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2018 Best School Districts for Athletes in AmericaAbout this List

Explore the best school districts for athletes serving your area. Ranking based on student and parent reviews of athletics, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school. Compare the best school districts for sports in your state. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Best for Athletes
8,617 results

  1. Saline Area Schools

    • School District
    • Saline, MI
    • 14

    Senior: I have moved around a lot, and therefore have been to many schools. The past two years at Saline High School have been amazing. The counselors and teachers have put so much time and effort into making sure my education is top notch and that I am ahead of the game when it comes to applying to college and scholarships. I have made amazing friends here in this very welcoming community as well. There is so much available to get involved in and find a group of people that are similar in their interests to you. I am so proud to be graduating from Saline this year!
    Read 14 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 7 Total Schools
    • 5,272 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Minnetonka Public School District

    • School District
    • Minnetonka, MN
    • 36

    Alum: My time at MHS was great! I loved singing in the choir and my relationships with my teachers. In addition, I took some IB courses junior and senior year and was able to earn some college credits. Those courses helped me become a better writer and I felt prepared for the workload and my writing intensive classes!
    Read 36 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 10 Total Schools
    • 10,253 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Glenbrook High Schools District 225

    • School District
    • Glenview, IL
    • 19

    Senior: Glenbrook North is a great school. The faculty and classes helped me find what I was passionate about and prepared me for everything leading up to college. Being one of the top schools in the nation, GBN prepares everyone for the difficulty of the college workload and the level of education will not hinder your chances of getting into any college. As a senior, I have participated in multiple sports and clubs. The coaches are great mentors and instill a strong work ethic in all of the players, allowing them to tackle any feat beyond high school.
    Read 19 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 4 Total Schools
    • 5,078 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  5. Mason City School District

    • School District
    • Mason, OH
    • 33

    Senior: Based on my experience, Mason City School District does a great job involving students with school activities and engaging students to become better role models for younger children that will soon enter in middle school and high school! Students feel accepted into Mason by not only the students here at Mason but also their staff and teachers that puts their efforts to students to successed in their college education and throughout lifetime!
    Read 33 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 5 Total Schools
    • 10,605 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  6. North Allegheny School District

    • School District
    • Pittsburgh, PA
    • 61

    Senior: I absolutely love the diversity of the students at NA. The teachers are also one of the best parts about the district. The teaching methods they utilize keep classes varied, fun, and easy to learn. In the past few years, the district has taken a bold initiative to include more technology in the classroom. This makes learning even more easy and fun! Finally, there are almost an infinite amount of after-school activities that you can get involved in. There is bound to be at least one that can peak your interest!
    Read 61 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 12 Total Schools
    • 8,155 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Grosse Pointe Public Schools

    • School District
    • Grosse Pointe, MI
    • 26

    Senior: I have really enjoyed my time with GPPS! I feel very ready to attend college, with amazing academics and extracurricular opportunities preparing me. I love that the schools provide equal funding for all activities, rather than dedicating al their resources into one area. For example, at my high school, our women's sports were voted the best HS program in the state, the choir is recognized internationally and win many titles, and we have dozens of scholastic art award winners each year- I even have access to my ceramic classes in a college-level studio. The students also care very much about their academics. My only qualm is that I wish the schools (and community) were more diverse.
    Read 26 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 14 Total Schools
    • 7,999 Students
    View Nearby Homes
  8. Sponsored

    British International School of Washington

    • Private School
    • Washington, DC
    • PK, K-12
    • 6

    Parent: We have had our boys in BISW for almost four years. Both them and we as parents love it. They have made very good friends - and so have we. The classes are small enough for the teachers to engage in every student, but big enough for the kids to have a variety of friends to work and play with. The parents community is very welcoming, helpful and fun.
    Read 6 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 510 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  9. Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District

    • School District
    • Middleton, WI
    • 29

    Senior: The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is an incredible district. I feel extremely prepared and ready to face college academics next year for I have learned a ton from the amazing teachers, programs, and extra curriculars that my school offers. I have learned wonders about time managment, organization, work ethic, and real world issues- such as money managment. One thing that I love about my school is they work to make the students aware of world affairs and political issues. Something that I think the disrtict can improve on is the diversity. The population of students and faculty in the district is mainly white. In the high school alone we only have one black faculty member. Even though the school does not have control over the racial variety of the students, I think they can work on hiring more diverse staff so non white students can have an adult they can feel connected with. However, I am very proud that I can soon call myself a graduate of Middleton High School.
    Read 29 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 12 Total Schools
    • 6,984 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Birmingham Public Schools

    • School District
    • Beverly Hills, MI
    • 26

    Senior: My experience with Birmingham Public Schools was a good one. I have been a student in BPS since kindergarten and each year I change, learn more than I ever thought possible, and make outstanding relationships with peers and teachers. The teachers really do care about their students and seeing them improve. They are passionate about what they are teaching you and actually make learning fun! Specifically at Seaholm High School, where I am currently attending, the academics are rigorous, which means that every day you come out learning something new and useful. Though BPS does work hard to make the most effective schedules and programs for their students in the future I would like to see more active outreach to students, whether that be for getting their opinion about nutrition options, surveys on breaks and schedules, or options for more choices in classes.
    Read 26 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 13 Total Schools
    • 8,106 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Wayzata Public School District

    • School District
    • Wayzata, MN
    • 30

    Senior: I’ve loved my time here at Wayzata. I’ve been able to find my place with sports, activities and people. The majority of my teachers have gone out of their way to make sure I am successful and strive to reach my goals. Being a part of the dance team has been the highlight of my high school career. The program is amazing and I was able to be a part of the best team ever. I will truly miss Wayzata!
    Read 30 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 17 Total Schools
    • 10,958 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  13. Glastonbury School District

    • School District
    • Glastonbury, CT
    • 15

    Alum: I loved Glastonbury High School! and the lower levels were only a little less perfect. Although there will always be bad teachers in the system, there are always some willing to help and offer success. The resources in the public school district are vast, and more extensive than most private high schools. The sports are well-funded, and there has never been a year in which we have not won a state championship in some sport. The music department is well-funded and represented, and a great source of pride for the quality of ensembles, derived by a combination of great instructors and talented and determined musicians. Academically tough, but success is possible and there is little of a competitive atmosphere.
    Read 15 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 16 Total Schools
    • 6,050 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Lincoln Way Community High School District No. 210

    • School District
    • New Lenox, IL
    • 72

    Senior: At first I went to Central and I LOVED it! ALL of the staff was incredible. They always strived to make sure you succeeded. Not only were they there to mentor and teach me, but I also formed relationships with my teachers that most schools don't have. However, when LWN closed down due to district debt, I ended up attending LWW. Now I can only speak for myself but I can strongly say that LWW was not nearly as good as LWC. ALL of the sports are very politically driven in terms of who gets playing time, who makes the team, etc. In addition to politically formed sports teams, the staff also did not measure up to LWC's standards. As far as I know, very few students, if any, had any relationship with any of their teachers. This was a very heartbreaking experience for me. Not necessarily speaking about all the teachers, just simply the majority didn't really care how well you did. They obviously wanted everyone to succeed but there was definitely a lack of enthusiasm along the way
    Read 72 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 4 Total Schools
    • 7,110 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Redondo Beach Unified School District

    • School District
    • Redondo Beach, CA
    • 14

    Alum: Redondo Union High School is an excellent place with an amazing staff and a diverse, but large, student body. Although the food can be lackluster at times, the faculty does an amazing job preparing students for their futures by preparing them for college extremely early. The teachers are very approachable and helpful as they are genuinely interested in making sure their students are successful in their future careers. One fault of this school is how they overload themselves with students, resulting in larger than normal sized classrooms and classes often get filled up with small flexibility in the beginning of the year. I've always looked forward to the school events and never felt bored by them. Redondo Union High School is one of the best public high schools in the South Bay and I'd heavily recommend going here.
    Read 14 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 13 Total Schools
    • 9,529 Students
    View Nearby Homes
  16. Sponsored

    BASIS Independent McLean

    • Private School
    • McLean, VA
    • PK, K-12
    • 7

    Parent: Our son is currently in the 2nd grade. He has been at the school for two years, and it has been a wonderful experience. The enthusiasm of the teachers, who are truly experts in the subjects they teach, is infectious. They consistently set high standards for all students at every stage of their academic career. This is a school that prioritizes academics and the students themselves; it is targeted to students with intellectual curiosity and a strong work ethic. We are very happy here!
    Read 7 Reviews

    • NG
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 375 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  17. Kirkwood School District

    • School District
    • Kirkwood, MO
    • 21

    Senior: Kirkwood High School is a great place to receive your high school education. It has teachers who really care and invest themselves in students achievement , even outside of the classroom. The classrooms and other facilities are incredible including a new pool, impressive track/football field, new science classrooms, an updated library complete with a place specifically for students to receive additional help if needed, our publications and newspaper facilities are amazing and we have one of the best journalism programs in the country. we even received personal student laptops throughout the whole district. Kirkwood works hard to make sure all students have quality resources to excell in whatever they're passionate about, from theater and orchestra, to sports, to engineering.
    Read 21 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 9 Total Schools
    • 5,718 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  18. East Grand Rapids Public Schools

    • School District
    • Grand Rapids, MI
    • 12

    Senior: East Grand Rapids High School not only provides the resources and staff necessary for college readiness, but also cultivates a student environment filled with positivity, acceptance, and encouragement. The biggest advantage of attending East Grand Rapids High School is the community which supports healthy competition, respect, and reaching above and beyond. The student body and staff are both kind as well as supportive in helping each other achieve their highest potential.
    Read 12 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 5 Total Schools
    • 2,957 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  19. San Marcos Unified School District

    • School District
    • San Marcos, CA
    • 60

    Freshman: I love California State University San Marcos! It is an amazing campus filled with awesome professors and communities that are willing to help one another. The one problem I have had has been transportation. I am from San Diego with no available car to drive or enough money to live on campus, therefore commuting has been rough.
    Read 60 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 19 Total Schools
    • 20,813 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Indian Prairie Community Unit School District No. 204

    • School District
    • Aurora, IL
    • 35

    Sophomore: I really like a lot of my teachers. Most of them really made me felt like I belonged in their classroom and made me want to come back everyday. All the resources that were available were also very nice. The ARC, which is a help center, proved itself very very handy. I am glad it was available. Next to that we also had office hours before school which was also super helpful. I was able to complete all my academics and sports fine with all the help of my teachers. They answered my questions and understood when I had different activities throughout the day after school.
    Read 35 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 34 Total Schools
    • 28,283 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Brighton Area Schools

    • School District
    • Brighton, MI
    • 33

    Senior: My experience at Brighton High School was great because there were teachers who would actually engage with us and teach the content in so many creative ways because they knew that just giving worksheets wouldn’t help students for application in the future. It was about using diverse techniques to get the information across because they’re so many different types of learners out there. It was overall very impressive that administration could recognize that. Overall, it would be very beneficial if Brighton High School was more diverse in every way especially with views. Many people are close minded and aren’t open to new ideas and evolving and incorporating that within a school system can be very beneficial to students in the future because regardless of what field you pursue, there will be so many different walk of life.
    Read 33 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 8 Total Schools
    • 5,948 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  24. Cambridge Public Schools

    • School District
    • Cambridge, MA
    • 14

    Alum: I studied at Cambridge Public Schools from pre-k to 12th grade and it was surely an experience like no other! I have had resources to help me through every step of the way along with the space for me to grow independently. The parents, students, teachers, and administration have a passion that is rare in individuals but which allows the city of Cambridge to run as efficiently as it does.
    Read 14 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 17 Total Schools
    • 6,741 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  25. Buford City Schools

    • School District
    • Buford, GA
    • 24

    Alum: As an Alum that attended Buford City Schools from kindergarten through graduation, I can honestly say that my schooling experience was irreplaceable. The culture of BufoRD is something that is deeply ingrained in each of their students. The teachers genuinely care, and do not merely teach to meet standards. I can also attest to the options provided in all aspects of participation. Almost every single person I graduated with was heavily involved in at least one (usually multiple) activities aside from curriculum. Buford molds individuals in to who they are meant to be. Shout out to Dr. Bitterman for being the most caring and dedicated principal a person could dream of. The most bittersweet part of my experience has been watching how successful my classmates and I have been post graduation. If you haven't noticed by now, I am one thankful and PROUD alum. I end this raving review with one last cliche: Triple A Excellence forever!
    Read 24 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 4 Total Schools
    • 4,330 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Victor Central School District

    • School District
    • Victor, NY
    • 19

    Alum: I love Victor Central School. Victor is large but friendly. Diverse but close knit. The opportunities for High School Education are vast. The opportunities for clubs, sports and the arts are endless. There was almost not enough time to take advantage of it all!
    Read 19 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 5 Total Schools
    • 4,429 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Eastern Carver County Public Schools

    • School District
    • Chaska, MN
    • 5

    Senior: I attended this school district for the entirety of my schooling and it has been fantastic. I have never once been unable to find the help that I needed, the teachers and administration are excellent, and I will very much miss this district as I head off to college.
    Read 5 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 21 Total Schools
    • 9,548 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Franklin Public Schools

    • School District
    • Franklin, MA
    • 7

    Junior: Franklin Public Schools have a very friendly and safe environment for students to study. Here you can learn various subjects with well-trained and experienced faculty. The faculties are so professional in there field and they know how to teach students so they can retain it forever. If you are in Franklin Public Schools and if you didn't do any sports here, you missed all the fun. Friendly, safe, sportsmanship environment make it confortable for students to enjoy every sport. Food in this school is just great! If you don't believe me, come and visit, you will experience it yourself.
    Read 7 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 11 Total Schools
    • 5,554 Students
    View Nearby Homes
  29. Review Your School

  30. Lake Orion Community Schools

    • School District
    • Lake Orion, MI
    • 34

    Alum: Lake Orion has such a strong community. Parents, teachers, and students are all extremely involved in EVERYTHING. Nothing made me happier during my time at LOHS than the overall love for sports. Lake Orion was one gigantic, loving family!
    Read 34 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 12 Total Schools
    • 7,600 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  31. Fairfield School District

    • School District
    • Fairfield, CT
    • 30

    Senior: Fairfield has a well-established and vibrant community that allows for every teacher and student to feel welcomed and satisfaction of having a voice. Here, teachers provide the necessary assistance for every student to achieve success, whether if it's staying after school one-on-one or learning how each student comprehends information. Parents are always informed of their child's status in school. The best part is the fundamental success rate of each school. Two years ago, the governor attended Fairfield Warde to congratulate them on their achievement of highest graduation rate in the entire state. Fairfield is doing something right, and I couldn't be happier.
    Read 30 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 17 Total Schools
    • 10,054 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  32. Lower Merion School District

    • School District
    • Ardmore, PA
    • 40

    Alum: Lower Merion School District is great! They prepared me for college completely and I had some of the most amazing teachers throughout elementary to high school. I moved to the area in 5th grade from Israel and did not speak a word of English. The ESL (English as a Second Language) program helped me so much and in 5 years I was already placed out of the program and was in all English speaking classes. I would definitely recommend Lower Merion School District to anyone looking for great education and a great experience.
    Read 40 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Sports
    • 10 Total Schools
    • 8,355 Students
    View Nearby Homes
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