Data Editor
Evan BrooksData Editor
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County public-school metrics vary across America, not just between states, but between neighboring counties. The SchoolsByCounty School Score combines available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals into a single 0-100 metric that makes county-to-county comparison straightforward.
A score of 75 means a county ranks above 75% of scored US counties on the available education metrics. We sorted every county with available data and identified the 25 highest School Scores. The average score across these high-scoring counties is 96.
The 25 Counties with the Highest School Scores
Ranked by School Score from highest to lowest.
Rank
1
County
- State
- California
- School Score
- 100
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $23,219
Rank
2
County
- State
- Nebraska
- School Score
- 99.5
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,703
Rank
3
County
- State
- Michigan
- School Score
- 99.3
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,000
Rank
4
County
- State
- Montana
- School Score
- 98.1
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,412
Rank
5
County
- State
- Colorado
- School Score
- 97.3
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,639
Rank
6
County
- State
- Nevada
- School Score
- 97.3
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,673
Rank
7
County
- State
- Colorado
- School Score
- 97
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,446
Rank
8
County
- State
- Montana
- School Score
- 96.9
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,419
Rank
9
County
- State
- Montana
- School Score
- 96.5
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,208
Rank
10
County
- State
- West Virginia
- School Score
- 96.5
- Graduation Rate
- 97.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,943
Rank
11
County
- State
- Pennsylvania
- School Score
- 96.4
- Graduation Rate
- 97.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,718
Rank
12
County
- State
- Louisiana
- School Score
- 96.3
- Graduation Rate
- 97.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,683
Rank
13
County
- State
- New Jersey
- School Score
- 95.3
- Graduation Rate
- 95.8%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,445
Rank
14
County
- State
- Texas
- School Score
- 95.2
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,551
Rank
15
County
- State
- Nebraska
- School Score
- 95
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,386
Rank
16
County
- State
- Pennsylvania
- School Score
- 95
- Graduation Rate
- 95.8%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,055
Rank
17
County
- State
- Colorado
- School Score
- 94.6
- Graduation Rate
- 97.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,236
Rank
18
County
- State
- Pennsylvania
- School Score
- 94.6
- Graduation Rate
- 97.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,205
Rank
19
County
- State
- Virginia
- School Score
- 94.4
- Graduation Rate
- 97.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,062
Rank
20
County
- State
- North Dakota
- School Score
- 94.1
- Graduation Rate
- N/A
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,109
Rank
21
County
- State
- Louisiana
- School Score
- 94
- Graduation Rate
- 97.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $10,825
Rank
22
County
- State
- New Jersey
- School Score
- 93.7
- Graduation Rate
- 95.1%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,720
Rank
23
County
- State
- New Jersey
- School Score
- 93.4
- Graduation Rate
- 95.1%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,504
Rank
24
County
- State
- New Jersey
- School Score
- 92.8
- Graduation Rate
- 95.1%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,710
Rank
25
County
- State
- Alaska
- School Score
- 92.7
- Graduation Rate
- 95.0%
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,003
| Rank | County | State | School Score | Graduation Rate | Per-Pupil Spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alpine County | California | 100 | N/A | $23,219 |
| 2 | Loup County | Nebraska | 99.5 | N/A | $18,703 |
| 3 | Keweenaw County | Michigan | 99.3 | N/A | $18,000 |
| 4 | Treasure County | Montana | 98.1 | N/A | $14,412 |
| 5 | San Juan County | Colorado | 97.3 | N/A | $13,639 |
| 6 | Esmeralda County | Nevada | 97.3 | N/A | $13,673 |
| 7 | Hinsdale County | Colorado | 97 | N/A | $13,446 |
| 8 | Petroleum County | Montana | 96.9 | N/A | $13,419 |
| 9 | Golden Valley County | Montana | 96.5 | N/A | $13,208 |
| 10 | Doddridge County | West Virginia | 96.5 | 97.0% | $12,943 |
| 11 | Wyoming County | Pennsylvania | 96.4 | 97.0% | $12,718 |
| 12 | Cameron Parish | Louisiana | 96.3 | 97.0% | $12,683 |
| 13 | Hunterdon County | New Jersey | 95.3 | 95.8% | $15,445 |
| 14 | Kenedy County | Texas | 95.2 | N/A | $12,551 |
| 15 | Thomas County | Nebraska | 95 | N/A | $12,386 |
| 16 | Wayne County | Pennsylvania | 95 | 95.8% | $14,055 |
| 17 | Pitkin County | Colorado | 94.6 | 97.0% | $11,236 |
| 18 | Montour County | Pennsylvania | 94.6 | 97.0% | $11,205 |
| 19 | Falls Church city | Virginia | 94.4 | 97.0% | $11,062 |
| 20 | Billings County | North Dakota | 94.1 | N/A | $12,109 |
| 21 | Bienville Parish | Louisiana | 94 | 97.0% | $10,825 |
| 22 | Morris County | New Jersey | 93.7 | 95.1% | $13,720 |
| 23 | Bergen County | New Jersey | 93.4 | 95.1% | $13,504 |
| 24 | Burlington County | New Jersey | 92.8 | 95.1% | $12,710 |
| 25 | Chugach Census Area | Alaska | 92.7 | 95.0% | $14,003 |
Ranking Data Profile
Within this highest School Score list, values run from 92.7 to 100, with a median of 95.3. This range matters because counties near the middle of the table can be closer to each other than the rank numbers suggest.
New Jersey contributes 4 of the 25 counties in this table. State clustering can point to funding formulas, reporting practices, district geography, or regional enrollment patterns that deserve local review.
12 ranked counties lack a reported graduation-rate value in this table, and 0 lack a reported per-pupil spending value. Missing companion fields are shown as not reported rather than estimated.
Regional Pattern in This Ranking
The most represented states are New Jersey (4), Colorado (3), and Montana (3), together accounting for 10 of 25 counties in the table. County school metrics are shaped by state finance rules, state graduation reporting, district boundaries, enrollment scale, and regional labor markets.
For a highest School Score list, state clustering is a research cue rather than an explanation. Compare counties inside the same state first, then use national comparisons once the state baseline is clear.
Notable Counties in the Table
The ranking rows are linked to county profiles so each record can be checked against school lists, district context, and local source notes. These rows show the range inside the table:
- Alpine County, CA ranks #1 with a School Score of 100; related signals show not reported graduation rate and $23,219 per pupil.
- Loup County, NE ranks #2 with a School Score of 99.5; related signals show not reported graduation rate and $18,703 per pupil.
- Keweenaw County, MI ranks #3 with a School Score of 99.3; related signals show not reported graduation rate and $18,000 per pupil.
- Treasure County, MT ranks #4 with a School Score of 98.1; related signals show not reported graduation rate and $14,412 per pupil.
- San Juan County, CO ranks #5 with a School Score of 97.3; related signals show not reported graduation rate and $13,639 per pupil.
How to Use This Ranking
Rankings are useful when they help you decide where to look next. They are weaker when treated as a final verdict on a county or school system.
- Open each county profile to see whether the highest School Score is driven more by completion, spending, school coverage, or district structure.
- Compare the county against its state average before comparing it nationally; state finance formulas and reporting rules shape the baseline.
- Use the county school list as the next step, because a county average can hide differences between districts and individual schools.
Data Caveats for School Score Rankings
The School Score is a percentile-rank composite, so a highest rank is best used for screening. It does not grade curriculum, school climate, teacher retention, advanced coursework, or individual student fit.
Missing or suppressed federal data can affect county coverage. When two counties have close scores, treat the rank order as directional and use the underlying graduation and finance fields for the next comparison.
What High-Scoring Counties Have in Common
The highest-scoring counties share several measurable characteristics:
- High graduation rates: Almost all high-scoring counties graduate 90% or more of their students within four years.
- Strong funding: Per-pupil spending in these counties typically exceeds the national average of $13,239.
- Stable district systems: These counties usually combine strong completion rates with enough school-level coverage for local comparison.
- Suburban context: Many high-scoring counties sit near major metros and combine larger tax bases, stable enrollment patterns, and broad school-level coverage.
Methodology
The School Score is a percentile-rank composite of available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance metrics. A score of 75 means the county performs better than 75% of scored counties. County pages also show school counts, district context, and school-level enrollment where available.
Sources and Review
Data vintage: NCES 2022-23 public school and school-finance releases. Data sources are selected for this article's metric focus. County figures are informational estimates and may differ from other published analyses due to methodology, aggregation, suppression, or reporting-year differences. Last editorial review checked source links, data vintage, visible caveats, and county-profile links.
Continue the Research
Use this article as a starting point, then verify county-level signals against official district and state records.