Parenting Magazine: Ann Arbor is top 10 for education; falls in rankings for best cities to raise a family

By Danielle Arndt K-12 education reporter

Posted on Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.

Kindergartener Naya Loftus draws a picture at Lakewood Elementary School this past academic year. Ann Arbor Public Schools were given kudos in a recent "Parenting Magazine" Best Cities for Education list.

AnnArbor.com file photo

The city of Ann Arbor recently was named among the top 10 of yet another notable "best of" list. But it also fell in the rankings of Parenting Magazine’s Best Cities for Families list.

Parenting Magazine listed Ann Arbor as the 10th best city in the United States for education, citing the diversity of Ann Arbor Public Schools as a primary reason for the accolades.

The magazine said there are 64 different languages spoken within the school district. It also cited AAPS’ high graduation rate and commitment to green, energy-saving practices. Skyline High School got a shout-out in the article as the nation’s largest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified high school.

The city also graced Parenting Magazine’s Best Cities for Families list at No. 14. But just two years ago, Ann Arbor was No. 4 on this list, which judges the best places in America to raise a family based on home affordability, low crime rates, job availability, parks and schools, according to the magazine’s website.

Interestingly enough, while Ann Arbor fell on this family-friendly list, the city was named the No. 1 city in the country for singles by Kiplinger in February.

Boston was named the 2012 best city for families. Portland, Maine, and Austin, Texas, also made the list.

View the complete Best Cities for Families list, as well as the Best Cities for Education list.

Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

Tags: Ann Arbor Public Schools,