These Are The Best Public School Districts In FL, New Ranking Says

Parents choosing where to live in Florida often look first at the quality of the local public school district.

The best school district in Florida is the St. Johns County School District in St. Augustine, according to the 2027 Best School Districts in America list recently released by the education ranking service Niche.

Niche’s rankings combine federal and state data, school statistics, and over 3 million reviews from students, parents, and teachers to evaluate schools beyond test scores.

This year, Niche updated its methodology and created separate public and private rankings for categories including arts, diversity, college prep and teachers. It also introduced school-type-specific methodologies for boarding schools and private online high schools.

“Families deserve a complete view of their options, whether they’re evaluating schools in their area or exploring what’s available elsewhere,” Niche founder and CEO Luke Skurman said in a news release.

Here's a look at the top 25 public school district in Florida, as ranked by Niche.

1. St. Johns County School District — St. Augustine

• Average rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 211
• Students: 52,324
• Total schools: 52
• Overall Niche Grade: A

2. Seminole County Public Schools — Sanford

• Average rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 331
• Students: 63,934
• Total schools: 70
• Overall Niche Grade: A

3. Walton County School District — DeFuniak Springs

• Average rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 57
• Students: 12,007
• Total schools: 19
• Overall Niche Grade: A

4. Lafayette School District — Mayo

• Average rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 7
• Students: 1,152
• Total schools: 5
• Overall Niche Grade: A

5. Pinellas County Schools — Largo

• Average rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 297
• Students: 87,876
• Total schools: 147
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

6. Sarasota County Schools — Sarasota

• Average rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 132
• Students: 45,529
• Total schools: 60
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

7. Indian River County School District — Vero Beach

• Average rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 137
• Students: 16,621
• Total schools: 28
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

8. Miami-Dade County Public Schools — Miami

• Average rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 1,821
• Students: 333,233
• Total schools: 512
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

9. Martin County School District — Stuart

• Average rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 107
• Students: 16,552
• Total schools: 31
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

10. Nassau County School District — Fernandina Beach

• Average rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 48
• Students: 12,575
• Total schools: 18
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

11. Collier County Public Schools — Naples

• Average rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 195
• Students: 48,252
• Total schools: 68
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

12. Okaloosa County School District — Fort Walton Beach

• Average rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 118
• Students: 32,047
• Total schools: 42
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

13. Clay County District Schools — Green Cove Springs

• Average rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 126
• Students: 38,633
• Total schools: 51
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

14. Broward County Public Schools — Fort Lauderdale

• Average rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 1,686
• Students: 243,553
• Total schools: 320
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

15. Orange County Public Schools — Orlando

• Average rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 826
• Students: 205,853
• Total schools: 264
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

16. Palm Beach County School District — West Palm Beach

• Average rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 941
• Students: 189,634
• Total schools: 227
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

17. Sumter School District — Bushnell

• Average rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 54
• Students: 10,013
• Total schools: 11
• Overall Niche Grade: A-

18. Alachua County Public Schools — Gainesville

• Average rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 119
• Students: 28,204
• Total schools: 57
• Overall Niche Grade: B+

19. Santa Rosa County School District — Milton

• Average rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 103
• Students: 29,624
• Total schools: 39
• Overall Niche Grade: B+

20. Flagler County Public Schools — Bunnell

• Average rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 40
• Students: 13,521
• Total schools: 12
• Overall Niche Grade: B+

21. Calhoun County School District — Blountstown

• Average rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 6
• Students: 2,031
• Total schools: 6
• Overall Niche Grade: B+

22. Leon County Schools — Tallahassee

• Average rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 133
• Students: 31,645
• Total schools: 49
• Overall Niche Grade: B+

23. Monroe County School District — Key West

• Average rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 17
• Students: 8,928
• Total schools: 19
• Overall Niche Grade: B+

24. Bay District Schools — Panama City

• Average rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 70
• Students: 27,558
• Total schools: 46
• Overall Niche Grade: B+

25. Brevard Public Schools — Viera

• Average rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Reviews: 259
• Students: 71,198
• Total schools: 105
• Overall Niche Grade: B+