Find the Best K-12 Schools for You

Use this directory of public and private schools across the U.S. to help you find the right school for your child.

The U.S. News & World Report K-12 directory encompasses 103,099 preschools, elementary, middle school and high schools that you can search based on the state, district or city near you. The data on student diversity, teachers, counselors, test scores and district spending can help you find the right school for your child.

View by Grade Level

Check out our directories of preschools, elementary schools and middle schools. You can also find our Best High Schools rankings, which, in addition to traditional high schools, encompass charter; magnet; and science, technology, engineering and math-focused schools.

Preschools

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Featured School Districts

Find your school district and explore others across the country. Districts may serve preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school and high school students.

All School Districts

U.S. News High School Rankings

The Best High Schools rankings include data on nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Discover how your school stacks up against others in the same state, district and metro area.

National Rankings

The 2023-2024 Best High Schools ranks 17,655 public high schools.

Best Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools that operate under charters, tend to have limited enrollment and usually accept students through an application process.

Best Magnet Schools

Magnet schools may attract the most talented students in a region via an application process, often involving test scores and grade-point averages.

Best STEM Schools

U.S. News looked at the top 2,000 public high schools to identify the top 500 best in science, technology, engineering and math education.

Search K-8 Schools By State

Search by state for institutions that teach kindergarten, elementary or middle school students. School pages have data like enrollment by grade, student-teacher ratio and percentage of full-time teachers who are certified.

See All States

Search Best High Schools By State

Institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are included in the rankings, which use metrics like standardized test scores to assess math and reading proficiency. See how your school compares with others around the state.