24/7 Wall St. Insights
- College-educated youth earn 86% more than individuals who only have a high school diploma
- Americans have less confidence in the education system than ever before
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Education has become exceptionally important to parents across the nation. Better high schools mean quality classes and instructors, which directly affect students’ future enrollment at universities. And opportunities for higher education is critical, as attending college means a higher salary, with college-educated youth earning 86% more than individuals who only completed high school. Ultimately, choosing a quality school for your child is essential to many aspects of his or her life.
In order to have access to a good selection of schools, parents must know which school districts are worth joining. Knowing the best districts for educational opportunities can affect a family’s decision to move to a particular area. As such, houses within excellent school districts tend to have a higher price tag. According to Chicco’s analysis of Zillow house values, homes in these districts cost almost $300,000 more on average.
Teachers are critical in providing students with a quality education; however, many teacher positions are left unfilled. Unfortunately, 79% of public schools with open positions reported hiring difficulties in August of 2023 (per the Department of Education.) Most recently, test scores have fallen in students. For example, the share of eighth graders who are proficient in core subjects has fallen. It is only 26% in math and 31% in reading, according to government data.
In response to this, Americans have less confidence in the education system than ever before in history. A 2023 Gallup poll revealed less than a quarter of Americans (23%) expressed a high level of confidence in public schools. In 1975, confidence was at a record high of 62%, and just a few years ago in 2020, it was at 41%.
However, there are many school districts that have managed to avoid the serious issues plaguing America’s public education system. These districts tend to be well-funded and well-regarded by both parents and students. The students who attend them are also typically more likely to graduate and show proficiency in core subjects with above-average standardized test scores.
Using data compiled by Niche, an education and community research platform, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 best school districts in America. Niche ranked schools based on a weighted index of multiple measures, including standardized test results, graduation rates, student-teacher ratios, extracurricular clubs and sports teams, and parent and student surveys. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here.
The vast majority of school districts on this list are either in the Midwest or the Northeast. These include 13 districts in Illinois and nine in New York state. Most are also in close proximity to major cities, like Boston, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. With only one exception, each of these school districts spends more annually on a per pupil basis than the national average of $12,239, as reported by Niche.
In each district with available data included on this list, graduation rates exceed 90%, and over half have graduation rates above 95%.
Why We’re Covering This
Quality education not only prepares children for entering high-end colleges, but it also teaches our children social norms, important reasoning skills, and strategies essential to daily living. Additionally, experienced instructors can act as role models and offer valuable life lessons. A well-rounded curriculum can expose little ones to non-traditional teachings, like music therapy and meditation. Wonderful schools that are not overcrowded offer an optimal teacher-to-student ratio, providing students with the necessary attention they need to thrive. By looking at the top school districts in America, 24/7 Wall St. has identified exactly where American children are receiving the best education.
Here are the 50 best school districts in America:
50. West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
- Location: West Windsor, New Jersey
- Number of students: 9,109
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 57% and 71%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 32 and 1390
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $23,136 per student
49. Millburn Township School District
- Location: Millburn, New Jersey
- Number of students: 4,796
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 68% and 79%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1400
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $23,337 per student
48. New Canaan Public Schools
- Location: New Canaan, CT
- Number of students: 4,175
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 81% and 86%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 36 and 1330
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $26,238 per student
47. South Central School District
- Location: Bonesteel, SD
- Number of students: 75
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
- Annual spending: $21,747 per student
46. Wayzata Public Schools
- Location: Plymouth, MN
- Number of students: 12,018
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 18 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 75% and 78%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1400
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $20,282 per student
45. Mariemont City Schools
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Number of students: 1,566
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 16 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 89% and 92%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 36 and 1280
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $33,003 per student
44. Lower Merion School District
- Location: Ardmore, PA
- Number of students: 8,531
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 81% and 86%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1330
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Annual spending: $33,650 per student
43. Princeton Public Schools
- Location: Princeton, New Jersey
- Number of students: 3,759
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 49% and 72%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1360
- Graduation rate: 94%
- Annual spending: $30,734 per student
42. Elmbrook School District
- Location: Brookfield, IL
- Number of students: 7,727
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 15 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 61% and 60%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 29 and 1380
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $14,303 per student
41. Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204
- Location: Aurora, IL
- Number of students: 25,815
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 47% and 47%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 29 and 1310
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Annual spending: $17,104 per student
40. East Williston Union Free School District
- Location: Old Westbury, NY
- Number of students: 1,644
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 9 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 90% and 82%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1340
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $36,190 per student
39. Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Nuames)
- Location: Layton, UT
- Number of students: 1,134
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 23 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 58% and 74%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 27 and 1300
- Graduation rate: 99%
- Annual spending: $8,130 per student
38. Arcadia Unified School District
- Location: Arcadia, CA
- Number of students: 8,669
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 23 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 67% and 69%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1370
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $15,070 per student
37. Township High School District No. 214
- Location: Arlington Heights, IL
- Number of students: 12,073
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 16 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 42% and 45%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 28 and 1230
- Graduation rate: 93%
- Annual spending: $25,173 per student
36. Barrington Community Unit School District No. 220
- Location: Barrington, IL
- Number of students: 8,161
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 46% and 49%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1310
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $24,438 per student
35. Novi Community School District
- Location: Novi, MI
- Number of students: 6,612
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 17 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 73% and 72%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1350
- Graduation rate: 93%
- Annual spending: $13,953 per student
34. Northern Valley Regional High School District
- Location: Demarest, NJ
- Number of students: 2,076
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 10 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 58% and 71%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1330
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $47,184 per student
33. Indian Hill Exempted Village School District
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Number of students: 2,131
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 82% and 88%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1360
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $20,790 per student
32. Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203
- Location: Naperville, IL
- Number of students: 16,245
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 51% and 58%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 29 and 1310
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $20,473 per student
31. Weston Public Schools
- Location: Weston, MA
- Number of students: 1,948
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 71% and 77%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1340
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $34,908 per student
30. Hopkinton Public Schools
Hopkinton Public Schools, located in Hopkinton, MA, has 4,006 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. Students are proficient in core subjects with 78% in reading and 71% in math. With ACT scores at 30 out of 36 and SATs at 1340 out of 1600, the school’s graduation rate is 99%. And finally, annual district spending is $17,386 per student.
- Location: Hopkinton, MA
- Number of students: 4,006
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 71% and 78%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1340
- Graduation rate: 99%
- Annual spending: $17,386 per student
29. Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District
- Location: Los Gatos, CA
- Number of students: 3,382
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 21 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 83% and 90%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 32 and 1390
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $19,426 per student
28. Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
- Location: North Merrick, NY
- Number of students: 5,186
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 84% and 88%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 29 and 1260
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $29,753 per student
27. North Allegheny School District
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Number of students: 8,467
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 16 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 64% and 82%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1310
- Graduation rate: 91%
- Annual spending: $23,965 per student
26. School District of Clayton
- Location: Clayton, MO
- Number of students: 2,385
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 10 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 68% and 72%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1320
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $24,820 per student
25. Tredyffrin-Easttown School District
- Location: Wayne, PA
- Number of students: 6,928
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 17 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 77% and 88%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1360
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $22,265 per student
24. Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District
- Location: Woodmere, NY
- Number of students: 2,825
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 10 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 72% and 79%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 29 and 1290
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $41,507 per student
23. Community High School District 128
- Location: Vernon Hills, IL
- Number of students: 3,359
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 60% and 63%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1310
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $36,909 per student
22. New Trier Township High School District No. 203
- Location: Northfield, IL
- Number of students: 3,889
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 10 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 76% and 80%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1350
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $38,376 per student
21. Syosset Central School District
- Location: Syosset, NY
- Number of students: 6,797
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 77% and 88%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1380
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Annual spending: $36,191 per student
20. Westport School District
- Location: Westport, CT
- Number of students: 5,303
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 17 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 74% and 82%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1320
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $26,565 per student
19. Niles Township Community High School District No. 219
- Location: Skokie, IL
- Number of students: 4,619
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 37% and 42%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 28 and 1230
- Graduation rate: 93%
- Annual spending: $43,140 per student
18. San Dieguito Union High School District
- Location: Encinitas, CA
- Number of students: 12,704
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 25 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 72% and 79%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1350
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Annual spending: $17,579 per student
17. Township High School District No. 211
- Location: Palatine, IL
- Number of students: 12,121
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 15 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 45% and 43%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 29 and 1260
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $26,178 per student
16. Palo Alto Unified School District
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Number of students: 11,395
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 18 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 79% and 80%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 32 and 1410
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $26,678 per student
15. Hinsdale Township High School District No. 86
- Location: Hinsdale, IL
- Number of students: 3,894
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 62% and 64%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1330
- Graduation rate: 92%
- Annual spending: $36,133 per student
14. Half Hollow Hills Central School District
- Location: Dix Hills, NY
- Number of students: 7,408
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 79% and 75%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1300
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $32,846 per student
13. Scarsdale Union Free School District
- Location: Scarsdale, NY
- Number of students: 4,642
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 87% and 92%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 32 and 1420
- Graduation rate: 98%
- Annual spending: $38,850 per student
12. West Lafayette Community School Corporation
- Location: West Lafayette, IN
- Number of students: 2,369
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 66% and 70%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 32 and 1340
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $14,580 per student
11. Great Neck Public Schools
- Location: Great Neck, NY
- Number of students: 6,776
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 11 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 86% and 83%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 36 and 1390
- Graduation rate: 94%
- Annual spending: $36,078 per student
10. Radnor Township School District
- Location: Wayne, PA
- Number of students: 3,601
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 72% and 86%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 36 and 1350
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $26,584 per student
9. Roslyn Union Free School District
- Location: Roslyn, NY
- Number of students: 3,318
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 83% and 82%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1390
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $32,874 per student
8. Ladue School District
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Number of students: 4,382
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 64% and 70%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 29 and 1450
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $17,320 per student
7. South Texas Independent School District
- Location: Mercedes, TX
- Number of students: 4,251
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 17 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 54% and 74%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 26 and 1200
- Graduation rate: 99%
- Annual spending: $15,039 per student
6. Jericho Union Free School District
- Location: Jericho, NY
- Number of students: 3,182
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 91% and 86%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 32 and 1420
- Graduation rate: 99%
- Annual spending: $39,926 per student
5. Township High School District No. 113
- Location: Highland Park, IL
- Number of students: 3,298
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 12 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 60% and 63%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 29 and 1310
- Graduation rate: 95%
- Annual spending: $38,613 per student
4. Eanes Independent School District
- Location: Austin, TX
- Number of students: 7,834
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 15 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 70% and 74%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1360
- Graduation rate: 99%
- Annual spending: $26,715 per student
3. Evanston Township High School District No. 202
- Location: Evanston, IL
- Number of students: 3,727
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 14 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 47% and 52%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 28 and 1230
- Graduation rate: 92%
- Annual spending: $27,670 per student
2. Glenbrook High School District 225
- Location: Glenview, IL
- Number of students: 5,132
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 13 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 62% and 64%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 30 and 1320
- Graduation rate: 97%
- Annual spending: $53,682 per student
1. Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125
- Location: Lincolnshire, IL
- Number of students: 4,392
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 16 to 1
- Math and reading scores: 72% and 73%, respectively
- Average ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1360
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Annual spending: $37,088 per student
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