Largest School Districts in the United States

With nearly 50 million students enrolled, public schools in the United States serve a population roughly equivalent to that of South Korea. Consequently, the American public school network relies on a robust system of school districts, of which there are over 12,500 across the country. Some of the largest serve hundreds of thousands of students and consist of hundreds, if not thousands, of schools. The largest school districts in the country are the New York City School District, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the City of Chicago School District.

10 Largest School Districts in the US

New York City School District - 859,514 Students

With 859,514 students enrolled, the New York City School District is the largest in the country. This number has been dropping over the past few years. In 2020, for example, the number of students enrolled was 912,994, representing about a 6% drop. About 90% of the students enrolled in the New York City School district identify as minorities, and over half are considered economically disadvantaged. Within the school district, there are approximately 709 preschools, 1,064 elementary schools, 710 middle schools, and 533 high schools.

Los Angeles Unified School District - 435,958 Students

The Los Angeles Unified School District has nearly half the number of students that the New York City School District does, with 435,958 students enrolled. Similar to the NYC school district, the Los Angeles Unified School District has seen a drop in student enrollment in comparison to the previous year, with nearly 25,000 fewer students. Minorities make up about 90% of total enrollment, and about 59% of the students enrolled are economically disadvantaged. The school district has 520 elementary schools, 210 middle schools, and 183 high schools.

City of Chicago School District #299 - 329,836 Students

The City of Chicago School District 299 is the third largest in the United States and currently enrolls 329,836 students. This enrollment rate represents a drop of about 12,000 students, lower than that of the previous fiscal year. The district consists of 634 schools, including district-run, contract, charter, and SAFE schools. Among the district-run, traditional schools, there are 415 elementary schools, 83 high schools, and five early childhood education centers. Nearly 100 schools in the district operate as charter schools. Additionally, over 56% of the district's students are classified as economically disadvantaged.

Miami-Dade County Public School District - 328,589 Students

Serving 328,589 students, the Miami-Dade County Public School District in Miami, Florida, is the fourth largest in the country. This enrollment represents a decrease of nearly 6,000 students compared to the previous year. Roughly three-fourths of the enrolled students identify as Hispanic/Latino, and almost a quarter are English language learners, highlighting the cultural and linguistic diversity of the city and school district. Besides English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Russian, Portuguese, and French are the most common primary languages for students. The district has 313 elementary schools, 225 middle schools, and 138 high schools.

Clark County School District - 315,787 Students

Clark County School District, which serves the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City, has a total enrollment of 315,787. Unlike the larger school districts on this list, Clark County’s enrollment is nearly identical to the previous year, only about 100 students lower. Throughout the district, there are about 240 preschools, 250 elementary schools, 82 middle schools, and 73 high schools. Nearly half of the students in the district are Hispanic/Latino, and roughly one-fifth are English language learners, highlighting the district as fairly diverse.

Broward County School District - 256,037 Students

The Broward County School District, servicing the Fort Lauderdale area in Florida, is the sixth largest in the country, with 256,037 students enrolled. Compared to the previous year, enrollment has dropped by approximately 4,000 students. Across the district, there are 137 elementary schools, 35 middle schools, and 32 high schools. The Broward County School District is also home to 88 charter schools. The district boasts a high school graduation rate of 95.5%, which is 8% higher than the national average. Additionally, its robust scholarship program has awarded $128 million in scholarships to students across the district.

Hillsborough County School District - 224,149 Students

The Hillsborough County School District, headquartered in Tampa and serving the west central Florida area, is the country’s seventh largest school district, with 224,149 students. Unlike many other school districts across the country, the Hillsborough County School District has actually seen an increase of about 5,000 students since the previous year. Throughout the district, there are 131 elementary schools, 39 middle schools, 28 high schools, and 56 charter schools. The district is fairly diverse: Across the student population, 194 languages are spoken, 40% of students are Hispanic/Latino, 30% are white, and 20% are black.

Orange County Public Schools - 203,224 Students

The Orange County Public Schools District, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and serving the entire Orange County area, is the eighth largest district in the country with 203,224 students. The district is home to 131 elementary schools, 40 middle schools, and 22 high schools. 44% of students are Hispanic/Latino, while a fourth are white and another fourth are black. Due to its extensive LaunchED one-to-one digital learning program, nearly every student in the district has an electronic device supplied by the schools. The district-wide high school graduation rate is also higher than the national average, at 95.5%.

Houston Independent School District - 194,607 Students

The Houston Independent School District, serving Houston as well as several nearby municipalities, has 194,607 students enrolled. Since the previous year, the school district has seen a drop in enrollment by about 2,000 students. The Houston Independent School District is the largest district in the state of Texas, with 160 elementary schools, 39 middle schools, and 37 high schools. It is also incredibly diverse, with 62% of students being Hispanic or Latino, 22% African American, 10% white, and 4% Asian. Across the district, some 100 languages are spoken by the student population.

Palm Beach County School District - 187,943 Students

The Palm Beach County School District, serving Palm Beach County, has 187,943 students enrolled, making it the country’s tenth-largest district. The district’s enrollment numbers have remained nearly identical compared to the previous year, with a drop of only about 900 students. Across the district, there are roughly 106 preschools, 150 elementary schools, 92 middle schools, and 58 high schools. Additionally, the district has invested in 38 dual language school programs, 185,000 Chromebooks for students, and 335 career and technical education programs. The overall high school graduation rate is currently 94.1%.

Final Thoughts

Although many school districts have experienced declines in enrollment, they continue to serve large student populations through their numerous elementary, middle, and high schools. Additionally, many have introduced charter schools, further enhancing the traditional in-district schooling model. A large majority of these school districts are incredibly diverse, with significant minority populations and hundreds of languages spoken by students, highlighting the rich social and cultural backgrounds that contribute to the educational experience.

50 Largest School Districts in the US