Raleigh named among best US cities for quality schools. Where did it land?

North Carolina is home to some of the nation’s best schools, and Raleigh has more than a few, ranking the city among the best cities to live in for access to a quality education, a recent analysis says.

The report, released in January, looked at a total of 80 cities and ranked them using 17 key metrics across two main categories: quality of schools and quality of life. Class sizes, test scores, safety and access to parks and libraries were also considered.

The report compiled data from the U.S. census, College Board, NCES, Zillow and other sources. Individual metrics were weighed based on their impact on education and quality of life, then scored on a scale from 0-100.

The city placed 17th in the Melbourne Business School Online study ranking major cities based on educational outcomes and overall quality of life. You can find the full dataset online.

Here’s where Raleigh stood out:

How Raleigh ranked

The city earned high marks for its share of schools with an “A” Niche grade, low student-to-teacher ratios and number of residents with a college degree, data show.

In the quality of life category, Raleigh stood out for its safety but struggled with walkability and access to local parks.

Here’s a closer look at how the city fared in each metric (rank of 1 represents best conditions):

• Share of schools with an “A” Niche grade: 9
• Percent of population with a Bachelor’s degree (or higher): 10
• Student-teacher ratio: 11
• Walkability: 74
• Transit options: 49
• Housing affordability: 57

What are the best K-8 schools in the Triangle?

More than a dozen Raleigh-area schools were highlighted on U.S News & World Report’s 2026 Best Elementary and Middle Schools list, published in October.

The annual report shines a light on “institutions that excel in fostering student achievement and providing exceptional learning environments for all,” LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said at the time.

The report highlighted several top-rated elementary schools in the Triangle, including:

• White Oak Elementary in Apex (No. 3)
• Green Hope Elementary in Cary (No. 6)
• Mills Park Elementary in Cary (No. 11)
• High Croft Elementary in Cary (No. 12)
• Olive Chapel Elementary in Apex (No. 15)

For area middle schools, the best of the best include:

• Mills Park Middle in Cary (No. 6)
• Peak Charter Academy in Apex (No. 9)
• Davis Drive Middle in Cary (No. 10)
• Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy in Raleigh (No. 11)
• Triangle Math and Science Academy in Cary (No. 12)

You can see the full list at usnews.com/education/k12.

What are the best cities to live in for quality schools?

These cities were front runners for academic achievement and quality of life, according to the Melbourne Busines School study:

• Boston, Massachusetts (Score: 68.04)
• Seattle, Washington (Score: 61.52)
• Madison, Wisconsin (Score: 60.59)
• Jersey City, New Jersey (Score: 59.65)
• San Francisco, California (Score: 58.71)
• Buffalo, New York (Score: 57.23)
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Score: 57.13)
• Virginia Beach, Virginia (Score: 55.45)
• St. Louis, Missouri (Score: 55.43)
• San Diego, California (Score: 55.38)

Tanasia Kenney

Sun Herald

Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.