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Public schooling is best in these US cities
Ten of the top 25 U.S. school districts are in California, with federal funding cuts shifting more control to local districts, affecting education quality across states.
Stacker used Niche's 2025 rankings to compile the 25 U.S. cities with the best public-school districts, including grades like Carlsbad, California.
Amid sweeping changes in public education, a 2025 executive order by President Trump reduced the Department of Education's role and proposed cuts of $15 billion for special education and $18.4 billion from high-poverty schools, shifting funding and standards to states and local districts.
Of the top 25 districts, 10 are in California, 5 in Texas, and 2 in Virginia, including Irvine, California, with a population of 308,160, and Plano, Texas, with 287,339.
Prospective homebuyers with school-aged children weigh school quality heavily, as nearly 29% of buyers ages 26 to 34 and 34% of buyers ages 35 to 44 say it influences their home purchase, per the 2025 National Association of Realtors survey.
Education standards are evolving due to technological advancements, and schools must enhance artificial intelligence education to meet government workforce goals.