U.S. News Ranks Public Elementary and Middle Schools
The 2027 rankings cover about 46,000 elementary schools and 24,000 middle schools nationwide.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Primary Education
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U.S. News & World Report released its 2027 rankings of public elementary and middle schools on November 7, 2026. Porter Traditional School ranked No. 1 among middle schools in Northern Virginia and No. 2 in Virginia.
Why it matters
The rankings give parents a state-by-state comparison of school performance based on reading and math assessments. Several Tennessee schools posted large gains, showing how individual schools can move quickly within their state rankings.
The rankings cover about 46,000 elementary schools and 24,000 middle schools nationwide. Mary Hughes Elementary climbed 483 places to No. 153 in Tennessee, the largest gain cited, while Abraham Lincoln Elementary rose 200 places to No. 133.
The players
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a national publication known for its annual rankings of colleges, hospitals and schools.
Porter Traditional School
Porter Traditional School is a public middle school in Northern Virginia that ranked No. 1 in the region in these rankings.
The details
U.S. News evaluates student performance on reading and math assessments and compares schools within each state. Porter Traditional School ranks No. 1 among Northern Virginia middle schools, while Tennessee schools including Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Abraham Lincoln Elementary and Rock Springs Elementary posted substantial gains.
Timeline
- November 7, 2026: U.S. News released the 2027 elementary and middle school rankings.
Primary Education Landscape
The 2027 edition continues U.S. News & World Report's recurring annual rankings of public elementary and middle schools. Its state-by-state comparisons let families see how schools rank against peers in their own state and region.
Parents comparing public elementary and middle schools can use these state rankings to see how a school stands relative to others in its state. Families in Tennessee and Virginia can check whether their local schools moved up or down in the 2027 list.
The takeaway
Rankings are one measure of school performance, and comparing a school's standing within its own state can help families interpret the results. Reviewing how a school's ranking changes from year to year can show whether its performance is improving.
Further reading
Explore more on Primary Education to see how school performance is measured across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by USA News.
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