Boston, Seattle, Madison top list of best cities for students

By Esther Wickham
The Center Square

Access to high-quality education remains a top priority for many families, and a new study suggests strong academic performance often goes hand in hand with a high quality of life.

The study by Melbourne Business School Online examined school performance across major U.S. cities, analyzing factors such as grades, pupil-to-teacher ratios and standardized test scores. Researchers also evaluated quality-of-life indicators, including housing costs, access to parks and libraries, walkability and other community amenities.

According to the study, Boston ranks as the top city for families seeking strong educational outcomes. Seattle and Madison, Wisconsin, follow closely behind.

“While Boston and Seattle come with steep housing costs, Madison stands out as a more affordable alternative that still delivers top academic results, safety, and family-friendly amenities,” the study states.

A spokesperson for Melbourne Business School Online told The Center Square that the data suggest that academic success is driven by a myriad of factors. One cannot look at classrooms alone, but the ecosystem that surrounds them, the spokesperson said.

Cities like Boston, Seattle and Madison not only have smaller class sizes but also supportive living conditions that contribute to higher graduation rates and test scores. according to the study.

“What stands out in these results is how closely strong test scores align with the wider learning environment of a city,” the spokesperson said. “Places like Boston, Madison and Seattle don’t just perform well in Grade 8 reading and maths or on the SAT and ACT, they also have higher shares of college-educated adults, better access to libraries, and more stable neighborhoods. These factors reinforce one another.”

The study found Boston has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 14.8, compared with 16.1 in Seattle and 15.9 in Madison. Boston also led in American College Testing scores, averaging 26.1, followed by Seattle at 24.5 and Madison at 19.4. The highest possible ACT is 36.

Though these cities may be successful on a national scale, the broader K–12 education system continues to face challenges.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, average reading scores fell three points, while eighth-grade math dropped eight points. These declines were largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while total nationwide school district debt rose more than 2.1% from $532.5 billion in 2021 to $543.9 billion in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.