A Salt Lake County elementary school potentially facing closure has achieved a top-10 ranking in Utah for 2026, a new report on school performance reveals. Eastwood Elementary, part of the Granite School District, secured the surprising distinction amid discussions about its future, highlighting a complex situation for the local community and district officials.
The annual rankings, which assess student proficiency in math and reading, placed nearly half of the state's top traditional elementary schools within the Granite School District. Meanwhile, Sunrise Elementary in the Canyons School District was named the number one traditional elementary school in the state.
Key Takeaways
- Eastwood Elementary, a school that could be closed, was ranked among Utah's top 10 traditional elementary schools for 2026.
- The Granite School District is home to four of the top 10 traditional elementary schools in the state.
- Sunrise Elementary in Sandy, part of the Canyons School District, earned the No. 1 spot.
- The rankings are based on student performance data in math and reading from the U.S. Department of Education.
- Charter schools were ranked separately, with Lincoln Academy in Pleasant Grove leading that list.
A Surprising Achievement Amid Uncertainty
The placement of Eastwood Elementary on the list of Utah's best schools presents a unique challenge for the Granite School District. While the school demonstrates high academic achievement, it is also one of several under consideration for closure as early as the next school year. This development raises questions for parents and educators about the criteria used for both school rankings and closure decisions.
Eastwood Elementary, located in Millcreek, was ranked eighth among all traditional public elementary schools in Utah. This recognition is based on strong student performance on state assessments, a key metric of academic success.
The situation highlights the complex factors school districts must weigh, which often include enrollment numbers, building maintenance costs, and demographic shifts, in addition to academic performance.
Understanding the Rankings
The school rankings were determined by analyzing student performance data from the U.S. Department of Education. For this report, analysts used math scores from the 2022–23 school year and reading scores from the 2021–22 school year. Due to reporting timelines, more recent reading data was not available for the analysis.
Granite School District Dominates Top Spots
The Granite School District featured prominently in the new rankings, demonstrating a concentration of high-performing schools within its boundaries. Four of the top 10 traditional elementary schools in Utah are part of this district, a significant achievement for one of the state's largest school systems.
The highly-ranked Granite schools include:
- Cottonwood Elementary (No. 2) in Holladay
- Howard R. Driggs Elementary (No. 3) in Holladay
- Eastwood Elementary (No. 8) in Millcreek
- Oakridge Elementary (No. 10) in Millcreek
This strong showing underscores the academic excellence present in the district, even as it navigates difficult decisions regarding school consolidation and closures. The success of these schools is attributed to their students' high proficiency levels in core subjects like math and reading.
40% of Utah's Top 10 traditional elementary schools are located within the Granite School District, making it a leader in academic performance according to the 2026 rankings.
Utah's Top Performing Elementary Schools
While Granite School District had a strong presence, the top honor went to a school in a neighboring district. Sunrise Elementary, located in Sandy and part of the Canyons School District, was named the best traditional elementary school in Utah. The Canyons School District also had another school, Peruvian Park Elementary, in the top five.
Top 10 Traditional Elementary Schools
- Sunrise Elementary (Canyons School District)
- Cottonwood Elementary (Granite School District)
- Howard R. Driggs Elementary (Granite School District)
- Peruvian Park Elementary (Canyons School District)
- Old Mill Elementary (Wasatch County School District)
- Crimson View Elementary (Washington County School District)
- Highland Elementary (Alpine School District)
- Eastwood Elementary (Granite School District)
- Uintah Elementary (Salt Lake City School District)
- Oakridge Elementary (Granite School District)
The list showcases high-performing schools from across the state, including institutions in Heber City, St. George, and Highland, indicating that academic excellence is widespread throughout Utah.
Charter Schools Ranked Separately
The report also provided a separate ranking for Utah's public charter schools, which operate independently of traditional school districts. These schools offer alternative educational models and are a popular choice for many families in the state. The analysis highlighted several high-achieving charter institutions.
Leading the charter school list was Lincoln Academy in Pleasant Grove, followed by Canyon Rim Academy in Millcreek and Edith Bowen Laboratory School in Logan. These rankings provide parents with another tool to evaluate the diverse public education options available to them.
Top 5 Charter Elementary Schools
- Lincoln Academy (Pleasant Grove)
- Canyon Rim Academy (Millcreek)
- Edith Bowen Laboratory School (Logan)
- George Washington Academy (St. George)
- Syracuse Arts Academy North (Syracuse)
The separate lists for traditional and charter schools acknowledge their different operational structures while still measuring them by the same core academic proficiency standards. The analysis included data from approximately 47,000 public elementary schools nationwide, but rankings were only provided at the state and district levels, not nationally.