Best school districts in Florida

A good school can lead to a lifetime of opportunities. Myriad data shows that lifetime earnings dramatically increase with every degree obtained. Bachelor's degree holders will earn an average of roughly $26,000 more each year than high school graduates. And for those who decide that pursuing a college degree is not the best postsecondary option, a good school will provide students with the tools and support to make that choice, and the foundational skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.

For many families, the school district is a top criteria when deciding where to buy a home. But this consideration and ability to choose is not a luxury all families can afford, especially in today's wildly competitive housing market.

One important proxy of a quality education is per-student spending. According to the most recent Census data available, the national average per-pupil expenditure in fiscal year 2019 was $13,187. Several recent studies suggest that increased spending per student correlates with higher academic achievement, particularly in districts serving predominantly low-income students. Since public schools are largely funded by property taxes, schools in low-income areas suffer the most from a lack of funding for critical expenditures like staff salaries and benefits, transportation, instructional resources, and support services.

There are more than 13,000 school districts in the U.S., each one slightly different, for better or worse, than the next. However, several common denominators exist and, when compared, can serve as indicators of what makes an impactful district.

Stacker compiled a list of the best school districts in Florida using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks school districts based on a variety of criteria including academics (SAT/ACT scores and state proficiency tests), teacher salaries, expenses per student, and access to extracurricular activities.

#10. Nassau County School District (Fernandina Beach)
- Number of schools: 20 (12,248 students)
- Graduation rate: 92% (67% reading proficient and 76% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $46,123 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

#9. Alachua County Public Schools (Gainesville)
- Number of schools: 64 (29,761 students)
- Graduation rate: 88% (57% reading proficient and 58% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $46,865 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

#8. Leon County Schools (Tallahassee)
- Number of schools: 56 (33,840 students)
- Graduation rate: 92% (58% reading proficient and 61% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $45,792 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

#7. Martin County School District (Stuart)
- Number of schools: 34 (19,038 students)
- Graduation rate: 87% (57% reading proficient and 66% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $42,663 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

#6. Collier County Public Schools (Naples)
- Number of schools: 70 (47,834 students)
- Graduation rate: 92% (58% reading proficient and 64% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $51,865 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

#5. Seminole County Public Schools (Sanford)
- Number of schools: 76 (68,096 students)
- Graduation rate: 93% (62% reading proficient and 64% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $47,765 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)

#4. Clay County School District (Green Cove Springs)
- Number of schools: 52 (38,698 students)
- Graduation rate: 93% (62% reading proficient and 66% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $43,888 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

#3. Okaloosa County School District (Fort Walton Beach)
- Number of schools: 52 (32,458 students)
- Graduation rate: 88% (64% reading proficient and 72% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $51,433 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)

#2. Sarasota County Schools (Sarasota)
- Number of schools: 62 (43,485 students)
- Graduation rate: 89% (66% reading proficient and 71% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $43,293 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

#1. St. Johns County School District (St Augustine)
- Number of schools: 51 (43,628 students)
- Graduation rate: 94% (75% reading proficient and 80% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $40,715 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)