Is NYC the largest school district in the US?

Yes, the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is consistently the largest public school district in the United States by student enrollment, serving nearly a million students across its vast system, although enrollment numbers fluctuate slightly year to year. Its size is so significant that it often exceeds the combined enrollment of other large districts like Los Angeles and Chicago.

Is NYC the largest school district?

However, only these 200 districts are included on this page. As of the 2023-2024 school year, the largest school district was the New York City Department of Education with 845,509 students. The smallest school district in the top 200 was Amarillo Independent School District in Texas with 29,729 students.

What is the third largest school district in the United States?

The City of Chicago School District 299 is the third largest in the United States and currently enrolls 329,836 students.

What state is ranked 51st in education?

The "51st state in education" typically refers to Arizona, frequently ranked last or near-last nationally for public schools in recent years due to low funding, low test scores, high teacher turnover, and the nation's highest student-to-teacher ratios, though North Carolina has also been cited as 51st for funding effort in specific reports, and other states like New Mexico, Alabama, and Alaska also appear at the bottom of various rankings.
 

What is the #1 high school in New York City?

According to U.S. News & World Report's 2025 rankings, the #1 high school in New York City is Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, followed closely by HS Math Science and Engineering at CCNY and Stuyvesant High School. These rankings often highlight the city's specialized STEM and academic magnet schools, with Stuyvesant High School frequently appearing at the top alongside other top contenders like Bronx High School of Science and Brooklyn Technical High School.
 

Top 5 States With the Best Public Schools

How many public schools are in NYC?

The City School District of the City of New York (more commonly known as New York City Public Schools) is the largest public school district in the United States (and among the largest in the world), with approximately 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,800 separate schools.

What is the top 10 biggest high school in the US?

The top 10 biggest high schools in the U.S. by enrollment often fluctuate but consistently feature large public schools in suburban areas, with schools like Bentonville High School (AR), Brookwood High School (GA), Hoover High School (AL), Omaha South High School (NE), and Rio Rancho High School (NM) frequently appearing in the top tiers, often exceeding 3,000+ students, though exact rankings depend on the specific year and data source, with Brooklyn Tech (NY) also noted as very large in some lists. 

What is the smallest school district in the US?

The smallest U.S. school districts often have enrollment in the single digits or low teens, featuring one-room schoolhouses like Michigan's Bois Blanc Pines SD (3 students in 2024-25), or districts in states like Wyoming (Arvada Elementary had 10 kids) and California (like Ravendale-Termo with 3), with districts shrinking to closure like Kansas's Healey SD (2 students before dissolving). These districts, often rural and remote, rely on resourceful staff serving as multiple roles, maintaining tiny, tight-knit learning environments. 

What is the hardest high school to get into in NYC?

The hardest NYC high school to get into is consistently Stuyvesant High School, due to its extremely low acceptance rate (around 3%) and high SHSAT (Specialized High School Admissions Test) score cutoffs, often followed by Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech; however, other highly selective screened schools like NEST+m and Bard High School Early College are also incredibly tough, with some non-SHSAT schools having < 1% acceptance rates for general applicants.
 

What are the big 5 schools in NY?

The "Big Five" school districts in New York refer to the largest city school systems: New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers, which operate somewhat like branches of local government and are major entities for state education policy and funding discussions. While these districts handle the largest student populations, there are also specialized high schools within NYC (like Stuyvesant, Bronx Science) and top-ranked suburban districts (like Syosset) often mentioned in "best schools" lists. 

Is NYC DOE enrollment declining?

NYC public school enrollment has seen a significant, multi-year decline since the pandemic, driven by families leaving the city, increased homeschooling, and shifting demographics, with a temporary reprieve from migrant child enrollment in 2023; recent reports show continued "free fall" with over 100,000 fewer students than pre-pandemic levels, leading to budget issues despite declining numbers. Factors include falling birth rates, families seeking cheaper housing, and parents exploring alternatives like microschools, though 3K programs have grown.
 

What is the only US state with just one school district?

The only U.S. state with a single, statewide school district is Hawaii, which operates under the Hawaii State Department of Education as one unified system for all public schools, unlike other states that have many local districts. While the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico also have single districts, Hawaii is unique as a state in this regard. 

What are the top 3 high schools in the US?

U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings

• #1. BASIS Tucson North. Tucson, AZ.
• #2. Signature School. Evansville, IN.
• #3. Central Magnet School. Murfreesboro, TN.

What is the wealthiest high school in America?

Ranking the Top 10 Most Expensive High Schools in the U.S.

• Léman Manhattan Preparatory School Boarding Cost: $98,000.
• Woodside Priory School Boarding Cost: $89,915.
• The Athenian School Boarding Cost: $87,760.
• The Village School Boarding Cost: $85,550.
• San Domenico School Boarding Cost: $81,000.

What are the top 10 largest school districts in the US?

The top 10 largest U.S. school districts by student enrollment consistently feature major urban districts like New York City (NYC), Los Angeles Unified (LAUSD), Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), alongside others from Florida (Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, Palm Beach), Texas (Houston ISD), and Nevada (Clark County), with NYC often leading by a significant margin, followed by LAUSD, Chicago, and Miami-Dade, though numbers fluctuate slightly yearly. 

What state is #1 in high school education?

1. Massachusetts. Massachusetts has the best public school system in the U.S. 48.8% of Massachusetts's eligible schools ranked in the top 25% of high school rankings, a total of 167 schools. Massachusetts has the highest math and reading test scores in the U.S. and the second-highest median ACT score of 25.1.

What is the #1 public high school in NYC?

The #1 public high school in NYC depends on the ranking source, but Stuyvesant High School, Bronx High School of Science, and Queens High School for the Sciences at York College consistently rank at the top, often trading spots, with Stuyvesant frequently cited by Niche and U.S. News for its strong academics and vibrant environment, while Queens Sciences might lead specific state rankings. These specialized, selective high schools dominate the top spots in NYC.
 

What is the #1 school district in NY?

Syosset Central School District is frequently ranked as the #1 school district in New York State for 2026 by platforms like Niche, praised for strong academics and college prep, though rankings vary by source and metric, with other top contenders often including Roslyn, Jericho, and Great Neck, often based on test scores and college readiness.
 

What were 600 schools in NYC?

THE "600" SCHOOLS ARE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED AND SOCIALLY MALADJUSTED CHILDREN WHO ARE RECOMMENDED FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROFIT FROM INSTRUCTION IN A NORMAL SCHOOL SETTING, WHERE THEY MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR OTHER CHILDREN TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION.

What is the hardest school to get into in NYC?

Hardest colleges to get into in New York

• Columbia University in the City of New York acceptance rate.
• Cornell University acceptance rate.
• The Cooper Union acceptance rate.
• Barnard College acceptance rate.
• New York University acceptance rate.
• Hamilton College acceptance rate.
• Vassar College acceptance rate.

What high school sends most kids to Harvard?

Boston Latin School consistently sends the most students to Harvard, followed by top private schools like Phillips Academy (Andover) and Phillips Exeter Academy, and prestigious public magnet schools like Stuyvesant High School (NYC) and Hunter College High School (NYC), with the exact ranking shifting slightly year-to-year depending on data sets. These "feeder schools" often have established relationships with elite universities, producing a significant number of acceptances. 

What are the 8 elite high schools in NYC?

The 8 elite NYC high schools often referred to as the "Specialized High Schools" (with one often considered the 9th) are Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, Brooklyn Latin, High School of American Studies, HS for Math, Science & Engineering, Queens High School for the Sciences, Staten Island Tech, and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School (Arts focus), all known for rigorous academics and admission via the SHSAT exam (except LaGuardia, which has its own audition/test).