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The largest school districts in the US highlight the scale of education across the nation. The United States, the world’s third-largest nation by land and total area after Russia and Canada, boasts a comprehensive educational system for children. According to the National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2020, there are 130,930 K–12 schools in the US, 13,452 of which are regular school districts, and 46.8% of them receive state funding. Understanding which is the largest school district in the US provides insight into the scale of education in the country. The largest school districts in the US in 2026 reflect significant diversity and the ability to serve vast student populations.
The largest school districts in the US, with their significant impact on shaping educational trends and policies nationwide, are a testament to the scale and importance of education in the country. In this blog, we will discuss the largest school district in the US and highlight the largest school district as well as other largest school districts in the US that serve the maximum number of children. Whether you’re curious about the largest school district in the US or the biggest school district in the US, this information will shed light on the scope and impact of these educational hubs.
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 | 1,113,618 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Unified School District | California | 392,654 |
| 3 | Chicago Public Schools | Illinois | 316,224 |
| 4 | Miami-Dade County Public Schools | Florida | 338,404 |
| 5 | Clark County School District | Nevada | 304,579 |
| 6 | Broward County Public Schools | Florida | 236,667 |
| 7 | Houston Independent School District | Texas | 168,410 |
| 8 | Hillsborough County Public Schools | Florida | 224,133 |
| 9 | Hawaii Department of Education | Hawaii | 169,308 |
| 10 | Orange County Public Schools | Florida | 209,000 |
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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 $42.8 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: 18:1
- Expenses Per Student: $42,168 / student
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Average SAT Score: 1035–1045
#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 it has served 520,000 students in the 2025–2026 school year, including 25,000–30,000 adult students and 14,000 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: 19:1
- Expenses Per Student: $23,481 / student
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Average SAT Score: 1090
#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, 2025, it was home to 313,220 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, and Dr. Jose Dotres has been serving 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: 20:1
- Expenses Per Student: $$12,005 to $13,577 / student
- Graduation Rate: 93.1%
- Average SAT Score: 1140
#4. Chicago Public Schools
One of the biggest and oldest public school systems in the US is the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), which was established in 1837. CPS provides education from early childhood through grade 12 to about 316,224 students in Chicago as of the 2025–2026 school year.
An operating budget of about $10.25 billion has been approved for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for the 2025-26 school year (FY2026). This budget will support the programs, staff, and schools in CPS and will also close a large projected deficit. The budget supports the maintenance of funds at the same level as last year and ensures that long-term commitments to the academic success of students and all labor agreements will be honored.
Website: http://www.lausd.net/
Contact: (213) 241-1000
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
- Expenses Per Student: $120,000 to $21,500 / student
- Graduation Rate: 88.7%
- 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 383 schools are run by the district, which is split into three zones. The district, which serves nearly 300,000 to 305,000+ students in the Las Vegas metropolitan region, is the fifth largest in the country as of 2026. 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: 21:1
- Expenses Per Student: $9,051 / student
- Graduation Rate: 86.6 %
- Average SAT Score: 1170
#6. Broward County Public Schools
In Florida, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the US. Serving nearly 251,408 kids and around 125,000 adult students in 325 schools, centers, technical institutions, and 93 charter schools, BCPS is Florida’s first fully recognized school system since 1962.
The diverse student body of BCPS, which hails from 204 countries, speaks 191 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 280 schools, HISD provides educational opportunities to a vast student population of approximately 168,410. The district caters to students across various grade levels, offering 8 early childhood, 161 elementary, 38 middle, 37 high, and 36 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% African American, 5% Asian, and 10% White.
Additionally, HISD strives to address the needs of its students, as 77.8% 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: 16:1
- Expenses Per Student: $12,717 / student
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Average SAT Score: 920–929
#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 307 schools in Hillsborough County Public Schools, serving 213,513 students.
51% of elementary children in Hillsborough County Public Schools scored at or above the proficient level in reading, and 52% 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: 23:1
- Expenses Per Student: $9,835 / student
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- 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 296 schools and 150,280 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: 14:1
- Expenses Per Student: $19,719 / student
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Average SAT Score: 1124
#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 208,000 students enrolled as of the 2025–26 academic year, OCPS is the ninth-largest school district in the country and the fourth-largest in Florida.
Additionally, the school system employs approximately 22,674 instructional and classified workers out of 24,075 total employees, accounting for more than 94% of the OCPS workforce, that seves the county.
Website: https://www.ocps.net/
Contact: (407) 317-3200
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
- Expenses Per Student: $10,229 / student
- Graduation Rate: 97.2%
- Average SAT Score: 1140
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. They understand what the largest school district in the US is and the challenges faced by the largest school districts in the U.S. 2024 can shed light on the immense responsibility these systems shoulder. As the country continues to support and invest in its school systems, it is crucial to recognize the significance of building inclusive learning environments for all kids. This is not just a goal, but a necessity for the future of our society.
Whether we look at the largest school district in the US or consider what the biggest school district in the US is, the focus remains on ensuring quality education for all. Exploring how the largest school district and the biggest school districts in the US operate offers valuable insights into meeting the needs of diverse student populations.
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Update: This article was last updated on 9th February 2026 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.