Map Shows the 50 Best School Districts Across US
A new map created by Newsweek reveals the locations of the nation's top school districts according to a report published last fall, showing that some states are seen as clear leaders in education according to the report's parameters.
Top school districts were frequently found in New York, Illinois, and California, with other states across the Upper Midwest and Northeast also showing strong educational findings.
The top three districts retained their ranking from the previous year, Niche PR Manager Zach Chatham told Newsweek.
For many American families, the quality of a local school district is a major factor when deciding where to live. Educational opportunities can affect not only children's immediate learning experiences but also their future career prospects and earning potential.
As students nationwide continue to recover from academic setbacks experienced during the pandemic, transparent and holistic evaluations of school districts have become especially valuable. Rankings provide parents with a tool for comparison, enabling them to identify districts that best align with their priorities and values as they make decisions about relocation and their children's education.
Niche, an educational research platform, has done a 2025 report ranking the top 50 school districts in the United States, evaluating over 11,000 districts nationwide. This is the 11th year of the report.
To create these rankings, Niche combined several data points from both subjective and objective sources. The methodology incorporated ratings from current students, alumni, and parents, as well as quantitative data collected from the U.S. Department of Education.
Niche's comprehensive evaluation assessed various aspects of each district, including academic performance, teacher quality, availability of clubs and extracurricular activities, college preparation resources, and administrative effectiveness. The platform weighed both qualitative user input and detailed quantitative statistics to provide what it describes as a "well-rounded perspective" on educational institutions nationwide.
The Best 50 School Districts in America, according to Niche's ratings:
Adlai E. Stevenson High School District No. 125Glenbrook High School District 225Evanston Township High School District No. 202East Williston Union Free School DistrictSyosset Central School DistrictLadue School DistrictEanes Independent School DistrictPalo Alto Unified School DistrictTownship High School District 113Jericho Union Free School DistrictMountain View-Los Altos Union High School DistrictHinsdale Township High School District No. 86San Dieguito Union High School DistrictWest Lafayette Community School CorporationRoslyn Union Free School DistrictCommunity High School District 128Radnor Township School DistrictTownship High School District No. 211Scarsdale Union Free School DistrictHalf Hollow Hills Central School DistrictNovi Community School DistrictBuford City SchoolsLos Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School DistrictNorth Allegheny School DistrictGreat Neck Public SchoolsNiles Township Community High School District 219South Texas Independent School DistrictBarrington Community Unit School District No. 220Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204New Canaan Public SchoolsSchool District of ClaytonTredyffrin-Easttown School DistrictHomewood City SchoolsWestport School DistrictHewlett-Woodmere Union Free School DistrictWeston Public SchoolsNorthern Valley Regional High School DistrictPrinceton Public SchoolsPublic Schools of BrooklineRedondo Beach Unified School DistrictNaperville Community Unit School District No. 203Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School DistrictWayzata Public SchoolsNorthville Public SchoolsFremont Unified High School DistrictTownship High School District No. 214Herricks Union Free School DistrictSouth Pasadena Unified School DistrictNorthern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & ScienceElmbrook School District
Niche founder and CEO Luke Skurman, in a press release: "Developing and publishing these lists is one of my favorite things we do at Niche, because it's all about making a big decision easier and less stressfu. Choosing the right school for our children can have a real ripple effect on their lives - from career path and earning potential to how they'll contribute to society. Our annual K-12 rankings empower families to make informed decisions and help lay a strong foundation for their children's futures."
Niche PR Manager Zach Chatham told Newsweek: "Access to quality education plays a central role for many homebuyers, with reports like ours empowering families to make more informed decisions. For example, Niche also publishes an annual Places to Live report, which includes rankings for Best Places to Buy a House. Public school grades are one of the two most heavily weighted factors in our methodology, reflecting our mission to help students and families find the right schools and communities."
The 2026 list of top school districts will be released this fall. It remains to be seen whether the top districts from this year will retain their positions for the coming year.
Related Articles
Teacher on Road Trip With Daughter Unprepared for Assistant Superintendent's WarningState Sued Over New 'Unconstitutional' Ten Commandments Law In ClassroomsPublic Schools Are Under Attack, and Texas Is Just the Beginning | OpinionThousands of Teachers in California Lose Their Job As Union Raises Alarm
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
8 hours ago
- The Hill
This Father's Day, remember the invisible weight that many dads carry
This Father's Day, many families will fire up the grill, hand out neckties or whiskey bottles, and celebrate the steady presence of the men who raised them. We honor the sacrifices dads make — their hard work, protective instincts, quiet love. But for many fathers, especially those who've served in uniform or carried other unseen burdens, the greatest gift might be something simple but rare: a moment of real understanding. I was 24 years old when I led an infantry platoon into Iraq. We breached the berm on the Kuwaiti border and pushed into cities where the future of a war — and our own identities — was uncertain. When I came home, I moved into a career on Wall Street, grew my family, and tried to become the man I thought a father should be: strong, silent, dependable. But the weight I carried — the invisible injuries of war, the trauma of a home invasion, the slow unraveling of self — never quite left me. I tried to bury it. And for a while, I did. But what gets buried finds its own way back to the surface. Sometimes in anger. Sometimes in avoidance. Sometimes in moments when your child looks at you, needing you to be fully present — and you realize you're not even in the room emotionally. I tell that story in 'Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet,' not just to make sense of my own past, but to show how trauma doesn't just haunt soldiers. It follows them into fatherhood, into careers, into marriages, and into quiet moments at the dinner table. PTSD isn't always loud. Sometimes it's a subtle distance. A hollow stare. A coldness you can't explain. And it isn't limited to veterans. Over the last 25 years, American families have lived through an almost unrelenting series of shocks: 9/11 and the wars that followed. The financial collapse of 2008. A global pandemic. Social unrest. A mental health crisis that's no longer creeping but roaring into every corner of American life. While much of the public conversation around mental health focuses — rightfully — on teens and younger adults, there's a whole generation of men, many of them fathers, who were taught a different rulebook: don't flinch, don't cry, don't break. For years, I followed that script. I had it all under control. I led men in battle. I briefed corporate executives. I kept moving. But inside, I was unraveling. By the time I sat down across from a counselor in 2011, I didn't know how to say the simplest words: I'm not okay. And yet, saying those words was the beginning of a new life. I'm not here to argue that all dads are silently suffering. Many are thriving, giving love and wisdom and presence to their families. But I know too many men — good men — who carry burdens they never speak of. Some have seen war. Some have battled addiction. Some were shaped by absent fathers of their own, and now quietly wonder if they're failing their kids in invisible ways. Others simply feel lost in a culture that doesn't ask how they're really doing — only whether they're getting the job done. That silence has consequences. When pain goes unspoken, it often leaks out in the wrong places: in strained marriages, in absentee parenting, in emotional distance. But it doesn't have to be that way. Father's Day is a celebration. But it can also be an invitation — to start a conversation, to check in with the men we love, to offer them more than a thank you. Offer presence. Offer curiosity. Offer permission. Ask Dad how he's doing — really. Ask what he remembers about growing up. Ask what parts of himself he's still working on. Ask what he's proud of. Listen, even if it's awkward. Even if he deflects. Because healing doesn't start with fixing something. It starts with seeing it. With making space. When I wrote my book, I wasn't trying to be a perfect example. I was trying to be an honest one. I wanted my children to know that I had struggled — and that I had come through the other side. That there's strength in breaking, and deeper strength in rebuilding. And I wanted other fathers to know: you're not alone. You don't have to carry it all by yourself. Whether you wore a uniform or just wore the weight of the world, your wounds are real. And they are worthy of care. This Father's Day, honor the dads who've shown up. But also hold space for the ones who are trying — sometimes silently — to keep going. There are cracks in all of us. That's not weakness. That's life. As Leonard Cohen wrote, 'There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.' Happy Father's Day — to the men who've held the line for their families, and to those finally learning how to lay their burdens down. Ryan McDermott is an Iraq War veteran, recipient of the Bronze Star medal, and author of the award-winning and critically-acclaimed book, 'Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet.' His views do not reflect those of his employer or any affiliated organization.
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
Blind Dog Discovers a Lake on First Camping Trip—His Reaction Says It All
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A blind dog enjoying a lakeside camping trip has captured the hearts of thousands across the internet. Chayse Fulton, 31, a canine nutritionist and well-being expert at Woof For Wellness from Kamloops, British Columbia, shared a heartwarming video of his blind dog, Steven, experiencing a large lake for the first time. Posted to the subreddit r/DogVideos under the username u/schmob3rry, the clip received more than 8,500 upvotes. "It was his first time out on an official camping trip this year, and he has never been to a body of water quite that large and he hasn't experienced one that has big waves in it yet so it was his first time," Fulton told Newsweek. "He initially was very hesitant of the waves and couldn't figure out what the sound was of them crashing on the shore. So, while he was on leash, we gave him lots of reassurance and told him he was a good boy," he added. The video compilation shows Steven enjoying the lake and surrounding woodland with his family, including his young human sister. Fulton said that, every time Steven checked out the waves, he grew more confident—with his sister's help—and was soon "chasing after the waves in no time." Fulton added that, while it is hard to know exactly what Steven is thinking, many people online have posted that "he was definitely saving us from a tsunami." A split image of Steven the blind dog enjoying his camping trip. A split image of Steven the blind dog enjoying his camping trip. Chayse Fulton/Chayse Fulton Steven, also affectionately called Stevie, was born in Alberta and discovered under a house on a rural property. He was born with severe congenital glaucoma in both eyes, which caused him immense pain. A rescue group stepped in, and both eyes were surgically removed just before he turned 4 weeks old. "He has never had sight so he doesn't actually know what he's missing out on, which I think contributes to how happy he truly is," said Fulton. Believed to be a mastiff and Labrador retriever mix, Stevie is a "big and skinny boy" who is wild, friendly, confident, and up for any adventure. Fulton said: "He is my adventure buddy, and we haven't found a single thing he doesn't enjoy yet from walks, to off-leash hiking, to swimming, making friends and everything in between." A split image showing Steven the dog with his head out the window. A split image showing Steven the dog with his head out the window. Chayse Fulton/Chayse Fulton The owner said he was proud to watch Steven grow more comfortable in the unfamiliar environment, crediting the dog's progress to consistent training and confidence-building. "It was a very proud moment to watch him so quickly overcome being nervous in a new environment because I have put so much time and effort into his confidence, training and situations like this really show the hard work paying off," Fulton said. "He had everyone laughing on the beach." One of the most-rewarding parts of caring for Stevie, Fulton added, is seeing the impact the dog has on others. "My favorite part of owning Stevie is how he shows so many people online and in person how blind dogs, or any disabled animal for that matter, just needs the right home and to be given a chance, and they can thrive and live a very happy and fulfilled life." Stevie is Fulton's third blind rescue. "I think they find me for a reason, and I love doing what I do," he said. Reddit users were quick to share their love and admiration for Stevie. "He is everything. What a beautiful angel awww. Please give Steven a big snoot smoocher from me!" one user commented. "It is unbelievable and adorable to see people who taking care such animals, respect animals," posted another. "This is so beautiful!!" wrote Abigail_Squanch. "That made my night! Thanks for sharing. Steve is soooo happy!" another user added. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Chicago Tribune
9 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Native wisteria vines are a beautiful blue
What's a native vine that can cover a trellis or fence with June flowers the purply-blue color of a country sky just before dawn? Wisteria, that's what. Specifically, it's American wisteria (), which is native to the Southeastern states, including far southern Illinois. 'It's hardy to USDA Zone 5 and 6, which includes Chicago and its suburbs,' said Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. It climbs a large steel trellis in the Arboretum's Grand Garden. Gardeners may be more familiar with other species that are now considered invasive in the United States, Chinese wisteria () and Japanese wisteria (). These Asian species spread very easily to natural areas, where their vigorous growth smothers native plants. 'We should not plant those vines,' Campbell said. 'But American wisteria is just as lovely, and it's a native plant that provides nectar and pollen to native insects.' American wisteria and the closely related Kentucky wisteria () are woody vines, with a main stem like a tree trunk, and are deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves in winter. They have glossy dark green leaves and produce large, drooping clusters of pealike, lightly fragrant flowers in late May or early June. The flowers of both native species are blue to purple, but white-flowering cultivated varieties have been introduced. Although American wisteria and Kentucky wisteria are less aggressive than the Asian species, they are still vigorous and can eventually grow 25 to 30 feet long if not controlled by pruning. The woody stems and branches will be heavy, so the vines need a very sturdy support. Wisteria climbs by sending out tendrils — slender curling stems — that curl around a support, the way a clematis vine does. 'The tendrils need to find something small enough that they can reach around it, so your trellis or fence should have wires or mesh or bars that are not too wide,' Campbell said. 'Wisteria can't climb a blank wall.' These plants need full sun for best flowering, so plant them in a spot that gets six to eight hours of sunlight a day. They prefer a moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, with mulch over their roots. Wisteria will need pruning every year, both to control its size and to encourage flowering. Just after the plant finishes blooming, prune excess growth back to 6 inches. These stems will continue growing and flower buds will form on them. In winter, cut them again so that each stem has two to three flower buds left. Planting American or Kentucky wisteria will be an investment of time and effort. 'You'll have to erect the right kind of support and you'll have to wait a few years before the vines are mature enough to flower,' Campbell said. If you have the patience to wait, you can be surrounded by the green shade of a splendid vine with blooms of wisteria blue.
