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Novi, Royal Oak Make List Of 10 Best Small Cities For Education In America

NOVI (WWJ) - Metro Detroit is home to two of the best small cities in America for schools, according to a new report.

Movoto Real Estate set out to find the best small cities where people who are concerned with the quality of education could live, because not everyone wants to be in a huge city with tons of schools.

So, where can the more peaceful sort go that still offers good education options? Metro Detroit, as it turns out.

To compile the rankings, researchers selected 140 small cities with populations between 50,000 and 60,000. Researchers then used the U.S. Census' American Community Survey, AreaVibes, and GreatSchools.org to collect education criteria such as student-teacher ratio, money spent per year per student, high school graduation rate and test scores.

Novi came in second place, while Royal Oak tied for fifth place with Auburn, Alabama.

According to the report, Novi has a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1 and a graduation rate of 94 percent. It also got a nine out of 10 for test scores. The report says Novi schools spend approximately $6,723 per student per year.

Royal Oak, on the other hand, has a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1 and a high school graduation rate 92 percent, with an eight out of 10 for test scores, according to the report. Schools also spend about $6,475 per student per year.

Top 10 Best Small Cities for Education in America

1. Chapel Hill, NC
2. Novi, MI
3. Oak Park, IL
4. Cedar Park, TX
5. Auburn, AL (tie)
5. Royal Oak, MI (tie)
7. Hoffman Estates, IL
8. Manhattan, KS
9. West Des Moines, IA
10. Lakeville, MN

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