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The United States, which is the world’s third-largest nation by land and total area after Russia and Canada, has a comprehensive educational system with 13,452 ordinary school districts (2018-19, Source), and 46.8% of them receive funding from the state.
In this blog, we will discuss the top school districts that serve the maximum number of children.
Largest School Districts In The United States
| Rank | School District Name | Location | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City Department of Education | New York | 995,336 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Unified School District | California | 667,273 |
| 3 | Chicago Public Schools | Illinois | 405,655 |
| 4 | Miami-Dade County Public Schools | Florida | 347,366 |
| 5 | Clark County School District | Nevada | 314,059 |
| 6 | Broward County Public Schools | Florida | 256,472 |
| 7 | Houston Independent School District | Texas | 204,245 |
| 8 | Hillsborough County Public Schools | Florida | 194,525 |
| 9 | Hawaii Department of Education | Hawaii | 179,601 |
| 10 | Orange County Public Schools | Florida | 176,008 |
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# 1. New York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the largest school district in the country, with a staggering 1.1 million students. This district, which has more than 1,800 schools, provides kids from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds with different educational options.
Dealing with such a vast student body presents challenges, such as ensuring enough resources, controlling class sizes, and efficiently meeting the needs of individual students. The department has a $38 billion yearly budget and serves all five boroughs of New York City. The Panel for Educational Policy and the New York City Schools Chancellor oversee the department.
Website: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/
Contact: 718-935-2200
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
- Expenses Per Student: $31,434 / student
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Average SAT Score: 1010
#2. Los Angeles Unified School District
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a public school system in Los Angeles, California. LAUSD is the most extensive public school system in California in terms of total enrollment, and they have served 565,479 students in the 2022–2023 school year, including 27,740 adult students and 11,795 early childhood education students. This district faces unique language barriers, socio-economic disparities, and resource allocation challenges. Nevertheless, LAUSD strives to provide its students with quality education and innovative programs.
GRADUATION RATE
Website: http://www.lausd.net/
Contact: (213) 241-1000
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
- Expenses Per Student: $15,506 / student
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Average SAT Score: 1080
#3. Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is the county’s public school system in the U.S. state of Florida. It was founded in 1885, and as of August 30, 2021, it was home to 356,589 students. It is the third-largest school system in the entire U.S. and the biggest in Florida, the Southeast, and the Southeastern United States.
Miami-Dade County as a whole is included in the district. Since February 2022, Dr. Jose Dotres has served as the district’s superintendent. It is run by the School Board of Miami-Dade County, which names a superintendent to lead the district’s administrative divisions.
Few public school districts in the United States provide optional international studies programs and bilingual instruction, but Miami-Dade County Public Schools is one of them. In addition to Mandarin Chinese, bilingual instruction is available in French, German, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.
GRADUATION RATE
Website: https://www3.dadeschools.net/
Contact: (305) 995-1000
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 26:1
- Expenses Per Student: $10,595 / student
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Average SAT Score: 1090
#4. Chicago Public Schools
According to CPS, the student-teacher ratio for the 2019–20 school year was 15.84. For the academic year 2020–21, CPS had 35.8% African–American students and 46.7% Latino students. While 63.8% of students came from economically deprived households, 18.6% were considered English language learners.
CPS has reported a budget of $6.92 billion in 2021, of which $1.3 billion came from the federal government and the state of Illinois, $1.85 billion from local sources, and $3.75 billion from public funding.
Website: http://www.lausd.net/
Contact: (213) 241-1000
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
- Expenses Per Student: $15,409 / student
- Graduation Rate: 82.9%
- Average SAT Score: 1090
#5. Clark County School District
The entire Clark County, Nevada, is served by the Clark County School District (CCSD), a district of schools. Over 365 schools are run by the district, which is split into three zones. The district, which serves more than 320,000 students in the Las Vegas metropolitan region, is the sixth largest in the country as of 2020. To address the various needs of its student body, CCSD provides a wide range of educational programs and services.
Website: https://ccsd.net/
Contact: (702) 799-5000
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1
- Expenses Per Student: $10,595 / student
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Average SAT Score: 1140
#6. Broward County Public Schools
In Florida, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the US. Serving more than 256,000 kids and around 110,000 adult students in 240 schools, centers, technical institutions, and 90 charter schools, BCPS is Florida’s first fully recognized school system since 1962.
The diverse student body of BCPS, which hails from 170 countries, speaks 147 languages.
#7. Houston Independent School District
The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the largest in Texas and the eighth-largest in the United States. With 274 schools, HISD provides educational opportunities to a vast student population of approximately 187,000. The district caters to students across various grade levels, offering eight early childhood, 160 elementary, 39 middle, 37 high, and 30 combined/other schools.
Diversity is a prominent feature of HISD, with a student body representing a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, as evidenced by about 100 spoken languages. The district’s demographic makeup reflects its rich diversity, with 62.01% of students being Hispanic, 22.19% African American, 4.45% Asian, and 9.51% White.
Additionally, HISD strives to address the needs of its students, as 79.17% are classified as economically disadvantaged. Through its comprehensive network of schools and commitment to inclusivity, HISD plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape in Texas and the nation.
Website: https://www.houstonisd.org/hisd
Contact: 713-556-6000
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
- Expenses Per Student: $13,833 / student
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- Average SAT Score: 1130
#8. Hillsborough County Public Schools
Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS), a school district with its main office in Tampa, Florida, oversees the Hillsborough County public school system in west central Florida. There are 303 schools in Hillsborough County Public Schools, serving 218,943 students.
49% of elementary children in Hillsborough County Public Schools scored at or above the proficient level in reading, and 51% did so in math. Additionally, 47% of middle school students scored at or above the proficient level in arithmetic, while 46% of kids scored at or above the proficient level in reading. Furthermore, 44% of high school students scored at or above the proficient level in arithmetic, while 51% of students scored at or above the proficient level in reading.
Website: https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/
Contact: (813) 272-4000
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
- Expenses Per Student: $9,982 / student
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Average SAT Score: 1160
#9. Hawaii Department of Education
The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) is the state-level education agency overseeing public K-12 education in Hawaii, United States. HIDOE contains 294 schools and 176,441 students, and the district’s minority enrollment is 90%.
HIDOE participates in several programs designed to improve Hawaiian education. It stimulates community involvement, supports educational opportunities for professional growth, and encourages the use of technology in the classroom.
Website: www.hawaiipublicschools.org
Contact: (808) 586-3310
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
- Expenses Per Student: $15,305 / student
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Average SAT Score: 1120
#10. Orange County Public Schools
The public school district serving Orange County, Florida, is called Orange County Public Schools (OCPS). It has its headquarters in the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center in the heart of Orlando. With 208,788 students enrolled as of the 2022–23 academic year, OCPS is the ninth-largest school district in the country and the fourth-largest in Florida.
Additionally, the school system employs approximately 24,294 instructional and classified workers, which accounts for more than 95% of the OCPS workforce, which essentially encompasses the entire county.
Website: https://www.ocps.net/
Contact: (407) 317-3200
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
- Expenses Per Student: $11,800 / student
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Average SAT Score: 1130
Wrapping Up!!
To sum up, These districts deal with particular difficulties and put in an endless effort to offer their sizable student populations a high standard of education, equal access to opportunities, and supportive services. As the country continues to support and invest in its school systems, It is crucial to understand the significance of building inclusive learning environments for all kids!!
Moonpreneur offers STEM programs in robotics, game development, app development, and other futuristic sciences to help students build top-notch profiles and pursue their passion projects. Start your journey to success today!
Update: This article was last updated on 16 November 2023 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.
It doesn’t matter where the crowd is, geniuses studied in street lights and made our world bright.
I am a passout student from Broward County Public School and it must have the largest number of students, but the quantity compromises with the quality.
You didn’t mention the Puerto Rico Department of education, it is the third most populated school districts in the world, with almost 5lc enrollments.
As you mentioned that Los Angeles Unified school districts have one of the most expensive schools in the world, are there any scholarships or financial aid available?
Ofcourse, there are many scholarships available like, upon graduation from high school, and after providing proof of enrollment in an accredited college or university, each Eligible Christopher Scholar will receive a $20,000 college scholarship following graduation, payable at the rate of $5,000 per Academic year for each of four consecutive years of college and many more. You can visit this for more information:
https://studylib.net/doc/5858354/los-angeles-unified-school-district-scholarship
How does the largest school district in terms of student population manage and personalize education for such a diverse array of learners?
The largest school district often tailors education through flexible learning pathways, leveraging technology and varied instructional approaches to accommodate diverse student needs. Personalized learning plans, smaller learning communities, and targeted interventions play crucial roles in meeting individual student requirements.
Can you highlight any distinctive programs or initiatives implemented in this district to foster student engagement and success?
This district emphasizes STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs, project-based learning, and mentorship initiatives, fostering hands-on experiences to drive student engagement and success.