Counties With the Best Public Schools

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Counties with the best public schools in every state

Everyone stresses the importance of receiving a good education from a young age. Oftentimes, the quality of the schools in the area is a significant factor to consider when a family chooses to move to a new place. Because the prices for private school tuition keep rising, many families tend to enroll their kids in a public school. Certain public schools are better than others; however, certain counties have better public schools to choose from.

In order to alleviate some of the stress of choosing a new location to settle down in, Stacker looked at data from Niche's 2018 Counties with the Best Public Schools in America list to determine which county in every state has the best public schools. Niche used a combination of graduation rates, standardized and state test scores, quality of teachers, and reviews from parents and students to rank each public school in a county and then aggregated those rankings to give a final ranking for each county. Niche's full methodology can be found here.

Stacker compiled a list of 50 counties—one from every state in alphabetical order—with at least 10,000 residents. Included in the list besides a grade for public schools are the county's population, as well as grades for cost of living, diversity, crime and safety in the area, outdoor activities, commuting, and an overall Niche grade.

Finding the best quality of education can be a tedious task; Stacker is here to help you alleviate some of that stress with our analysis.

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Wyoming: Sheridan County

Population: 29,924
Overall Niche grade: A-
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: C+
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A

Wisconsin: Ozaukee County

Population: 87,625
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: C+
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B

West Virginia: Ohio County

Population: 43,257
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: A-
Diversity grade: C+
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A-

Washington: King County

Population: 2,079,550
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: D
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B

Virginia: Loudoun County

Population: 362,435
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: C+

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Vermont: Chittenden County

Population: 160,510
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A-

Utah: Summit County

Population: 39,009
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: D+
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: A+
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B+

Texas: Collin County

Population: 886,633
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: B-
Commute grade: C+

Tennessee: Williamson County

Population: 205,645
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: C+

South Dakota: Brookings County

Population: 33,435
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: C+
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A

South Carolina: York County

Population: 245,606
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B-

Rhode Island: Bristol County

Population: 49,228
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: C+
Crime & safety grade: A-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B

Pennsylvania: Montgomery County

Population: 815,876
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B

Oregon: Benton County

Population: 87,455
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A

Oklahoma: Payne County

Population: 79,953
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: N/A
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: C
Commute grade: A

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Ohio: Delaware County

Population: 188,996
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: C+

North Dakota: Grand Forks County

Population: 69,793
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: B-
Commute grade: A

North Carolina: Orange County

Population: 139,807
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A-

New York: Westchester County

Population: 969,229
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: D-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B-

New Mexico: Los Alamos County

Population: 17,895
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: A-
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: A+

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New Jersey: Morris County

Population: 498,215
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: D+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B-

New Hampshire : Grafton County

Population: 89,164
Overall Niche grade: A-
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A-

Nevada: Douglas County

Population: 47,426
Overall Niche grade: B+
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B

Nebraska: Lancaster County

Population: 301,707
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A

Montana: Missoula County

Population: 113,101
Overall Niche grade: A-
Public schools grade: B+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A

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Missouri: Platte County

Population: 94,970
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B

Mississippi: Lafayette County

Population: 52,193
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: A

Minnesota: Carver County

Population: 97,143
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B

Michigan: Washtenaw County

Population: 358,082
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A-

Massachusetts: Norfolk County

Population: 691,218
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B-

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Maryland: Howard County

Population: 308,447
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: C+

Maine: Hancock County

Population: 54,483
Overall Niche grade: B+
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: C
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B+

Louisiana: St. Charles Parish

Population: 52,708
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: B
Commute grade: C+

Kentucky: Calloway County

Population: 38,302
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: C+
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: B
Commute grade: A

Kansas: Johnson County

Population: 572,428
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B

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Iowa: Story County

Population: 94,834
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B-
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: B-
Commute grade: A

Indiana: Hamilton County

Population: 303,042
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: A-
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B-

Illinois: DuPage County

Population: 930,514
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B-

Idaho: Blaine County

Population: 21,427
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A
Cost of living grade: D+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B+
Outdoor activities grade: B
Commute grade: A

Hawaii: Honolulu County

Population: 986,999
Overall Niche grade: B-
Public schools grade: B-
Cost of living grade: D-
Diversity grade: N/A
Crime & safety grade: N/A
Outdoor activities grade: C
Commute grade: B

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Georgia: Forsyth County

Population: 203,841
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: C

Florida: St. Johns County

Population: 218,362
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: C+
Diversity grade: B
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B-

Delaware: Kent County

Population: 171,474
Overall Niche grade: B+
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: B-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B

Connecticut: Fairfield County

Population: 941,618
Overall Niche grade: A
Public schools grade: A-
Cost of living grade: D
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: B

Colorado: Boulder County

Population: 313,961
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: D+
Diversity grade: B+
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A
Commute grade: A-

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California: Marin County

Population: 259,358
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: D-
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B-
Outdoor activities grade: A+
Commute grade: B

Arkansas: Benton County

Population: 245,231
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: A-
Crime & safety grade: B
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B+

Arizona: Maricopa County

Population: 4,088,549
Overall Niche grade: A-
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: C-
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: A-
Commute grade: B

Alaska: Kenai Peninsula Borough

Population: 57,637
Overall Niche grade: B
Public schools grade: B
Cost of living grade: C
Diversity grade: N/A
Crime & safety grade: C+
Outdoor activities grade: B-
Commute grade: A-

Alabama: Madison County

Population: 349,973
Overall Niche grade: A+
Public schools grade: A+
Cost of living grade: B+
Diversity grade: A
Crime & safety grade: C
Outdoor activities grade: B+
Commute grade: B

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