Public schooling is best in these US cities
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Public schooling is best in these US cities
Kids in a classroom raising their hands.
When people are looking to buy a house, one of the first questions they ask is about the public schools in the community. In fact, for 15% of homebuyers, the quality of the school district is a key factor in a purchasing decision, according to a 2023 National Association of Realtors survey.
For people in the age ranges most likely to have school-age children, it’s even more important: 22% of buyers ages 24 to 32, 30% of buyers ages 33 to 42, and 23% of buyers ages 43 to 57 consider school quality an important factor, the survey found.
The exact premium a house in a good school district can command is unclear. Data from a decade-old 2013 Redfin analysis found that buyers in neighborhoods with top-ranked schools paid $50 more per square foot than buyers of similar homes in neighborhoods with average-ranked schools. An analysis that same year from Curbed Los Angeles found homes in top-notch public school districts in LA were 79% more expensive than similar homes in average districts.
It stands to reason that access to good public schools is extremely valuable. The average annual tuition for a private school is $12,167 per student, according to the Education Data Initiative. So paying even tens of thousands of dollars more for a house with top-notch public education can be similar in total costs to buying a cheaper house in a lesser district while paying for private education.
Stacker used data from Niche to look at the 25 cities with the best school districts in the United States. To identify the leading cities, Niche used their individual public schools ranking data, weighted based on their student populations. The overall Niche grade is also included, which scores the city more generally as a place to live.
Of the top 25 districts in the U.S., 11 are in California, five are in Texas, and two are in Virginia. Seven states each have one of the top districts: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington.
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#25. Roseville, California
Aerial view of Roseville, California.
– Population: 145,687
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A-
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#24. Round Rock, Texas
A water tower in Red Rock, Texas.
– Population: 117,735
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A
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#23. Temecula, California
Arched entrance to Main Street in Temecula, California.
– Population: 109,376
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: B+
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#22. Virginia Beach, Virginia
A wooden pier at Virginia Beach, Virginia.
– Population: 457,658
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A
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#21. Columbia, Maryland
A walkway along Wilde Lake in Columbia, Maryland.
– Population: 105,086
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#20. San Diego
The San Diego skyline seen across a causeway.
– Population: 1,385,398
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A
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#19. Santa Clara, California
A street in Santa Clara, California.
– Population: 127,922
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A+
Trong Nguyen // Shutterstock
#18. Richardson, Texas
Aerial view of a recreation park with Richardson, Texas in the background.
– Population: 115,904
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#17. Cambridge, Massachusetts
A view of the Cambridge skyline from across the water.
– Population: 116,892
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#16. Boulder, Colorado
An aerial view of Boulder, Colorado.
– Population: 104,930
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A
Sundry Photography // Shutterstock
#15. Sunnyvale, California
Entrance to the “Murphy Historic Avenue” in downtown Sunnyvale, California.
– Population: 155,550
– Public school grade: A
– Overall Niche grade: A+
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
#14. College Station, Texas
The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.
– Population: 116,276
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A
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#13. Burbank, California
View from the hills above Burbank, California.
– Population: 107,364
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A
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#12. Torrance, California
Roadside sign designating entrance into Torrance, California.
– Population: 147,156
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A
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#11. Arlington, Virginia
A view across the water of the Arlington skyline.
– Population: 235,764
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#10. Berkeley, California
An aerial view of buildings in Berkeley, California.
– Population: 119,607
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#9. Overland Park, Kansas
A street in downtown Overland Park, Kansas.
– Population: 195,249
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#8. Plano, Texas
Benches and trees in front of a a water feature in downtown Plano.
– Population: 282,181
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#7. Thousand Oaks, California
An aerial view of Thousand Oaks.
– Population: 127,274
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A
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#6. The Woodlands, Texas
Lake Woodlands Waterway at The Woodlands, Texas.
– Population: 115,716
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#5. Carlsbad, California
An aerial view of the Carlsbad California Lagoon.
– Population: 114,858
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A
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#4. Irvine, California
A row of palm trees in front of commercial buildings in downtown Irvine.
– Population: 297,868
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#3. Bellevue, Washington
An aerial view of downtown Bellevue.
– Population: 149,365
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#2. Ann Arbor, Michigan
Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan at dusk.
– Population: 122,731
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
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#1. Naperville, Illinois
A waterway and commercial buildings in Naperville, Illinois.
– Population: 149,013
– Public school grade: A+
– Overall Niche grade: A+
Data reporting by Emma Rubin. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Michael Flocker.
