Mathematics, reading performance of public schools analyzed at the state and district levels.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --Â U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, today released the 2026 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings. The report includes about 47,000 public elementary schools and more than 23,000 middle schools that are ranked at the state and district levels, with state rankings specific to charter schools as a stand-alone category.
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>>2]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^`_``dh`^&$0}6HD0{@8@]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk^2mk^Amk^5:Gm
kAm%96 a_ae C2?<:?8D 2C6 32D65 @? AF3=:4=J 2G2:=23=6 52E2 7C@> E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@?] u@C 5:DEC:4E\=6G6= C2?<:?8D[ 2E =62DE EH@ @7 E96 E@A A6C7@C>:?8 D49@@=D >FDE C2?< :? E96 E@A fdT @7 E96 @G6C2== 6=6>6?E2CJ @C >:55=6 D49@@= C2?<:?8D E@ BF2=:7J 7@C C64@8?:E:@?]k^Am
kAmQ%96 a_ae q6DE t=6>6?E2CJ 2?5 |:55=6 $49@@=D C2?<:?8D 9:89=:89E :?DE:EFE:@?D E92E 6I46= :? 7@DE6C:?8 DEF56?E 249:6G6>6?E 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 6I46AE:@?2= =62C?:?8 6?G:C@?>6?ED 7@C 2==[Q D2:5Â {2|@?E y@?6D[ t5]s][ >2?28:?8 65:E@C 7@C t5F42E:@? 2E &]$] }6HD] Q%96D6 C2?<:?8D @776C 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 72>:=:6D G2=F23=6 :?D:89ED :?E@ D49@@=D 565:42E65 E@ AC6A2C:?8 DEF56?ED 7@C 7FEFC6 DF446DD]Qk^Am
kAm%96 C2?<:?8DÂ kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9lddfbca_gcU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]FD?6HD]4@>Tau65F42E:@?Tau<`aTau2CE:4=6DTau9@H\FD\?6HD\42=4F=2E65\E96\C2?<:?8DU2>Aj2l>6E9@5@=@8JQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm>6E9@5@=@8Jk^2mk^DA2?m 7@4FD6D @? DE2E6 2DD6DD>6?ED @7 DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6 AC@7:4:6?E @C 23@G6 AC@7:4:6?E :? >2E96>2E:4D 2?5 C625:?8^=2?8F286 2CED[ H9:=6 244@F?E:?8 7@C DEF56?E 324<8C@F?5 2?5 249:6G6>6?E :? 4@C6 DF3;64ED] $EF56?E\E62496C C2E:@D 2C6 2AA=:65 E@ 3C62< E:6D :? E96 @G6C2== D4@C6]k^Am
kAmpD:56 7C@> E96 C2?<:?8D[ A2C6?ED 2?5 42C68:G6CD @7 D49@@=\286 49:=5C6? 42? C625 E@A:42= 2CE:4=6D @? kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9lbae`bhh_dcU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]FD?6HD]4@>Tau65F42E:@?Tau<`aTau2CE:4=6DTau9@H\@7E6?\42?\J@FC\49:=5\36\23D6?E\7C@>\D49@@=U2>Aj2l9@HZE@ZC65F46Z49C@?:4Z23D6?E66:D>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9@H E@ C65F46 49C@?:4 23D6?E66:D>k^2mk^DA2?m[ kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9l``f`fdaafeU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]FD?6HD]4@>Tau65F42E:@?Tau<`aTau2CE:4=6DTau9@H\A2C6?ED\42?\96=A\<:?56C82CE6?\C625:?6DDU2>Aj2l96=A:?8Z<:?56C82CE6?ZC625:?6DDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm96=A:?8 <:?56C82CE6? C625:?6DDk^2mk^DA2?m[ kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9l`f_fdaf_baU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]FD?6HD]4@>Tau65F42E:@?Tau<`aTau2CE:4=6DTau277:C>2E:@?D\7@C\<:5D\9@H\A2C6?ED\42?\DFAA@CE\E96:C\49:=5D\=62C?:?8U2>Aj2lFD:?8Z277:C>2E:@?DZE@ZDFAA@CEZ=62C?:?8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmFD:?8 277:C>2E:@?D E@ DFAA@CE =62C?:?8k^2mk^DA2?m 2?5 kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9lefecgegchU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]FD?6HD]4@>Tau65F42E:@?Tau<`aTau2CE:4=6DTauH2JD\E@\DFAA@CE\J@FC\49:=5D\EC2?D:E:@?\7C@>\6=6>6?E2CJ\E@\>:55=6\D49@@=U2>Aj2lH2JDZE@ZDFAA@CEZE96ZEC2?D:E:@?Z7C@>Z6=6>6?E2CJZE@Z>:55=6ZD49@@=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmH2JD E@ DFAA@CE E96 EC2?D:E:@? 7C@> 6=6>6?E2CJ E@ >:55=6 D49@@=k^2mk^DA2?m]k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E q6DE kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9lad`f`f`f``U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]FD?6HD]4@>Tau65F42E:@?Tau<`aTau6=6>6?E2CJ\D49@@=U2>Aj2lt=6>6?E2CJQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmt=6>6?E2CJk^2mk^DA2?m 2?5 kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9l`bcabfded_U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]FD?6HD]4@>Tau65F42E:@?Tau<`aTau>:55=6\D49@@=U2>Aj2l|:55=6Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm|:55=6k^2mk^DA2?m $49@@=D 2?5 FD6 Rq6DEzg$49@@=D @? kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9lbahfa_g`gbU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]:?DE28C2>]4@>TauFD?6HDTauU2>Aj2lx?DE28C2>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmx?DE28C2>k^2mk^DA2?m[ kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9la`b_c`b__`U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]E:<E@<]4@>TauTc_FD?6HDU2>Aj2l%:<%@<Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%:<%@<k^2mk^DA2?m[ kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9laacc`ga`efU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]72463@@<]4@>TauFD?6HD2?5H@C=5C6A@CETauU2>Aj2lu2463@@<Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmu2463@@<k^2mk^DA2?m 2?5 kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9l`ggfbbbehdU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauEH:EE6C]4@>Tau&$}6HDt5F42E:@?U2>Aj2l)Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm)k^2mk^DA2?m W7@C>6C=J %H:EE6CX]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE &]$] }6HD U2>Aj (@C=5 #6A@CEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm&]$] }6HD U2>Aj (@C=5 #6A@CE :D E96 8=@32= =6256C 7@C ;@FC?2=:D> E92E 6>A@H6CD 4@?DF>6CD[ 4:E:K6?D[ 3FD:?6DD =6256CD 2?5 A@=:4J @77:4:2=D E@ >2<6 4@?7:56?E 564:D:@?D :? 2== 2DA64ED @7 E96:C =:G6D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D] p >F=E:7246E65 >65:2 4@>A2?J[ &]$] }6HD AC@G:56D F?3:2D65 C2?<:?8D[ :?56A6?56?E C6A@CE:?8 2?5 2?2=JD:D[ 2?5 4@?DF>6C 25G:46 E@ >:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 @? kDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdca`bb\`U2>Aj9l`bgcegaagaU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauFD?6HD]4@>TauU2>Aj2l&$}6HD]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm&$}6HD]4@>k^2mk^DA2?m 6249 >@?E9] p A:==2C :? (2D9:?8E@? 7@C >@C6 E92? h_ J62CD[ &]$] }6HD :D E96 ECFDE65 9@>6 7@C :?\56AE9 2?5 6I4=FD:G6 :?D:89ED @? 65F42E:@?[ 962=E9[ A@=:E:4D[ E96 64@?@>J[ A6CD@?2= 7:?2?46[ EC2G6=[ 2FE@>@3:=6D[ C62= 6DE2E6[ 42C66CD 2?5 4@?DF>6C AC@5F4ED 2?5 D6CG:46D]k^Am
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?lsr_fegbU2>AjD5la_ad\`_\agQ ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^FD\?6HD\C6G62=D\a_ae\36DE\6=6>6?E2CJ\2?5\>:55=6\D49@@=D\C2?<:?8D\b_adhdggh]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^FD\?6HD\C6G62=D\a_ae\36DE\6=6>6?E2CJ\2?5\>:55=6\D49@@=D\C2?<:?8D\b_adhdggh]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt &]$] }6HD U2>Aj (@C=5 #6A@CE[ {]!]k^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5lsr_fegbU2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ad`_ag___`!#0}t($0&$!#00000sr_fegbU2>Ajs2E6x5la_ad`_agQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.