U.S. News Unveils 2027 Best Elementary and Middle Schools Rankings
Refined state and district rankings evaluate public school reading and math achievements using expanded state data.
WASHINGTON, Oct 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, today released the 2027 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings. The report includes about 46,000 public elementary schools and more than 24,000 middle schools that are ranked at the state and district levels, with state rankings specific to charter schools also as a stand-alone category.
What’s New for 2027
The 2027 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings incorporate publicly available data collected directly from state education agencies by RTI International, alongside data from the U.S. Department of Education. U.S. News’ updated approach uses these data to provide a more comprehensive assessment of student performance in reading and mathematics across all proficiency levels, while continuing to account for student background and absolute performance on state assessments.
“By incorporating direct state data across all proficiency levels, the 2027 rankings offer a richer, more complete picture of how elementary and middle schools are driving student growth,” said Eric Brooks, U.S. News director of education data analysis. “This refined approach gives families, educators and community leaders an even clearer view of academic achievement, helping them identify standard-setting schools and support continued success for all students.”
Methodology
The rankings methodology evaluates student performance in mathematics and reading/language arts alongside student demographic context to measure both overall achievement and school effectiveness. Student-teacher ratios are applied to break ties in overall scores. District-level rankings require a district to have at least three ranked elementary or middle schools, with at least two placing in the top 75% of the overall state rankings.
In addition to the rankings, parents and caregivers of school-age children can read topical guides on K-12 education, including an exploration of where kindergarten is mandatory – and whether it should be – as well as strategies to help middle schoolers transition smoothly into high school.
For more information, visit Best Elementary and Middle Schools and use #BestK8Schools on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.
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SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
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