Parents want the best for their children. From better job prospects to a brighter future, it all starts with a great education. Early developmental stages are vital for discovering strengths and areas of interest, which is why identifying the right elementary school for your child is so important.

Don’t get us wrong, though. By the best schools, we don’t mean schools in the trendiest cities or schools with the latest smartboards. We mean schools that prioritize education by preparing kids for the future and teachers that lead students to a brighter tomorrow.

At Stacker, we analyzed Niche’s database of schools to help determine the best public elementary schools in every state. All schools were ranked using data from the U.S. Department of Education analyzing state test scores, graduation rates, student performance, teacher quality, district ratings, and college readiness (full methodology here). Read on to discover the top elementary schools in every state.

School district: Auburn City Schools

Students: 475 (Grades K-2)

Student-teacher ratio: 15:1

Reading proficiency: 96%

Math proficiency: 93%

School district: Anchorage School District

Students: 450 (Grades K-6)

Student-teacher ratio: 16:1

Reading proficiency: 74%

Math proficiency: 74%

School district: Chandler, AZ

Students: 695 (Grades K-12)

Student-teacher ratio: 14:1

Reading proficiency: 76%

Math proficiency: 79%

School district: Sherwood, AR

Students: 304 (Grades K-5)

Student-teacher ratio: 19:1

Reading proficiency: 82%

Math proficiency: 87%

School district: Palo Alto Unified School District

Students: 407 (Grades K-5)

Student-teacher ratio: 20:1

Reading proficiency: 85%

Math proficiency: 88%

School district: Boulder Valley School District

Students: 1,444 (Grades K-12)

Student-teacher ratio: 21:1

Reading proficiency: 70%

Math proficiency: 55%

School district: Westport School District

Students: 455 (Grades K-5)

Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

Reading proficiency: 88%

Math proficiency: 79%

School district: Newark, DE

Students: 1,787 (Grades K-9)

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

Reading proficiency: 93%

Math proficiency: 84%

School district: Sarasota County Schools

Students: 2,186

Student-teacher ratio: 17:1

Reading proficiency: 99%

Math proficiency: 99%

School district: Forsyth County Schools

Students: 941 (Grades K-5)

Student-teacher ratio: 19:1

Reading proficiency: 82%

Math proficiency: 89%