All throughout September, students across the country are heading back to school — in many cases for the first time in over a year. With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the education of young people, school districts have had to make adjustments on the fly to ensure their students could still learn and progress as they normally would.
While every educator and district tries their best, some school districts excel beyond the rest. These districts provide the best teachers, academics, culture, health and safety, resources, extracurriculars, and athletics in the country. These organizations give students the best school experience and ample opportunity to succeed later in life and stand out as the best school districts in America.
To determine the 50 best school districts in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2022 Best School Districts in America ranking from Niche, a platform for education data.
The top school districts in America tend to cluster in certain areas, and just 13 states are home to at least one of the top 50. Illinois has 10 districts in the top 50, more than any other state. New York has nine, followed by Pennsylvania with seven, and New Jersey with six. These districts are typically just outside of major cities like New York and Chicago.
All the school districts on this list have one major characteristic in common — they are home to a relatively wealthy population. Every district has a median annual household income of at least $91,000, and the vast majority have median incomes of over $150,000. The U.S. median household income is less than $63,000. School districts rely on taxes for funding, so the more taxable wealth in an area, the more funding these districts have for facilities, faculty, extracurriculars, and more. This is the richest town in every state.
Nearly all of these schools have a student-to-teacher ratio lower than the nationwide ratio of 17:1. When schools can afford more teachers, students are able to get more personalized attention, which tends to benefit their overall academic performance.
Click here to see the 2022 best school districts in America
To determine the best school districts in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2022 Best School Districts in America ranking from Niche, a platform for education data. The Niche ranking is based on academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education as well as student reviews submitted to Niche. Supplemental data on educational attainment at the school district level came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.
Source: Jorisvo / iStock via Getty Images
50. SAU 70
> Location: Hanover, NH
> Schools: 2
> Student enrollment: 1,102
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: N/A
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 11:1
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Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
49. Highland Park Independent School District
> Location: Dallas, TX
> Schools: 7
> Student enrollment: 6,864
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 86.9%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 15:1
Source: awalby / iStock via Getty Images
48. Elmbrook School District
> Location: Brookfield, WI
> Schools: 10
> Student enrollment: 7,401
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 59.6%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 15:1
47. Tenafly Public School District
> Location: Tenafly, NJ
> Schools: 6
> Student enrollment: 3,729
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 81.7%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
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46. Unionville-Chadds Ford School District
> Location: Kennett Square, PA
> Schools: 6
> Student enrollment: 3,932
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 64.0%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
Source: HaizhanZheng / E+ via Getty Images
45. Fox Chapel Area School District
> Location: Pittsburgh, PA
> Schools: 6
> Student enrollment: 4,080
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 57.5%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
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Source: Ssiero1 at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
44. Township High School District No. 211
> Location: Palatine, IL
> Schools: 7
> Student enrollment: 11,855
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 47.2%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 15:1
Source: By Scott Brody - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65462222 / Wikimedia Commons
43. Livingston Board of Education School District
> Location: Livingston, NJ
> Schools: 9
> Student enrollment: 6,151
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 72.1%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
Source: SpVVK / iStock via Getty Images
42. Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District
> Location: Mountain View, CA
> Schools: 3
> Student enrollment: 4,548
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: N/A
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 19:1
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41. West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
> Location: West Windsor, NJ
> Schools: 10
> Student enrollment: 9,599
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 80.9%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
40. Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203
> Location: Naperville, IL
> Schools: 22
> Student enrollment: 16,586
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 66.3%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 16:1
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Source: By DanTD - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36938943 / Wikimedia Commons
39. Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District
> Location: Woodmere, NY
> Schools: 5
> Student enrollment: 2,975
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 54.5%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 10:1
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Source: By Saintrain - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21863846 / Wikimedia Commons
38. La Canada Unified School District
> Location: La Canada, CA
> Schools: 4
> Student enrollment: 4,131
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: N/A
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 24:1
Source: Alex Potemkin / iStock via Getty Images
37. Bronxville Union Free School District
> Location: Bronxville, NY
> Schools: 3
> Student enrollment: 1,629
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 79.9%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
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Source: jferrer / iStock via Getty Images
36. Hinsdale Township High School District No. 86
> Location: Hinsdale, IL
> Schools: 3
> Student enrollment: 4,146
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 62.9%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 14:1
35. Solon City School District
> Location: Solon, OH
> Schools: 7
> Student enrollment: 4,643
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 60.6%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 18:1
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34. Weston Public Schools
> Location: Weston, MA
> Schools: 5
> Student enrollment: 2,039
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 82.8%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 11:1
Source: TammyFullum / iStock via Getty Images
33. Hopkinton Public Schools
> Location: Hopkinton, MA
> Schools: 6
> Student enrollment: 3,862
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 71.9%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 14:1
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
32. Mt. Lebanon School District
> Location: Pittsburgh, PA
> Schools: 10
> Student enrollment: 5,551
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 70.6%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 15:1
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Source: By Silverstone1 at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7532269 / Wikimedia Commons
31. Niles Township Community High School District No. 219
> Location: Skokie, IL
> Schools: 3
> Student enrollment: 4,592
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 45.4%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 14:1
Source: HaizhanZheng / iStock via Getty Images
30. Princeton Public Schools
> Location: Princeton, NJ
> Schools: 6
> Student enrollment: 3,889
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 81.0%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
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29. Herricks Union Free School District
> Location: New Hyde Park, NY
> Schools: 5
> Student enrollment: 4,018
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 60.3%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
Source: Tyler Blodgett / iStock via Getty Images
28. Westport School District
> Location: Westport, CT
> Schools: 7
> Student enrollment: 5,312
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 78.0%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 11:1
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
27. Palo Alto Unified School District
> Location: Palo Alto, CA
> Schools: 19
> Student enrollment: 11,745
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 84.7%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 17:1
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Source: ncps-k12.org
26. New Canaan School District
> Location: New Canaan, CT
> Schools: 5
> Student enrollment: 4,208
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 79.5%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
Source: StellaMc / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
25. Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District
> Location: Los Gatos, CA
> Schools: 2
> Student enrollment: 3,542
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 74.3%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 22:1
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24. Lower Merion School District
> Location: Ardmore, PA
> Schools: 10
> Student enrollment: 8,797
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 78.6%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
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Source: dmodlin01 / iStock via Getty Images
23. Evanston Township High School District No. 202
> Location: Evanston, IL
> Schools: 2
> Student enrollment: 3,620
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 67.2%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 14:1
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
22. Indian Hill Exempted Village School District
> Location: Cincinnati, OH
> Schools: 4
> Student enrollment: 2,140
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 74.6%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 14:1
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Source: Joecho-16 / iStock via Getty Images
21. North Allegheny School District
> Location: Pittsburgh, PA
> Schools: 11
> Student enrollment: 8,628
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 63.1%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 15:1
Source: By Akissforme - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15503606 / Wikimedia Commons
20. South Texas Independent School District
> Location: Mercedes, TX
> Schools: 6
> Student enrollment: 4,126
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: N/A
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 14:1
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19. Manhasset Union Free School District
> Location: Manhasset, NY
> Schools: 4
> Student enrollment: 3,189
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 72.9%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 10:1
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Source: By Famartin - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71065543 / Wikimedia Commons
18. Northern Valley Regional High School District
> Location: Demarest, NJ
> Schools: 3
> Student enrollment: 2,156
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 62.9%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 9:1
17. School District of Clayton
> Location: Clayton, MO
> Schools: 6
> Student enrollment: 2,609
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 77.5%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 11:1
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Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
16. Ladue School District
> Location: St Louis, MO
> Schools: 8
> Student enrollment: 4,228
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 74.1%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
Source: Tomsmith585 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
15. Millburn Township School District
> Location: Millburn, NJ
> Schools: 8
> Student enrollment: 4,811
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 82.9%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
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Source: akrassel / iStock via Getty Images
14. West Lafayette Community School Corporation
> Location: West Lafayette, IN
> Schools: 3
> Student enrollment: 2,396
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 70.1%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 16:1
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13. Tredyffrin-Easttown School District
> Location: Wayne, PA
> Schools: 8
> Student enrollment: 7,182
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 79.5%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 15:1
Source: Smallbones / Wikimedia Commons
12. Radnor Township School District
> Location: Wayne, PA
> Schools: 5
> Student enrollment: 3,799
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 76.2%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
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Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images
11. Eanes Independent School District
> Location: Austin, TX
> Schools: 11
> Student enrollment: 8,166
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 81.8%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
10. Township High School District No. 113
> Location: Highland Park, IL
> Schools: 2
> Student enrollment: 3,467
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 73.0%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
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9. Syosset Central School District
> Location: Syosset, NY
> Schools: 10
> Student enrollment: 6,626
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 67.3%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 10:1
Source: Alex Potemkin / Getty Images
8. Scarsdale Union Free School District
> Location: Scarsdale, NY
> Schools: 7
> Student enrollment: 4,791
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 89.2%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
7. Roslyn Union Free School District
> Location: Roslyn, NY
> Schools: 5
> Student enrollment: 3,218
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 72.7%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 11:1
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Source: 129679309@N05 / Flickr
6. New Trier Township High School District No. 203
> Location: Northfield, IL
> Schools: 2
> Student enrollment: 4,040
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 84.8%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
Source: jerichoschools.org
5. Jericho Union Free School District
> Location: Jericho, NY
> Schools: 5
> Student enrollment: 3,173
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 71.6%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 11:1
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Source: Alex Potemkin / E+ via Getty Images
4. Community High School District 128
> Location: Vernon Hills, IL
> Schools: 2
> Student enrollment: 3,287
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 65.8%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 14:1
3. Great Neck Public Schools
> Location: Great Neck, NY
> Schools: 10
> Student enrollment: 6,846
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 61.0%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 11:1
2. Glenbrook High Schools District 225
> Location: Glenview, IL
> Schools: 4
> Student enrollment: 5,201
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 65.3%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
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Source: Racaris, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
1. Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125
> Location: Lincolnshire, IL
> Schools: 2
> Student enrollment: 4,271
> Area bachelor’s degree attainment rate: 70.6%
> Student-to-teacher ratio: 15:1
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