Best schools in the United States’s top cities
- Best schools in Houston (779)
- Best schools in Chicago (651)
- Best schools in Brooklyn (580)
- Best schools in Los Angeles (565)
- Best schools in San Antonio (525)
- Best schools in Phoenix (458)
- Best schools in Bronx (453)
- Best schools in Dallas (394)
- Best schools in New York (348)
- Best schools in Columbus (342)
- Best schools in Washington (327)
- Best schools in Las Vegas (324)
Schools in the United States — FAQs
How do I find the best elementary, middle or high schools?
Choose a city below or search by ZIP code. We rank public schools using the School Finder rating, which combines state test proficiency, college readiness and equity scores into a single 0-10 number.
Are charter and magnet schools included?
Yes. Wherever a public school publishes assessment results, we include it in the rankings, whether it is a traditional district school, a charter or a magnet school.
Is a higher rating always a better school?
A higher rating reflects stronger test results; it is a great starting point. But also weigh factors like class size, programmes offered and how close the school is to home. Save a shortlist and compare schools side by side.
Which states are covered?
All 50 US states plus Washington DC are included, using the assessment and Common Core of Data figures each state publishes.
How these ratings work
How we rate US schools
Source: US NCES Common Core of Data + state assessment data
| Test proficiency | 50% of the score — share of students meeting standards. |
|---|---|
| College readiness | 30% of the score — AP/IB or college-prep indicators. |
| Equity | 20% of the score — performance of disadvantaged subgroups. |
| Scale | Weighted blend rescaled to a 1–10 SchoolFinder rating. |