2019 Best Public Elementary Schools in AmericaAbout this List

Pine View School

• Sarasota County Schools, FL
• 2-12
• 300

Parent: Pine View is sometimes criticized for lacking diversity, and it one key reason why this school isn't consistently ranked #1. That's because the school is a true meritocracy where your character, intelligence, discipline and hard work are important and ethnicity is not. Getting into this school is easier than staying in so parent engagement and participation is just as important as the student's.

Like any public school where teachers are protected by an omnipotent union, there are a lot of them that shouldn't be teaching, but are tolerated because the union forces the admin to do so. Parents must navigate their kids through the bad which is an unfortunate reality. However, the good ones will make you forget the bad because the good ones are really, really good.

When graduates come back to talk to current students a year or two later, the universal comment is about how easy college was for them because they were so well prepared at Pine View.
Read 300 Reviews

• A+

• 2,175 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School

• Public School
• Boca Raton, FL
• K-12
• 55

Senior: This charter school gives students an equal opportunity to apply and offers nice financial aid services. It is centered around academics and pushes the students very hard. The school pays for the students to take a full load of college courses from 10-12 grade. If you're determined to get ahead in your career and academics, this school is perfect for you and will save you a lot of money during the process! They provide great opportunities in research and other criteria. The only downside is the limited sport options and an untraditional high school experience, including a small prom, winter formal, etc.
Read 55 Reviews

• A+

• 1,101 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Arthur Road Elementary School

• Solon City School District, OH
• PK, 1-4

• A+

• 244 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Parkside Elementary School

• Solon City School District, OH
• PK, K-4

• A+

• 423 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Great Hearts Academies - Chandler Prep

• Public School
• Chandler, AZ
• K-12
• 61

Alum: Chandler Preparatory Academy is the kind of school that is great in retrospect—strict dress codes, disposal of modern culture, and lack of electives tend to blind current students of the rigorous program. But while some of the school's arbitrary restrictions are a tad unnecessary (some even actively prevent students from preparing for the social skills of college, which is ironic given the school's name), it helps students develop a critical acumen: it guides one to a thought process that facilities independent and analytical thought, which is indispensable come one's college career. Given the sociopolitical, separatist origins of the charter school system, however, the school's diversity leaves a lot to be desired.
Read 61 Reviews

• A+

• 711 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Grace L. Roxbury Elementary School

• Solon City School District, OH
• K-4

• A+

• 417 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Dorothy E. Lewis Elementary School

• Solon City School District, OH
• K-4

• A+

• 370 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Robert Seaman Elementary School

• Jericho Union Free School District, NY
• K-5

• A+

• 333 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lusher Charter School

• Orleans Parish Public Schools, LA
• K-12
• 195

Freshman: I love it, I’m challenged academically and individually, and have made long-lasting bonds and memories. Although the elementary struggles with diversity, the middle and high school are full of it. The student life is... something else. I like this though, we're smart but almost always in some sort of ridiculous situation. Some moonwalk down the hallway, scaring touring parents, accidentally drop their spare underwear on the football field, surf down the hallway on ketchup packets, witness substitutes lose class pets, or leave milk trails around the school. At one point, we only had one security guard, a wide-open football field gate, and one nurse, who shifted between schools throughout the week, and we enjoyed it. We could pull shenanigans then and now. At the elementary location, the disciplinary precautions were silly, but after "disciplining" to no avail, they changed (thank c/o 2022). The dress code is "sexist" but be lowkey and you'll slide, plus no one cares anymore.
Read 195 Reviews

• A+

• 1,712 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cantiague Elementary School

• Jericho Union Free School District, NY
• K-5

• A+

• 405 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

BASIS Oro Valley

• Public School
• Oro Valley, AZ
• K-6
• 5

Senior: BASIS Oro Valley lives up to its title of being a challenging school, there is definitely a benefit to the rigorous academics that being that it prepares one for college by forcing one to develop good study and work habits. However, there is clear favoritism shown by administration to certain students, and also stereotyping. The administration does not make an effort to get a fair view of each group of freshman, sophomores, junior's, and seniors, which results in many lectures to the entire group rather than talking to the two students they are talking to, they don't want to single people out, but they end up wasting our class and study time with "community" events. Other than administration, BASIS does a good job at preparing students for college, and the teachers are great and always willing to help their students.
Read 5 Reviews

• A+

• 743 Students
• — Student-Teacher Ratio

George A. Jackson School

• Jericho Union Free School District, NY
• K-5

• A+

• 432 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lakeville Elementary School

• Great Neck Public Schools, NY
• K-5
• 1

Senior: I liked that there were multiple classes that you could take. The teachers are very experienced and most have been teaching for many years. The school however has strict rules. For example, they have banned fidget spinners and Pokemon cards, as they were getting distracting. The school is about 80% Asian. I like how Lakeville spreads the message of respect.
Read 1 Review

• A+

• 729 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

South Grove Elementary School

• Syosset Central School District, NY
• K-5

• A+

• 398 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

E.M. Baker School

• Great Neck Public Schools, NY
• K-5

• A+

• 624 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Princeton Charter School

• Public School
• Princeton, NJ
• K-8
• 10

• A+

• 347 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Basis Scottsdale Primary School

• Public School
• Scottsdale, AZ
• K-5

• A+

• 173 Students
• — Student-Teacher Ratio

El Carmelo Elementary School

• Palo Alto Unified School District, CA
• K-5
• 1

Parent: Both of my children attend El Carmelo, and we absolutely love it. The rigorous academics, the social/emotional awareness with Project Cornerstone, the caring teachers and staff, the engaged parents and PTA. Truly a gem in South Palo Alto!
Read 1 Review

• A+

• 395 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Self Development Academy

• Public School
• Mesa, AZ
• K-8
• 6

Works Here: I have been teaching at Self Development for five years now and have loved every minute of it. The high level of academics expected from our students is one of the defining features here. The students work at 1-2 years above grade level in all subjects with a continuous review of the basics at grade level to make sure there are no gaps in their learning. This means as a teacher that I am able to teach works like To Kill a Mockingbird or Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. However, the best aspect of this school is the community that we have built. In the middle school, the teachers know all of the students and work with the child as a whole to make sure they have the support that they need. This is an amazing school and I love teaching here!
Read 6 Reviews

• A+

• 469 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Village Elementary School

• Syosset Central School District, NY
• K-5

• A+

• 366 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Duveneck Elementary School

• Palo Alto Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A+

• 479 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Carroll Elementary School

• Carroll Independent School District, TX
• PK, K-4

• A+

• 576 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Walter Hays Elementary School

• Palo Alto Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A+

• 463 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ithan Elementary School

• Radnor Township School District, PA
• K-5
• 2

Parent: We started at Ithan last year and have had a great experience. The teachers are top notch and really care about the kids. My son flourished, was challenged, was well supported and made a ton of great friends. There are tons of opportunities for parent and family involvement, and all of the ithan families we have met so far have been wonderful and very involved in their kids education. There seems to be good support for special education needs and great communication from the school. Looking forward to the next many years at Ithan with all of our kids!
Read 2 Reviews

• A+

• 439 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Meadow Glens Elementary School

• Naperville Community Unit School District No. 203, IL
• K-5

• A+

• 452 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio