Salt Lake City and its metro area is known for its young population with a median age of just 33. While Salt Lake is no longer known for its large households like Utah County, which still has more families with six or more kids than anywhere else in the U.S., almost 21% of Salt Lake’s population is under 18. That means Salt Lake City places a lot of emphasis on education with many schools to choose from for families. According to a recent survey, half of the top high schools in Utah were in Salt Lake County. However, most of the best school districts in Salt Lake City aren’t actually in the city itself; they’re in the suburbs. Here’s a look at the best schools in Salt Lake City and surrounding communities to help you decide where to settle down.
Granite School District | West Valley City, UT
The Granite School District serves central Salt Lake City including the cities of West Valley City, South Salt Lake, Millcreek, Taylorsville, Holladay, Kearns and Magma Townships, and some parts of Murray and West Jordan. The district is the third largest in the state with 8 high schools, 16 junior high schools, and 62 elementary schools. More than 68,000 students attend Granite School District.
While there are many schools in the district rated below average, there are also some gems. Keep in mind the district serves several cities so the quality of the district overall shouldn’t be considered as much as the city-specific ratings.
The two top-rated high schools in the district are Olympus High School in Holladay and Skyline High School in Millcreek. Skyline High is the 5th best high school in Utah and the best high school in Salt Lake City with an overall score of 96/100 by U.S. News. About 69% of students participate in AP Courses. It’s also the highest-ranked traditional school in Utah not counting charter schools.
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The city of Millcreek is a great choice for families. This small city, home to 61,000 people, offers more than just one of the region’s best high schools; it also offers tons of parks, hiking, and family-friendly neighborhoods. Millcreek is one of the most expensive areas of Metro Salt Lake but it’s worth it if a quality education is what you’re looking for.
Canyons School District | Sandy, UT
Serving southern Salt Lake City County, the Canyons School District serves Sandy, Draper, Midvale, Alta, and Cotton Heights, UT. In 2009, Canyons District was the first school district created in the state in a century and it’s now one of the largest with 35,000 students served.
Many of the schools in the Canyons District are rated above-average for the state. There are many of the best elementary schools in Salt Lake City rated 9/10 by GreatSchools in the district like Granite School which ranks well for student progress, tests scores, and equity.
The district’s Corner Canyon High School in Draper is one of the best high schools in Salt Lake City for college readiness. About 38% of students participate in AP Courses with a 96% graduation rate. The school also performs far above the state average on English, science, and math testing. The school ranked number 6 overall for the state of Utah.
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If you’re thinking about moving within the Canyons School District, both Sandy and Draper are great communities. Sandy mostly has top-rated elementary schools near Salt Lake City while Draper has the best high school. Draper is also known for its strong economy with many employment opportunities and a high median household income despite its affordability. It’s also home to family-friendly attractions like the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.
Salt Lake City School District | Salt Lake City, UT
If you’re planning to move to Salt Lake City proper, you’ll be within the Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD). The district shares the same boundaries as the city with 42 schools and more than 23,000 students. The district is the oldest in Utah but, unfortunately, more than half of the schools in the district fall behind the rest of the state. Choosing the best schools in Salt Lake City comes down to carefully choosing where you decide to live.
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There are several highly rated elementary schools in Salt Lake City such as Beacon Heights School and Ensign School. The highest rated high school in Salt Lake City is Innovations High School which has an above-average level of college readiness but does not perform well in terms of equity. It also does not offer AP courses.
Davis School District | Farmington, UT
Davis School District serves Davis County, Utah near Salt Lake City with almost 73,000 enrolled students. It’s the second largest district in the state with 98 schools. Davis District has a combination of average, high-performing, and under-performing schools with many cities served. That means it’s important to choose your city carefully if you’re relocating to Davis County.
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Davis High School in Kaysville is one of the best schools in Salt Lake. It was ranked the top traditional high school in Utah in 2019 and number 4 in 2020. The AP participation rate at Davis High is 52%.
Kaysville is located between Farmington and Layton and it’s known as Utah’s Hometown. Kaysville is home to plenty of family-friendly activities like Boondocks and the Lagoon Amusement Park and low crime rates although home prices are a bit higher than surrounding areas.
Best Charter Schools in Salt Lake City
Metro Salt Lake City isn’t known for its great schools, but it does offer many public charter schools that often outperform traditional schools. Here are some of the best charter schools near Salt Lake City to consider.
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Beehive Science and Technology Academy in Sandy
This tuition-free public charter school serves grades 6-12 and it’s among the best charter schools in Utah. BSTA is a college preparatory school and a Platinum-level STEM school.
Academy for Math Engineering and Science in Salt Lake City
Considered the best high school in Salt Lake City and the entire state, AMES focuses on a STEM-based curriculum. There’s a 55% participation rate for AP Courses with 33% of students economically disadvantaged and a minority enrollment of 53%. Nationwide, it ranks 132 among charter high schools.
Itineris Early College High in West Jordan
This independent public charter school is located near the Salt Lake Community College campus in West Jordan. It has an impressive 58% participation rate for AP Courses with minority enrollment of 42%.
American Preparatory Academy in Draper
American Preparatory Academy is Utah’s 9th best high school program and performs very well on test scores as well as AP participation.
Best Private Schools in Salt Lake City, UT
Want to make sure your child gets the best education possible? You may benefit from stepping outside the overburdened public school system to explore private schools in Salt Lake City. You have many options for private schools in SLC and surrounding communities. Here are some of the highest rated.
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Rowland Hall
Rowland Hall is Utah’s oldest school and it offers a college prep program to more than 930 students. It’s also the only school in Utah with an internationally recognized ski academy with athletes who win at the national, regional, and local levels. There are also 20 advanced and honors programs with a middle 50% SAT range of 600-670 on reading and 570-690 on math.
Mount Vernon Academy
Mount Vernon Academy in Salt Lake City serves K-12 with a non-denominational education. Along with a solid curriculum, Mount Vernon Academy is known for its extracurricular opportunities and diverse student body.
J E Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School
Cosgriff offers a well-rounded Catholic school education that focuses on core Catholic values and the subjects of language arts, social studies, science, and math. The school meets the National Catholic Education Association requirements and offers fine arts, music, and other enrichment programs.
Salt Lake City School Districts FAQs
What is the best school district in Salt Lake City?
The Canyons School District based in nearby Sandy is considered the best school district near Salt Lake City and outperforms the Salt Lake City district.
Does Salt Lake City have good schools?
The public schools in Salt Lake City aren’t the best, but it does have very good public charter schools. Surrounding communities like Draper, Millcreek, and Sandy have higher rated schools.
What is the best high school in Salt Lake City, UT?
Charter school Academy for Math Engineering and Science is considered the best high school in Salt Lake City. The best traditional high school near Salt Lake City is Skyline High in nearby Millcreek.
Have you chosen the best Salt Lake City school district to support your child’s education? Your next step is settling on the best neighborhood or suburb in Salt Lake City or a surrounding community. As you prepare for your upcoming move, call the Salt Lake City movers at Wasatch Moving Company for your free moving estimate!
