Top High School Districts in the US?

Out of curiosity, does anyone know which high school districts in the US are considered the most successful? What parameters help determine the success of these districts?

The success of a high school district can be measured using a variety of metrics. These can include standardized test scores, graduation rates, college readiness measures (like participation and performance in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes), student-teacher ratio, diversity, and the overall quality of college that students tend to attend.

However, it's important to note that these rankings can be subjective, and different publications may highlight different aspects.

That said, according to several national rankings, some consistently high-ranking districts include (in no particular order):

1. Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD), Texas: HPISD is known for both excellent College Board examination results and a history of successful extracurricular teams and clubs.

2. Scarsdale Union Free School District, New York: Scarsdale routinely scores in the top percentile on national standardized tests, and a large majority of its high school graduates attend four-year college programs.

3. Lexington Public Schools, Massachusetts: This district is often recognized for the high AP participation rates and strong performance on state standardized tests.

4. Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD), California: PAUSD is consistently rated one of the top school districts in the nation. It boasts high graduation rates, along with strong test scores.

5. New Trier Township High School District No. 203, Illinois: This district offers a vast amount of extracurriculars, rigorous academics, and robust arts and athletic programs.

6. Edgemont Union Free School District, New York: Edgemont is frequently recognized for its rigorous academics, with a high level of AP participation and strong SAT scores.

It's worth mentioning that these are just a few examples, and there are many other exceptional districts in the United States. Also, while district-wide performance can provide a sense of general quality, it's important to look at individual high schools as well - a district is, after all, an aggregate of its individual schools. Many successful students have come from less-ranked districts and vice versa, so ensuring a good fit is more complicated than just picking from among the "top" districts.