The Best Places to Teach Methodology
The Best Places to Teach ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic and teacher data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and parents. Learn where our data comes from. Note: Niche has a separate ranking for Best Public School Teachers.
Factors Considered
| Factor | Description | Source | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Niche Grade | Based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data along with millions of reviews from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 25.0% |
| Average Teacher Salary | Average teacher salary in the district. | National Center for Education Statistics | 15.0% |
| Teacher Salary Index | Average teacher salary normalized by Median Household Income by county. | U.S. Department of Education | 15.0% |
| Administration Grade | Based on educational expenditures, chronic absenteeism, and survey responses on administration and policies from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 12.5% |
| Resources & Facilities Grade | Based on expenses per student, staffing, and survey responses on facilities from students and parents. | Multiple Sources | 12.5% |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | Ratio of students to full-time teachers. Please note: Student-teacher ratio is not a representation of average class size. | National Center for Education Statistics | 10.0% |
| Teacher Absenteeism | Percentage of teachers missing 10 or more days for sick or personal leave per school year. | Civil Rights Data Collection | 5.0% |
| Teachers in First/Second Year | Percentage of teachers in their first or second year of teaching. | Civil Rights Data Collection | 5.0% |
Statistics obtained from the U.S. Department of Education represent the most recent data available, as self-reported by the school districts. Niche also collects data directly from schools via their Niche Partner Portal. If you work for a school and would like to update your data, please claim your school.
For more details about how we calculate our rankings, click here.