Top 10 States With The Best Public Schools

School districts are a huge determining factor when looking to buy a house. Along with nearby businesses and property values, a thriving public school can tell you a lot about a neighborhood and what it prioritizes. We’ve done the work to pull together a list of the states with the best public schools. Here’s our top 10.

Key Characteristics To Determine What State Has The Best Schools

New Jersey is our highest-ranked state for best public schools. With a leading high school graduation rate, high average test scores and generous state funding, New Jersey offers high-quality education.

We used a variety of factors to determine this result. When buying a house and deciding where to live, these are the key public school characteristics you should look for:

• Performance: Ask what the average scores on standardized tests (like the ACT and SAT) are.
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: Research how many students there are per teacher. If there are a lot of students per teacher, it could signify the school is underfunded or has a hard time attracting and retaining teachers.
• Funding: Schools with better funding will offer more opportunities for your children to learn.
• High school graduation rate: It’s important to know how many kids make it through graduation as it shows how much the community and school value education.
• Extracurricular activities: Extracurricular activities give your kids the chance to explore their interests and socialize. They can also be good for college admissions.
• School safety: Safety is a huge topic on parents’ minds. Ask schools how they’re prepared to deal with scenarios safely.

10 States With The Best Public Schools

When looking for a house when you have kids, the nearby schools should rank high on your list of priorities. Many people house shop by the school district, as quality school districts also indicate good neighborhood health. Finding the right real estate agent can help you connect with great school districts in these states.

1. New Jersey

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25:10%
• State average ACT score: 25.1
• State average SAT score: 1079
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 12
• High school graduation rate: 90.60%
• State spending per student K-12: $21,334

New Jersey has incredible schools. With its high per-student spending and the large percentage of the college-educated population, it’s clearly a state that values education. This value of education is on display especially in school districts like the Millburn Township School District and Princeton Public Schools. Both of these school districts have low teacher-to-pupil ratios and high scoring in math and reading.

Check out homes for sale in New Jersey.

2. Connecticut

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 42.13%
• State average ACT score: 27.2
• State average SAT score: 1025
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 12
• High school graduation rate: 88.50%
• State spending per student K-12: $21,146

While New Jersey edged it out slightly in terms of per student spending and graduation rate, Connecticut is still one of the best states for public schools in the country. School districts like the Westport School District and New Canaan Public Schools score high marks for college prep, extracurricular activities and teacher quality.

Check out homes for sale in Connecticut.

3. Massachusetts

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 46.62%
• State average ACT score: 27.6
• State average SAT score: 1029
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 12
• High school graduation rate: 88.00%
• State spending per student K-12: $19,193

Chances are that you’ve seen Massachusetts on other similar lists of the best public schools in the country. The state has the highest percentage of college-educated adults on this list. Districts like Weston Public Schools and Hopkinton Public Schools get high grades in math and reading proficiency and standardized test scores, and these schools have low teacher-to-pupil ratios with amazing teachers.

Check out homes for sale in Massachusetts.

4. New Hampshire

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 40.25%
• State average ACT score: 26.6
• State average SAT score: 1050
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 11
• High school graduation rate: 88.40%
• State spending per student K-12: $17,456

Another New England state makes our list for states with the best public schools. New Hampshire consistently ranks as one of the best states for public schools in the country. While Dartmouth College comes to mind when you think education in New Hampshire, the state’s public K-12 schools are another gem. School districts like the Bedford School District score high for academics and college prep.

Check out homes for sale in New Hampshire.

5. Vermont

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 44.44%
• State average ACT score: 24.7
• State average SAT score: 1095
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 12
• High school graduation rate: 84.50%
• State spending per student K-12: $21,219

While Vermont is one of the smaller states, it has a great public school system. The state invests a lot of money per student to ensure their education is successful. Districts like the South Burlington School District, in Burlington (Vermont’s most populated city), feature quality education. The school is staffed with experienced teachers and it shows in the high standardized test scores.

Check out homes for sale in Vermont.

6. Maine

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 35.99%
• State average ACT score: 25.6
• State average SAT score: 1081
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 11
• High school graduation rate: 87.40%
• State spending per student K-12: $15,691

Gorgeous Maine, known for its lobster and chowder, should also be known for its excellent public schools. Just north of Portland, Maine, Yarmouth Schools is one of the state’s top school districts. It receives A+ grades for academics, quality teachers and its college prep. On the other side of Portland, Cape Elizabeth Public Schools is another exemplary district that’s ranked first in the state for best places to teach and for best teachers.

Check out homes for sale in Maine.

7. New York

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 39.92%
• State average ACT score: 26.3 
• State average SAT score: 1067
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 12
• High school graduation rate: 82.80%
• State spending per student K-12: $24,881

New York scores high on the list for best states for public schools in the country. Great Neck Public Schools on Long Island is one of the best public school districts mentioned on this list. Not only is it one of the more diverse districts on this list, but 86% of its students score proficiently in math and 83% in reading. In fact, many school districts on Long Island rank highly. If you’re looking at upstate New York, the Brighton Central School District in Rochester consistently ranks highly for college prep and overall academics.

Check out homes for sale in New York.

8. Virginia

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 41.81%
• State average ACT score: 25.5
• State average SAT score: 1124
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 14
• High school graduation rate: 87.50%
• State spending per student K-12: $12,638

Virginia ranks as the best southern state for public schools. While northeastern states outspend it on a per-student basis, remember that the cost of living in Virginia is much lower than a place like New Jersey or Vermont. The Falls Church Public School District ranks as the best in the state, with A+ grades for college prep and academics. In neighboring Arlington, Arlington Public Schools gets high marks for its diversity, extracurriculars and college prep.

Check out homes for sale in Virginia.

9. Maryland

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 42.55%
• State average ACT score: 25.5
• State average SAT score: 1075
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 14
• High school graduation rate: 86.90%
• State spending per student K-12: $15,582

Right next door to Virginia, Maryland gets the ninth spot for our states with the best public schools. With 209 schools in its district, the Montgomery County Public School district is one of the best in the state. Including the popular area of Bethesda, this school district is incredibly diverse and is focused on preparing over 160,564 students for life after school. The area receives high marks for college prep and is known as a great place to raise a family.

Check out homes for sale in Maryland.

10. Wisconsin

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 32.54%
• State average ACT score: 20
• State average SAT score: 1252
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 14
• High school graduation rate: 90.10%
• State spending per student K-12: $12,694

At number 10, Wisconsin is the only state in the Midwest to make our list. Yet, it has the highest average SAT score and is second only to New Jersey in terms of high school graduation rate. School districts like the Elmbrook School District in Brookfield, Wisconson, (just outside of Milwaukee) are what makes this state great for public schools. In the Elmbrook School District, your kids will have stellar academics and support for college prep. They’ll also be able to take advantage of clubs and school activities to pursue their interests.

Check out homes for sale in Wisconsin.

3 More Popular States With The Best Schools

While the following states didn’t make the cut with our methodology (see below), there’s still a buzz about them. There are many states and areas with great education systems, and what’s best for you and the student(s) in your house depends on a lot. Here are a few states that are popular choices for many people.

1. Arizona

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 43%
• State average ACT score: 19.8
• State average SAT score: 1159
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 18
• High school graduation rate: 77.8%
• State spending per student K-12: $8,770

While Arizona as a state doesn’t rank high for its education, it still has some great school districts. The top-rated district is the Catalina Foothills Unified School District in Tucson. It scores highly for college prep and academics. If you’re looking in the Phoenix area, look no further than Chandler Unified School District No. 80. This district’s report card is all A’s for diversity, academics, quality teachers, extracurriculars and more.

Check out homes for sale in Arizona.

2. California

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 19%
• State average ACT score: 26.1
• State average SAT score: 1115
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 22
• High school graduation rate: 84.5%
• State spending per student K-12: $13,642

Beautiful California has some great public schools. This shows in the state’s higher than average SAT and ACT scores. In the Silicon Valley area, Palo Alto Unified School District is one of the best in the state, scoring high for college prep, academics and extracurriculars. In southern California, the San Dieguito Union High School District in Encinitas is one of the best districts in the state for high schoolers.

Check out homes for sale in California.

3. Delaware

• Percentage of college-educated population over 25: 62%
• State average ACT score: 25.7
• State average SAT score: 968
• Teacher-to-pupil ratio: 14
• High school graduation rate: 89%
• State spending per student K-12: $15,931

Delaware, the first state, is another popular state with great public schools. When compared to Arizona and California, Delaware spends more per student and has a lower teacher-to-pupil ratio. The Appoquinimink School District in Odessa, Delaware, ranks the best in the state in terms of school performance and best teachers. But not far behind, the Cape Henlopen School District in southern Delaware gets high marks for its teachers, administration and extracurriculars.

Check out homes for sale in Delaware.

States With The Best Schools: FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions that many people want to know about the states with the best public schools.

Which state has the highest quality of education?

In our rankings, New Jersey has the best public education system. That’s because of its high graduation rate, high quality teachers and excellent average ACT and SAT scores.

What are the lowest-ranked states for public education?

The lowest-ranked state for public education is New Mexico . This is largely due to its high dropout rate, low math and reading proficiency and low SAT and ACT scores. Other low-scoring states include Alaska, Louisiana and Arizona.

Which state is ranked 50 in education?

New Mexico frequently ranks last in education. While it does have successful school districts, on average, the state performs poorly in terms of quality education and school safety.

The Bottom Line

Many states offer high-quality public school districts. As you can see from our list, much of the best states for public schools are concentrated in the northeastern U.S. That doesn’t mean states in the west, south or Midwest only have under-performing schools. You just need to do some research on what districts meet your needs. For a full picture, read reviews but also ask people in the area about their experience at the school.

When you’re ready to buy, get started online today.

Methodology: Finding States With The Best Public Schools

Rocket Homes collected and analyzed the most recent data on 6 key statewide metrics to give us insight into the top states with the best public schools. The metrics used in this study include the percentage of the college-educated population over 25, average ACT test score, average SAT test score, teacher-to-pupil ratio, high-school graduation rate and state spending per student for K –12. These metrics were chosen based on public data availability and topical relevance. Metrics from the U.S. Census are based on 2021 ACS 1-year estimates.

Weights were then applied to each metric depending on their individual importance in the study. The weighted scores for each metric were summed to create the overall score for each state. The final scores are sorted to produce the final rankings.