four elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, and two specialty learning centers in the city of Tucson. CFSD’s students excel both academically and in extracurricular activities, each year earning a long list of achievements in just about every category.

Queen Creek Unified School District is the 2nd best in Arizona. Students of the large district of over 9,000 enrollment regularly earn scores significantly above state averages in the areas of language arts and math on state assessment tests. 

Ranking 3rd in Arizona is Sierra Vista Unified School District #68. Another large district with over 6,000 students, all eight of SVUSD schools hold a rating of “Highly Performing” or “Performing Plus” with the Arizona Learns system, and the district’s graduation rate is above the state average. 

Lake Havasu USD No. 1 earns the 4th spot in the ranking of Arizona’s public school districts. Encompassing eight schools in the Lake Havasu City area, the district boasts an above-average graduation rate and its students regularly outperform state and national averages in assessment tests such as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the SAT9.

Filling out Arizona’s top five is Sahuarita Unified Schools serving over 5,800 students of the towns of Sahuarita and Green Valley. The district’s high quality is reflected in its above-average graduation rate of 88%.

Top School Districts in Arizona, 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.

California is a huge state of over 39.5 million people and nearly 1000 school districts, many of which are among the largest school districts in the country. Therefore, to be named one of the top public school districts in the state is a significant honor. Let’s take a closer look at five school districts that truly distinguished themselves among the Golden State’s many hundreds of school systems. 

The top public school district in California is Acalanes Union High School District, consisting of four high schools in Contra Costa County. Acalanes’ four schools are all accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and boast a tradition of exceptional academic performance: each ranks in the top 6 percent of high schools in California on the Academic Performance Index.  

Laguna Beach Unified is California’s 2nd best public high school district. The district’s Laguna Beach High School has earned AP Honor Roll designation for increasing AP access, and its students excel in areas outside of academics as well, indicated by 100% participation in arts and athletics. 

Earning the #3 spot is Piedmont Unified School District. The district is made up of seven schools in the city of Piedmont, which is completely surrounded by Oakland. PUSD students achieve some of the highest scores in the state on standardized tests, and over 95 percent of graduates go on to enroll in higher education.  

Like California’s top school district, #4 Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District is comprised solely of high schools in the San Jose area. Both of the district’s two schools are exceptional, boasting a 97% graduation rate and student test scores well above state averages in math and language arts. 

San Marino Unified School District is California’s 5th best school district. A small district compared to others on the list, SMUSD comprises two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The district’s schools have earned numerous honors and recognitions, and all are Blue Ribbon Award winners?.

Top School Districts in California, 2020

Methodology

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

The Colorado Board of Education recently approved a more difficult, rigorous rating system for schools in the state, which many believe will prompt a ratings decline for hundreds of schools. However, the Centennial State’s five best school districts perform so well that it’s unlikely that the ratings adjustment will affect them in a significant way. Let’s take a closer look at these five high-performing school districts. 

Lewis-Palmer School District #38 is the best school system in Colorado. Consisting of five elementary schools, one middle school and two high schools in El Paso County, LPSD exemplifies a well-rounded school district where extracurricular programs are just as important as academics. LPSD schools brought home multiple state championships in sports and other competitive activities during the 2018-2019 school year, while over 85% of the district’s graduates went on to a post-secondary education. 

Colorado’s 2nd best school district is Cheyenne Mountain School District 12, comprising nine schools in southwest Colorado Springs with a total enrollment of around 5,100. D12 students excel in academics, earning test scores which are some of the highest in the state, and like #1 LPSD, 85% of graduates went on to attend university. 

Placing 3rd is Weld RE-4 School District, encompassing eleven schools in the towns of Windsor and Severance.  Weld RE-4 boasts a graduation rate well above state and national averages.

Steamboat Springs School District Re-2 earns the 4th spot in the ranking. The district holds “Accredited with Distinction” status with the Colorado Department of Education and a number of its schools have received the prestigious John Irwin and Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards. 

Filling out the list of Colorado’s top five school systems is Summit School District, which serves over 3,500 students hailing from several mountain resort communities in Summit County. SSD boasts a favorable student-to-teacher ratio and a high graduation rate of 95%.

Top School Districts in Colorado, 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.

Connecticut’s public school system is one of the best in the nation, with the state’s students earning test scores significantly higher than national averages while graduating at a rate of nearly 88%. While the state performs well overall, the achievements of Connecticut’s five best school districts are even more singularly impressive. 

Westport Public Schools is the best school district in Connecticut. The medium-sized district of nine schools in the oceanside community of Westport boasts a graduation rate of 98%, while over 80% of its students score above proficiency level in reading and language arts and math.

The 2nd best school district in Connecticut is Trumbull Public Schools, a system made of 10 schools with a total enrollment nearing 7,000. TPS students enjoy a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1 and graduate at a rate of 97%.

Connecticut’s 3rd best school system is Darien Public School District, made up of seven schools in the community of Darien. A large majority of students in the district score above proficiency in RLA and math, while Darien High School has earned a “Best High School” medal from U.S. News.  

Earning Connecticut’s #4 spot is Glastonbury Public Schools, comprising eight schools in the affluent Hartford suburb of Glastonbury. The district does a great job of preparing students for a post-secondary education, and a remarkable 92.8% of 2019 graduates went on to attend a two or four-year college. 

Wilton Public Schools places 5th in the ranking of Connecticut’s best school districts. In 2019, Wilton schools earned a long list of achievements, including a GreatSchools College Success Award for Wilton High School. 

Top School Districts in Connecticut, 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 public education in Delaware isn’t quite at the level of its neighbors Maryland and New Jersey, the state is nevertheless among the best in the nation. In 2018, the Delaware high school graduation rate hit a record high of 86.69%, besting the 2017 number, which was also an all-time high. Performance at Delaware’s five best school districts bests the already high state standard. 

Cape Henlopen School District is the top public school system in Delaware.  Consisting of eight schools located in the scenic southern cape region of Delaware Bay, CHSD boasts a graduation rate of 91% that bests state and national averages, while nearly 66% of its students are proficient in English language arts. 

Caesar Rodney School District places a close 2nd in the rankings. Headquartered in Wyoming, Delaware, CRSD and its schools have earned a long list of achievements and academic recognitions, including three Blue Ribbon awards. 

Delaware's 3rd best public school district is Sussex Technical School District, consisting of a single county-wide technical public high school. Sussex Tech does an excellent job of preparing students for the future, allowing them to choose between 21 different trades of specialization.

Smyrna School District earns the 4th spot in the rankings. SSD’s eight schools all perform above the state level in proficiency tests, and 97% of SSD seniors graduated in 2018. 93% of them went on to a post-secondary education.  

Delaware’s 5th best school district is Kent County’s Polytech School District, which includes Polytech High School and the Polytech adult education program.  Like #3 Sussex Technical, Polytech puts students on the path of future success by giving them a specialized education in 1 of 21 technical fields. 

Top School Districts in Delaware, 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.

Florida is often considered one of the best states in the nation for higher education, and its public school system is not far behind. While its excellent universities may receive the most national attention, its top public school districts perform at an elite level that places them among the best in the United States.

Wakulla County School District is the top public school system in Florida.  Headquartered in Crawfordville, WCSD consists of four elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and one charter school. Wakulla students consistently score above state and national averages in assessment tests like the ACT, while the district routinely earns an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education. 

Placing 2nd in Florida is Gilchrist County School District, which is a small district by Florida standards, comprising four schools with a total enrollment of 2700. GCSD boasts a high school graduation rate of 90% and 70% of its students are proficient in math. 

Suwannee County School District earns Florida’s #3 spot. Once a troubled district, SCSD is on a continuing path of improvement, recently earning an all-time high score from the Florida Department of Education. 

Florida’s 4th best school district is Hendry County District Schools, which is headquartered  in the city of Labell and comprises ten schools and one early learning center. The district’s Clewiston High School recently achieved its highest graduation rate in history. 

Rounding out the list of Florida’s top five school districts is Dixie District Schools, headquartered in the small town of Cross City. The rural district consists of two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. DDS is recognized as a Florida Healthy School District. 

Top School Districts in Florida, 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 Southeast, Georgia’s public schools lag slightly behind compared to those in other regions of the country. However, public education in the state is steadily improving, with the state graduation rate regularly hitting all-time peaks, year after year. While this is good news for Georgia, the performance of the state’s best districts far puts them in an elite class of their own.

Buford City Schools is the best school district in Georgia. Comprising four schools in Gwinnett County, BCS has long been considered one of the highest performing districts in the state, both in academics and extracurriculars. Four Buford schools hold an “A” grade from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. 

Ranking 2nd is the City Schools of Decatur, a public charter school district of 10 schools in Dekalb County with a total enrollment of around 5,600 students. On standardized tests, students of the district outperform state and national averages in all grade levels, while Decatur High School was named a Georgia AP Challenge and AP Merit school. 

Georgia’s 3rd best school district is Jefferson City Schools, a small district of four schools based in Jackson County. JCS schools perform at a high level and have earned numerous awards and recognitions, including a 2018 Highest-Performing Title-I Reward School honor for Jefferson Academy. 

Harris County School District earns 4th place among Georgia public school districts. The accredited district consists of seven schools and a performance learning center based in Hamilton. HCSD’s graduation rate of 93% is over 10 points higher than the statewide rate. 

Closing out the list of Georgia’s five best school districts is Bremen City Schools, comprising three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in Haralson County. All of the district’s schools earned either an “A” or “B” grade from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. 

Top School Districts in Georgia, 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.