U.S. News & World Report just updated its list of the best elementary and middle schools in the country. District Administration gathered the best schools in each state for you to browse and assess what defines a successful school on a national scale.
Most rankings consider state assessments in math and reading, including U.S. News & World Report’s latest publication of the best elementary and middle schools in the country. For the first time ever, sufficient data was available for new rankings in California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. However, Utah and Virginia did not have usable data and continue to display rankings first published in 2023.
Now, let’s break down U.S. News’ list of the best elementary and middle schools in each state.
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Best elementary and middle schools in each state
Alabama
- Crestline Elementary School, Mountain Brook, Ala.
- Pizitz Middle School, Vestavia, Ala.
Alaska
- Eagle Academy Charter School, Eagle River, Alaska
- Rilke Schule Charter School, Anchorage, Alaska
Arizona
- Weinberg Gifted Academy, Gilbert, Ariz.
- Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies, Mesa, Ariz.
Arkansas
- Baker Interdistrict Elementary School, Little Rock, Ark.
- Haas Hall Bentonville, Bentonville, Ark.
California
- Wiliam Faria Elementary, Cupertino, Calif.
- Whitney (Gretchen) High, Cerritos, Calif.
Colorado
- Polaris Elementary School, Denver, Colo.
- Parker Core Knowledge Charter School, Parker, Colo.
Connecticut
- West School, New Canaan, Conn.
- House of Arts Letters and Science (HALS) Academy, New Britain, Conn.
Delaware
- North Star Elementary School, Hockessin, Del.
- Christiana High School, Newark, Del.
District of Columbia
- Janney Elementary School, Washington, D.C.
- Basis DC PCS, Washington, D.C.
Florida
- Jacksonville Beach Elementary School, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
- Doral Academy of Technology, Doral, Fla.
Georgia
- Kittredge Magnet School, Atlanta, Ga.
- Elite Scholars Academy School, Jonesboro, Ga.
Hawaii
- Myron B. Thompson Academy – New Century PCS, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Myron B. Thompson Academy – New Century PCS, Honolulu, Hawaii
Idaho
- North Idaho Stem Charter Academy, Rathdrum, Idaho
- North Idaho Stem Charter Academy, Rathdrum, Idaho
Illinois
- Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center, Chicago, Ill.
- Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center, Chicago, Ill.
Indiana
- Northpoint Elementary School, Granger, Ind.
- Merle Sidener Gifted Academy, Indianapolis, Ind.
Iowa
- West Bend-Mallard Elementary School, West Bend, Iowa
- Cowles Elementary School, Des Moines, Iowa
Kansas
- Bradley Elementary, Fort Leavenworth, Kans.
- Maize Virtual Preparatory School, Maize, Kans.
Kentucky
- Scapa at Bluegrass, Lexington, Ky.
- Scapa at Bluegrass, Lexington, Ky.
Louisiana
- T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, Lake Charles, La.
- Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, La.
Maine
- Pond Cove Elementary, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
- Conners-Emerson School, Bar Harbor, Maine
Maryland
- Westbrook Elementary, Bethesda, Md.
- Clarksville Middle, Clarksville, Md.
Massachusetts
- Woodland, Weston, Mass.
- Pierce, Brookline, Mass.
Michigan
- Gallimore Elementary School, Canton, Mich.
- Dearborn Stem Middle School, Dearborn Heights, Mich.
Minnesota
- Ateneum Elementary, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
- Delano Intermediate School, Delano, Minn.
Mississippi
- Barack H Obama Elementary School, Jackson, Miss.
- North Woolmarket Elementary and Mid, Biloxi, Miss.
Missouri
- Betty Wheeler Classical Jr. Ac, St. Louis, Mo.
- Central High, Springfield, Mo.
Montana
- Longfellow School, Bozeman, Mont.
- Anderson 7-8, Bozeman, Mont.
Nebraska
- Blue Sage Elementary, Elkhorn, Nebr.
- Elkhorn Valley View Middle School, Elkhorn, Nebr.
Nevada
- Pinecrest Academy of Nevada Inspirada, Henderson, Nev.
- Mount Rose K-8 Academy of Languages, Reno, Nev.
New Hampshire
- Mason Elementary School, Mason, N.H.
- Academy for Science and Design Charter, Nashua, N.H.
New Jersey
- School 28, Paterson, N.J.
- School 28, Paterson, N.J.
New Mexico
- Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos, N. Mex.
- Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
New York
- Ps 172 Beacon School of Excellence, Brooklyn, N.Y.
- The Anderson School, New York, N.Y.
North Carolina
- Lincoln Academy, Greensboro, N.C.
- Brown Summit Middle, Browns Summit, N.C.
North Dakota
- Larimore Elementary School, Larimore, N. Dak.
- Wahpeton Middle School, Mahpeton, N. Dak.
Ohio
- Miller City Elementary School, Miller City, Ohio
- Orchard Middle School, Solon, Ohio
Oklahoma
- Schwartz Elementary School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Sadler Arts Academy, Muskogee, Okla.
Oregon
- Findley Elementary, Portland, Oreg.
- Winterhaven School, Portland, Oreg.
Pennsylvania
- Pleasant Valley Elementary School, McMurray, Pa.
- Masterman Julia R Sec School, Philadelphia, Pa.
Rhode Island
- Nayatt School, Barrington, R.I.
- Barrington Middle School, Barrington, R.I.
South Carolina
- Buist Academy, Charleston, S.C.
- Sterling School, Greenville, S.C.
South Dakota
- Challenge Center – 51, Sioux Falls, S. Dak.
- Warner Middle School – 03, Warner, S. Dak.
Tennessee
- Mcfadden School of Excellence, Tenn.
- Central Magnet School, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Texas
- J Kawas Elementary, Laredo, Tex.
- Basis Austin, Austin, Tex.
Utah
- Sunrise School, Sandy, Utah
- West High, Salt Lake City, Utah
Vermont
- Marion W. Cross School, Norwich, Vt.
- Charlotte Central School, Charlotte, Vt.
Virginia
- Kingston Elementary, Virginia Beach, Va.
- Old Donation School, Virginia Beach, Va.
Washington
- Cascadia Elementary, Seattle, Wash.
- Northstar Middle School, Kirkland, Wash.
West Virginia
- Greenmont Elementary School, Vienna, W. Va.
- John Adams Middle School, Charleston, W. Va.
Wisconsin
- Odyssey-Magellan, Appleton, Wis.
- Leonardo Da Vinci School for Gifted Learners, Green Bay, Wis.
Wyoming
- Poder Academy, Cheyenne, Wyo.
- Thermopolis Middle School, Thermopolis, Wyo.
