Special Report
States With the Best (and Worst) Schools
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The controversial education law No Child Left Behind has been recently revised for the first time since its introduction in 2001. The revisions are expected to return a degree of control over education policy to state and local school districts. While federal, state, and local policies can have considerable impact on education in the United States, the way education is governed is just one of many factors driving educational outcomes. Parents and community leaders, environmental conditions, and the students themselves also play a role. Also, as proponents of the law’s revision have indicated, education systems vary considerably between states.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed education data for each state from the 2015 Quality Counts report released annually by Education Week. The report assessed measures in three broad categories that can determine the strength of a school system: school finances, student achievement, and environmental factors. Massachusetts leads the nation as the state with the best public schools, while Nevada’s public school system received the poorest review.
According to Sterling Lloyd, senior research associate at the Education Week Research Center, some states have made large strides over the years, but in general, states do not tend to move very much in the Quality Counts ranking. “It’s hard to move the needle on some of these indicators in the short run,” Lloyd said.
Click here to see the best (and worst) schools in each state.
Socioeconomic and other environmental conditions, for example, tend to change only over long periods of time. The prevalence of poverty as well as education levels among parents are major determining factors of public school quality. In the United States, 56% of children are raised in households with income at least double the poverty level. In all but two of the states in the top half of the rankings, this share is greater. Conversely, this was the case in only four of the 25 lower ranked states.
Factors such as these can determine the chances of success not just in school, but also over the course of an entire lifetime. These social and economic factors “capture the role of education in a person’s life, from cradle to career,” Lloyd said.
School districts in high-income areas tend to have larger school budgets. Average annual per pupil school spending exceeds the national average of $11,667 in 21 of the 25 states at the higher end of EdWeek’s ranking. At the lower end of the spectrum, educational expenditure in only three states exceeds the national average.
The causal link between school funding and educational outcomes is far from clear. According to Lloyd, however, while there is no consensus among researchers, advocates for greater school funding argue that “funding supports achievement by leading to access to the best teachers and the most up-to-date technological resources.”
At the same time, depending on the spending distribution among school districts, not all students in a given state can benefit from the state’s supposed high spending. In fact, states that spend the most per pupil each year also tend to have the least equitable funding distributions. All 10 states with the widest gap in education spending between the most well-funded schools and the most underfunded schools spend more per pupil per year than the corresponding national average of $11,667. Per pupil spending in Vermont and Alaska is higher than in every other state, yet the spending gap between the best funded 5% of school districts and the worst funded 5% of school districts is also higher than anywhere else in the country.
Standardized test results are one of the few ways to measure and compare academic success among states. U.S. students do not perform well on these tests. Massachusetts leads the nation as the only state where over half of fourth and eighth graders are deemed proficient in mathematics. In no state are more than half of fourth and eighth graders deemed proficient in reading.
While students in well-funded school districts are far more likely to perform well on tests than students in the less-funded school districts, this is not always the case. In some of these states, “students are faring well on tests in reading and math even though there may be significant barriers in the environment,” Lloyd said. In addition, “the states that have made the largest gains often have lower starting points to being with.”
To identify the states with the best and worst schools, 24/7 Wall St. used Education Week’s Quality Counts 2016 report. The report is based on three major categories: chance for success, finances, and K-12 achievement. The chance for success category includes data on family income, parent education and employment, child schooling, and employment opportunities after college. Graduation rates are defined as the percent of public high school students who graduated on time with a standard diploma for the 2011-12 school year. All other data are from the most recent available year, and are based on Education Week’s analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The finance category incorporates metrics on cost-adjusted per-pupil spending and how equitably spending was distributed across districts in the state in 2013. The K-12 achievement category uses 2015 test score data from the NAEP. Each category was weighted equally in determining the final ranking.
1. Massachusetts
> Overall grade: B+
> Per pupil spending: $13,347 (13th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.0% (12th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 58.5% (3rd highest)
Massachusetts public schools are the best in the nation, according to the most recent Quality Counts report from Education Week. The state’s strong social and economic conditions, which have also contributed to relatively large school budgets, have bolstered graduation rates and helped drive up standardized test scores. High incomes do not guarantee a good education, but students from financially stable households tend to perform better academically. Of children in Massachusetts, 70.2% live in families with incomes at least double the poverty level, the highest proportion of any state. The education levels among older state residents are also very high. Massachusetts is the only state in the nation where more than half of all adults have a postsecondary degree.
2. New Jersey
> Overall grade: B
> Per pupil spending: $15,511 (5th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.0% (9th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 63.8% (2nd highest)
The education of a child’s parents often plays a big — and early — role in the education of the child. In New Jersey, 58.0% of children have parents with a college degree, the seventh highest share of any state. New Jersey also has one of the lowest shares of children living at twice the national poverty income level or below. Just 32.7% of state children live in households with such low incomes compared to 44.0% of children nationwide. As many as 63.8% of three- and four-year olds are enrolled in preschool, the second highest share in the country behind Connecticut. Perhaps as a result of their early start, New Jersey’s eighth graders perform the fourth and fifth best on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests for math and reading, respectively.
3. Vermont
> Overall grade: B
> Per pupil spending: $18,853 (the largest)
> High school graduation rate: 93.0% (the highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 51.0% (8th highest)
Vermont has the highest high school graduation rate of any state in the country at 93%. To compare, 81% of high school students nationwide graduate on time with a diploma. While there is no single explanation for positive educational outcomes in a state, it is likely that students in Vermont benefit from the highest annual educational spending per capita in the country. Throughout the country, educational investment per pupil averages out to $11,667, significantly less than the $18,853 spent per student in Vermont each year. Students in Vermont are also more likely to demonstrate academic proficiency at an early age. Roughly 45% of fourth graders in the Green Mountain State score above the basic level on NAEP reading tests, a larger share than in every other state with the exception of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
4. Maryland
> Overall grade: B
> Per pupil spending: $12,493 (17th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 84.0% (16th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 48.3% (15th highest)
Maryland public schools are among the best in the country. Students enrolled in the state’s public schools may benefit from slightly higher than average educational expenditure. Also, state residents are more likely to have higher than average incomes, with 60.3% of adults between the ages of 25 and 64 earning more than the typical American. Students with relatively affluent parents tend to do better in school than students with relatively poor parents, and nearly 56% of 11th and 12th graders in Maryland earn college credit qualifying scores on advanced placement test, a much larger share than in any other state.
24/7 Wall St.5. Connecticut
> Overall grade: B-
> Per pupil spending: $15,340 (6th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.0% (12th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 65.1% (the highest)
High education spending and an environment conducive to learning may gear Connecticut’s schoolchildren for success. Connecticut is one of nine states in which students in every district receive more education funding than the average U.S. student. On average, annual education expenditures in the state amount to $15,340 per student, the sixth highest spending per capita in the country. One of the most important factors in a child’s education is the education of the child’s parents. More than two thirds of children in the state have parents with a college degree, the fourth highest share of all states. Connecticut prepares its youth for similar achievement. With 65.1% of three- and four-year-olds enrolled in preschool, the state has the highest enrollment rate of any state.
6. New Hampshire
> Overall grade: B-
> Per pupil spending: $14,502 (7th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.0% (9th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 53.0% (tied-5th highest)
New Hampshire is one of several top states for education located in New England. Like several other Northeastern states, school spending in New Hampshire is well above average. Education spending in the state averages $14,502 per student annually, the seventh highest nationwide. The percentage of children whose parents have a college degree, at 59.3%, is the fourth highest share in the nation. The education of a student’s parents is an important determinant of that child’s success, which is perhaps why graduation rates and student academic performance are also high in the state.
7. Pennsylvania
> Overall grade: B-
> Per pupil spending: $13,989 (10th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 88.0% (7th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 46.5% (22nd highest)
Annual educational spending per pupil averages $13,989 in Pennsylvania, higher than the nationwide average of $11,667. The high school graduation rate in the Keystone State is also above the national average. While only 81% of American students graduate with a diploma on time, the corresponding rate in Pennsylvania is 88%, one of the highest in the country.
Although Pennsylvania schools are among the best in the nation, they still have room for improvement. Early childhood education is crucial for cognitive, social, and emotional development, and only 75.1% of eligible children are enrolled in kindergarten programs, one of the lowest such rates in the nation.
8. Wyoming
> Overall grade: B-
> Per pupil spending: $17,256 (4th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 80.0% (24th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 45.0% (tied-25th lowest)
Students in Wyoming benefit from some the highest per capita educational spending the country. While the average annual educational spending nationwide is $11,667 per student, the average spending in Wyoming is $17,256 per student, more than in all but three other states. Despite above average educational funding, only 10.4% of 11th and 12th graders in the state earn college credit qualifying scores on advanced placement tests, one of the smallest shares of any state in the country. While Wyoming has a disproportionately low share of high achievers, the state’s graduation rate is nevertheless roughly in line with the national rate. Four of every five students in Wyoming complete high school within four years, compared to a national graduation rate of 81%.
9. Minnesota
> Overall grade: B-
> Per pupil spending: $11,684 (24th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 88.0% (7th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 46.6% (21st highest)
Minnesota’s school system rates among the best in the country, although education funding in the state is just average. Minnesota school districts spend $11,684 per pupil annually, which is roughly in line with the national average. This spending amounts to 3.3% of state and local tax revenues, also roughly in line with average state funding allocation. Despite the average education spending per student, students achieve above average results. Minnesota scores sixth among all states in K-12 achievement. Fourth and eighth grade students scored better than those in other states on average in most NAEP math and reading tests.
10. New York
> Overall grade: B-
> Per pupil spending: $17,291 (3rd largest)
> High school graduation rate: 78.0% (17th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 57.7% (4th highest)
Large shares of a state’s population enrolled in school are a sign of a strong education system. In New York, 57.7% of three and four year-old children are enrolled in preschool, and 64.0% of young adults have obtained or are enrolled in postsecondary degree programs — each the fourth highest such share nationwide. As in many other states with top-ranked school systems, New York public schools are among the best funded in the country. The annual average per pupil expenditure of $17,291 is the third highest compared with other states. However, education spending in New York is not very evenly distributed — also similar to other well-funded state school systems. Average per pupil spending in the state’s wealthiest school districts is $7,420 greater than the average expenditure in the state’s poorest 5% of school districts, the fifth largest such gap in the nation.
11. Wisconsin
> Overall grade: B-
> Per pupil spending: $11,855 (21st largest)
> High school graduation rate: 92.0% (3rd highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 45.0% (tied-25th lowest)
Education spending per student in Wisconsin, at $11,855, is in line with the national average spending of $11,667. Despite the average per pupil spending, the state appears to have better education outcomes than most states. Wisconsin students score relatively well on most NAEP mathematics and reading tests at the fourth and eighth grade level. Also, while just 81% of high school students nationwide successfully graduate high school on time, 92% of Wisconsin’s high school students do.
12. Virginia
> Overall grade: C+
> Per pupil spending: $9,896 (17th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 84.0% (16th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 47.5% (tied-18th highest)
Virginia’s average per pupil expenditure of less than $10,000 a year is exceptionally low compared with other states on the upper end of this list, and well below the national average expenditure of $11,667. When spending levels are adjusted for cost and student need, however, per pupil expenditure in Virginia districts meets 97% of national spending levels. This means that Virginia need less funding per student, and therefore education costs may be lower compared with other states.
As in other states with strong school systems, a large share of well-educated parents helps improve student performance. At least one parent of 56.7% of children in the state have a college degree, a higher proportion than in the majority of other states.
13. Rhode Island
> Overall grade: C+
> Per pupil spending: $14,071 (9th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 76.0% (9th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 47.3% (20th highest)
Rhode Island school districts spend an average of $14,071 per student annually — more than all but a handful of states. Spending is also distributed fairly equally across the state — it is one of nine states where spending in each district is higher than the $11,667 per student U.S. average. Rhode Island has also recently improved in other measures of equality in education. Since 2003, the achievement gap on NAEP tests between state eighth graders who are eligible for a/the National School Lunch Program and those who are not has narrowed more than in any other state except for New York and Illinois. Overall, the state’s eighth graders do about as well as the average U.S. student on the math and reading sections of the NAEP.
14. Maine
> Overall grade: C+
> Per pupil spending: $14,310 (8th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.0% (9th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 46.1% (23rd highest)
Maine is one of only five states where fourth grade NAEP reading scores worsened from 2003 to 2015. The share of fourth graders who demonstrated reading comprehension above a basic level went down slightly to the current level of 35.6%. Maine also lags behind nearly every other state in the share of eligible students enrolled in kindergarten programs. Only 71.2% of state children are enrolled in kindergarten compared to 77.8% nationwide. Many measures of educational outcomes in Maine would likely improve with increased kindergarten enrollment as early childhood education is crucial for cognitive, social, and emotional development.
24/7 Wall St.15. North Dakota
> Overall grade: C+
> Per pupil spending: $13,251 (14th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 91.0% (4th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 36.6% (6th lowest)
North Dakota’s public school system ranks better than most states. While the average per pupil expenditure of $13,251 is higher than the national average, North Dakota allocates the smallest share of taxable resources to education. In other words, the state’s education system could likely be even stronger. More than nine in every 10 high school students graduate on time with a diploma, the fourth highest proportion in the nation. The high chance for success among students in the state is due in part to financial stability. More than two-thirds of children live in families earning incomes at least double the poverty level, the eighth highest proportion in the U.S.
16. Delaware
> Overall grade: C+
> Per pupil spending: $13,573 (12th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 77.0% (12th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 47.5% (tied-18th highest)
Delaware is one of only nine states where annual spending per student exceeds the national average of $11,667 in every school district. Despite relatively high and evenly distributed spending, only about 2.8% of tax revenue in the state is allocated to educational spending, one of the smallest shares of any state in the country. While the share of fourth and eighth graders in Delaware who are proficient in reading is roughly in line with the national average, reading comprehension is not improving. Delaware is one of just a handful of states in which reading test scores worsened from 2003 to 2015.
17. Illinois
> Overall grade: C+
> Per pupil spending: $11,831 (23rd largest)
> High school graduation rate: 82.0% (22nd highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 53.0% (tied-5th highest)
Per pupil educational spending in Illinois is roughly in line with the national average, but few states have a wider funding gap between the best and worst funded school districts. Annual spending at the 5% of school districts that receive the least funding amounts to roughly $7,000 less per pupil than the spending at the best funded districts. Educational spending inequality aside, Illinois schools do relatively well by several important measures. Early childhood education is crucial for cognitive and social development, and roughly 53% of three and four-year olds in the state are enrolled in preschool, a higher share than in all but four other states. Additionally, nearly 35% of all advanced placement test scores of 11th and 12th graders are relatively high scores, a larger share than in the vast majority of states.
18. Nebraska
> Overall grade: C+
> Per pupil spending: $13,630 (11th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 93.0% (the highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 44.9% (23rd lowest)
Nebraska school districts spend an average of $13,630 per student annually, one of the larger education spending rates of any state. However, spending distribution is somewhat uneven across the state, and the wealthiest 5% of districts spend $5,471 more per student than the poorest 5%, one of the wider funding gaps in country. Also, just 40.6% of Nebraska students attend school in districts where the average spending per student is greater than the $11,667 U.S. average.
Nebraska students have some of the best educational outcomes nationwide. State students perform comparatively well on the math and reading sections of the NAEP, and the 93.0% high school graduation rate is the highest in the country.
19. Iowa
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $12,074 (19th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 89.0% (5th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 48.2% (16th highest)
Roughly 89% of public school students in Iowa graduate with a diploma on time, one of the highest graduation rates in the country. Educational funding in the state comes to about $12,000 per student each year, slightly more than the average American student. Funding is also relatively equally distributed among Iowa’s schools. The difference in annual spending between the best and worst funded schools in Iowa is only $3,121 per pupil, significantly lower than the average difference among all states of $4,665. NAEP math scores among the state’s eighth graders rank 14th in the nation, while NAEP reading scores among the same students rank 22nd in the nation.
20. Washington
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $9,246 (13th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 79.0% (21st lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 40.0% (11th lowest)
Students in Washington have to overcome a number of obstacles that could potentially prevent their success. Parents are important in aiding children with their schoolwork, and just 83.2% of children have parents who are fluent. In many states, the share is 95% or more. Weighted by cost of living, annual school spending totals just $9,246 per student in the state — only one in every three states spends less than $10,000 per pupil. Slightly more than 28% of students in the state attend school in districts that receive funding at or above the U.S. average level. Still Washington fourth and eighth grade students have among the better performance records on math and reading aptitude tests.
21. Alaska
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $18,565 (2nd largest)
> High school graduation rate: 79.0% (21st lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 39.4% (8th lowest)
Alaskans are relatively wealthy, with a typical household earning of $71,583 annually, third highest in the country. School spending is similarly high. At $18,565 per pupil, Alaska’s average education expenditure exceeds that of every other state except for Vermont. However, resources are not especially well distributed in the state. The disparity in spending across Alaska’s school districts is greater than in every other state. The typical per pupil expenditure in schools with the largest budgets is $14,247 larger than in the poorest 5% of schools, the largest spending difference nationwide.
22. Indiana
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $10,930 (23rd smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 80.0% (24th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 39.7% (10th lowest)
Indiana’s public schools are of average quality compared with schools in other states. Per pupil annual spending and the state’s high school graduation rate, at $10,930 and 80%, both roughly in line with the national rates. And while fourth and eighth grade students perform relatively well on math and reading standardized tests, 11th and 12th graders are less likely than their peers in other states to earn advanced placement credit.
23. Ohio
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $11,842 (22nd largest)
> High school graduation rate: 84.0% (16th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 45.9% (25th highest)
Annual per pupil education spending in Ohio is roughly in line with the national average of $11,667. Similarly, educational outcomes such as graduation rates and standardized test scores closely align with the corresponding national averages. However, educational outcomes would likely improve in the Buckeye State with increased kindergarten enrollment. Early childhood education raises math and language skills and lowers school dropout rates. Only three-quarters of eligible children in Ohio are enrolled in kindergarten programs, one of the smallest shares of any state in the country.
24. Colorado
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $8,986 (10th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 82.0% (22nd highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 50.9% (9th highest)
Overall, children in Colorado come from relatively wealthy, educated families. Household wealth and parental education may increase the likelihood that children begin their academic careers early. The 50.9% of three- and four-year olds enrolled in preschool in the state is one of the highest shares nationwide. However, Colorado allocates just 2.8% of state and local tax revenues to education funding, a relatively small share. Colorado school districts spend an average of $8,986 per student annually, the 10th lowest spending of any state. Nevertheless, Colorado students fare somewhat better than the average U.S. student on the math and reading sections of the NAEP.
25. Hawaii
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $12,243 (18th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 78.0% (17th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 51.3% (7th highest)
Hawaiian families are some of the wealthiest in the nation, and the state’s per pupil expenditure is similarly high. Of all Hawaiian children, 67.6% live in families earning incomes at least double the poverty level, the fourth highest such proportion nationwide. One year of public schooling in the state costs $12,243 per student on average, which is higher than the majority of state public education systems. Student performance on math sections of the NAEP from 2003 through 2015 improved more than in the vast majority of states. However, fourth and eighth grade Hawaiian students still perform worse than most American pupils on math and reading tests.
26. Kansas
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $11,284 (25th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 89.0% (5th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 44.8% (22nd lowest)
Overall, the Kansas public school system ranks roughly in the middle compared to all states. However, some measurements of the state’s education system are very strong. The high school graduation rate, for example, at 89%, is the fifth highest in the nation.
Performance on math standardized tests among fourth and eighth grade Kansas pupils worsened very slightly from 2003 through 2015, one of only a few states where proficiency scores worsened over that period. On the other hand, the income gap, which can hinder the academic performance of all students, improved more than it did in the vast majority of other states.
27. Kentucky
> Overall grade: C
> Per pupil spending: $10,407 (19th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 82.0% (22nd highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 43.3% (19th lowest)
Kentucky is one of the poorest states in the country, and just 70.3% of children have parents with a steady job — the fifth smallest share of any state. While a lack of household wealth can hinder academic achievement, Kentucky fourth graders nevertheless perform better than the average U.S. fourth grader on the math and reading sections of the NAEP. Students achieve these high test scores despite a lower than average per student education spending in the state. Kentucky school districts spend an average of $10,407 per student annually, about $1,300 less per student than the U.S. average spending of $11,667.
28. Montana
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $13,126 (15th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.0% (12th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 35.4% (3rd lowest)
Few states have less evenly distributed funding among school districts than Montana. Per pupil spending in the most well funded school districts in the state is roughly $5,700 higher than it is in the most underfunded school districts in the state. A relative lack of participation in early childhood education is another glaring weakness in Montana’s education system. Only 35.4% of three and four-year olds in Montana are enrolled in preschool, the smallest share in the country after only Idaho and Nevada.
29. Florida
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $9,096 (11th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 75.0% (8th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 50.4% (11th highest)
Education spending in Florida averages $9,096 per student annually, one of the lower amounts of any state. Spending is distributed relatively evenly across state districts, and the wealthiest 5% of school districts spend just $2,097 more per student than the poorest 5% — one of the smallest distribution gaps of any state. Since 2003, Florida has closed its poverty gap — the difference in NAEP scores between students eligible for the National School Lunch Program and those who are not — more than just a handful of states. Nevertheless, the state’s high school graduation rate of 75.0% is the eighth lowest in the nation.
30. Missouri
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $10,767 (22nd smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.0% (12th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 42.9% (18th lowest)
Missouri school districts spend an average of $10,767 per student annually, about $1,000 less than the $11,667 U.S. average. The tie between local property values and funding is fairly strong in Missouri, and despite relatively low spending overall, 13.0% of Missouri children attend school in districts that actually spend more per student than the U.S. average. Other aspects of inequality are prevalent in the state. Since 2003, the standardized test achievement gap between eighth-graders who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program and those who are not widened more in Missouri than in all but five other states. Overall, Missouri students perform slightly worse on the math section of the NAEP than the average U.S. student.
31. Utah
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $6,980 (the smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 78.0% (17th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 42.3% (17th lowest)
Education spending per student in Utah is the lowest in the country, averaging just $6,980 each year. Low funding may be the result of recent tax cuts as well as the state’s disproportionately high share of school-age children. The districts that spend heavily in Utah are the wealthiest ones, and the tie between property values and district funding in the state is the second strongest in the country. Nevertheless, just 1.1% of Utah’s schoolchildren receive equal or greater funding than the $11,667 average U.S. spending. Despite poor funding, Utah students exhibit formidable academic achievement. Utah children score amongst the best of any state in reading and mathematics standardized tests.
32. West Virginia
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $12,667 (16th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 80.0% (24th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 36.1% (5th lowest)
In West Virginia, an average of $12,667 is spent per student on education annually, among the largest spending in the country. Spending is distributed fairly evenly across the state, and the wealthiest 5% of school districts spend just $2,045 more per student than the poorest 5% — one of the smallest distribution gaps nationwide. Despite relatively high funding, West Virginia students receive some of the lowest scores on the math and reading sections of the NAEP. Often, parental education levels can play a major role in the academic performance of children. In West Virginia, just 40.7% of children have at least one parent with a college degree, the seventh lowest share in the country.
33. Georgia
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $9,152 (12th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 70.0% (3rd lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 49.4% (12th highest)
Georgia has one of the higher shares of children enrolled in preschool and kindergarten programs. Despite early preparedness, just 70% of Georgia’s high schoolers graduate on time — the third lowest rate in the country. Georgia school districts spend an average of $9,152 per student annually, about $2,500 less than the average U.S. school district spends per student. Georgia students also perform slightly worse on the math and reading sections of the NAEP than the average U.S. student. Household wealth can play a major role in academic achievement, and nearly half of all Georgia children are from families with income less than twice the national poverty level — one of the higher shares in the country.
34. Michigan
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $12,009 (20th largest)
> High school graduation rate: 77.0% (12th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 46.1% (23rd highest)
Michigan is one of only three states where fourth grade standardized math test scores did not improve from 2003 to 2015. It is also one of only five states where standardized reading test scores among fourth graders actually worsened during that time. Only 34.0% fourth graders in Michigan are proficient in math, and an even fewer 28.6% are proficient in reading, each some of the smallest shares of any state. Poor outcomes are not likely a consequence of inadequate education funding. Annual per pupil spending in Michigan averages $12,009, slightly more than the corresponding national average of $11,667.
24/7 Wall St.35. Tennessee
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $8,826 (9th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 83.0% (20th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 39.7% (10th lowest)
Tennessee is one of the poorest states, with the sixth lowest median household income in the nation of $44,361 annually. Educational spending in Tennessee averages just $8,826 per student each year, the ninth lowest in the country. While poor education spending typically results in poor learning outcomes, Tennessee students are relatively well educated. On the NAEP test, the state’s fourth graders perform about as well as the average American student. After increasing the most of any state nationwide since 2003, Tennessee’s high school graduation rate is now 83%, higher than the U.S. graduation rate of 81%.
36. North Carolina
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $8,737 (8th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 79.0% (21st lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 43.7% (tied-21st lowest)
Educational spending in North Carolina averages just $8,737 per student each year, less than half of the spending in Vermont — the state with the highest per student spending. North Carolina is not particularly wealthy, and slightly over half of all children in the state live in families with incomes less than or equal to twice the national poverty level. Despite low educational spending, North Carolina’s educational outcomes are relatively high. On the NAEP, the state’s fourth graders score the 14th and 17th best in the nation in reading and math, respectively.
37. Oregon
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $10,377 (18th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 78.0% (17th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 42.0% (tied-16th lowest)
Based on a number of factors, including investment and outcomes, Oregon’s public schools are ranked among the worst in the country. Only 12.8% of students in Oregon attend school districts that receive more annual per pupil funding than the national average of $11,667. Overall, the average educational investment per pupil in Oregon is only $10,377. Fourth graders in the state lag behind most of their peers across the country in both math and reading. Only 37.1% of fourth graders in the state are proficient in math, and 33.9.% of the same group are proficient in reading. Students with wealthier parents tend to do better in school, and the typical household in Oregon’s income is roughly $2,600 less than the corresponding national figure.
38. South Dakota
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $10,639 (21st smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 83.0% (20th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 40.4% (12th lowest)
With the exception of Delaware, South Dakota is the only state in the country where the share of fourth and eighth grade students who are proficient in reading declined from 2003 to 2015. Early childhood education is crucial for social, emotional, and cognitive development. In South Dakota, only 65.2% of eligible children are enrolled in kindergarten programs, the smallest share of any state in the country. Poor outcomes may be attributable not only to low childhood education rates, but also to inadequate educational spending. South Dakota spends only about 2.5% of tax revenue on education, one of the smallest shares of any state in the country.
39. South Carolina
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $10,462 (20th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 72.0% (5th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 43.7% (tied 21st-lowest)
In the vast majority of states, NAEP math scores among eighth graders improved from 2003 through 2015. However, of the three states where scores worsened, none declined as much as South Carolina. Only 25.7% of eighth graders in the Palmetto State demonstrated proficiency in math in 2015, down slightly from 2003. Graduation rates in South Carolina are also among the lowest in the nation. Only 72% of South Carolina public school students graduate with a diploma on time, compared to 81% nationwide. While the state lags behind much of the country in several important measures, this may soon change. Early childhood education can help improve academic performance and improve graduation rates, and 83.0% of eligible state children are enrolled in kindergarten programs, the largest share of any state in the country.
40. Arkansas
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $11,098 (24th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 78.0% (17th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 47.7% (17th highest)
The education of a child’s parents can have a significant impact on the child’s education. In Arkansas, just 38.5% of children have at least one parent with a college degree, the fourth lowest share in the country. More than half of all children in the state live in families with incomes less than or equal to twice the national poverty level, a higher share than in any state except for New Mexico and Mississippi. The high share of children living with low incomes may hinder the academic success of the state’s students. On the NAEP, Arkansas children perform among the worst in the country in math and reading.
41. California
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $8,216 (6th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 82.0% (22nd highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 48.4% (14th highest)
With a median household income of $61,933, California is the ninth wealthiest state. High incomes in the state do not translate, however, to high educational spending. The average per student educational expenditure in California is $8,216 each year, the sixth lowest nationwide. An unfavorable learning environment may obstruct learning outcomes. Children raised with English as a second language may have difficulty adapting to a classroom setting, and just 64.2% of children in California have English-speaking parents, the lowest share in the country. Also, only 67.7% of adults in the state have full-time, year-round employment, the second lowest share nationwide. Such employment can help parents ensure the educational achievement of their children. However, California provides relatively substantial subsidies for its less wealthy districts.
42. Texas
> Overall grade: C-
> Per pupil spending: $7,957 (3rd smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 82.0% (22nd highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 42.0% (tied -16th lowest)
Eighth graders in Texas are among the worst performers on NAEP reading exams in the nation. Only 28% demonstrate proficiency in reading comprehension, a smaller share than in the vast majority of other states. Poor performance is in large part the consequence of a combination of state policies and social circumstances. Average per pupil education spending in Texas, at $7,957 annually, is less than in every other state with the exception of only Arizona and Utah. Furthermore, only 72% of children in Texas have parents who speak fluent English, adding a layer of challenges for more than one-quarter of children in Texas.
43. Louisiana
> Overall grade: D+
> Per pupil spending: $11,267 (25th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 72.0% (5th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 50.8% (10th highest)
Annual per pupil school spending in Louisiana is roughly in line with the national average spending of $11,667. Nevertheless, Louisiana students have some the worst educational outcomes in the country. Only 18% of eighth graders are proficient in math, and 23% of eighth graders are proficient in reading, the second and third lowest shares in the nation. Additionally, for every 100 11th and 12th graders in the state, fewer than eight Advanced Placement test scores are considered high, the second lowest share in the country after Mississippi. Poor outcomes may be attributable to circumstances outside of the classroom. Children raised by parents with higher incomes tend to do better in school and vice versa. At $44,555, median household income in Louisiana is among the lowest in the nation.
44. Arizona
> Overall grade: D+
> Per pupil spending: $7,620 (2nd smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 77.0% (12th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 35.8% (4th lowest)
Arizona’s average annual per pupil expenditure of $7,620 is lower than in every other state in the country except for Utah. The relatively small investment in education may partially explain the below average high school graduation rate. Only 77% of public high school students in Arizona graduate on time, slightly less than the national graduation rate of 81%. Improvement is also lagging in Arizona. Nationwide, graduation rates have gone up considerably from 2002 through 2012, but in Arizona, the change was minimal. Furthermore, 20% of children in the Grand Canyon State live in households where their parents do not speak fluent English. Succeeding in classes instructed in English is likely more challenging for many of these children.
45. Alabama
> Overall grade: D+
> Per pupil spending: $9,600 (15th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 75.0% (8th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 41.9% (14th lowest)
Educational outcomes in Alabama are among the worst in the country. Only 26% of fourth graders and 17% of eighth graders in the state are proficient in math, each the smallest share of any state. Additionally, only three-quarters of Alabama public school students graduate high school on time with a diploma, one of the worst graduation rates in the country. Children raised by parents with higher incomes tend to face fewer challenges in school and vice versa. With a median household income of $42,830, Alabama is one of the poorest states in the country. Alabama’s schools are also underfunded. Annual per pupil education spending averages $9,600, roughly $2,000 less than the average per pupil spending among all states.
46. Oklahoma
> Overall grade: D+
> Per pupil spending: $8,638 (7th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 79.0% (21st lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 40.5% (13th lowest)
Only 3% of public school students in Oklahoma are educated in districts where annual per pupil education spending exceeds the national average of $11,667. In fact, per pupil school spending across the state averages $8,638, seventh lowest in the country. While graduation rates and standardized test scores in Oklahoma also fall below the respective national figures, some outcomes are improving in the Sooner State. Oklahoma fourth grade math and reading test scores improved more than they did in the vast majority of states from 2003 and 2015. Improvements such as these were common among states where scores were low to begin with.
47. Idaho
> Overall grade: D+
> Per pupil spending: $8,163 (4th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 84.0% (16th highest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 31.6% (the lowest)
In Idaho, an average of just $8,163 is spent per student on education annually, the fourth least of any state. Unlike most states where school spending is relatively low, education expenditure in Idaho is relatively poorly distributed — the disparity across Idaho school districts is worse than in all but two other states. While high spending is concentrated in the state, relatively few school districts have adequate funding. Just 3.5% of students receive more funding than the $11,667 U.S. average. Idaho students perform about as well as the average U.S. student on the math and reading sections of the NAEP. The quality of a child’s early education is one of the most important factor for a student’s academic development. In Idaho, just 31.6% of three and four year-olds are enrolled in preschool — the smallest share in the country.
48. New Mexico
> Overall grade: D
> Per pupil spending: $9,767 (16th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 74.0% (6th lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 38.2% (7th lowest)
New Mexico’s public school system is one of only three to receive a D from Education Week. Students in New Mexico lag behind the vast majority of their peers across the country by many measures. Only 27% of fourth graders in the state are proficient in math, the smallest share in the country after only Alabama. Additionally, only 23% of fourth graders are proficient in reading, the smallest share of any state in the country and well below the corresponding national average of 35%. Students in New Mexico are also much less likely to graduate from high school than most other students in the country. Only 74% of public high school students in the state graduate within four years with a diploma, the sixth lowest graduation rate of any state.
49. Mississippi
> Overall grade: D
> Per pupil spending: $9,353 (14th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 68.0% (2nd lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 49.1% (13th highest)
Mississippi adults have one of the lowest education levels in the country and the lowest annual household income. With a weak tax base, the lower tax revenue can partially explain the smaller education spending. Children of less-educated parents also tend to face more challenges in school compared to students of college-educated parents. At least one parent of just 41% of children in Mississippi have a college degree, one of the lowest proportions of any state in the country. Just one in five Mississippi eighth graders perform proficiently on reading standardized tests — defined as having demonstrated competency on challenging problems. While test performance among U.S. students is not especially high across the board, this is the lowest such score nationwide.
50. Nevada
> Overall grade: D
> Per pupil spending: $8,172 (5th smallest)
> High school graduation rate: 60.0% (the lowest)
> Pct. of eligible children enrolled in preschool: 32.8% (2nd lowest)
According to Education Week’s analysis, the quality of Nevada’s school system is the lowest of any state. Compared to other states, public schools in Nevada are underfunded, have low graduation rates, and students report weak academic performance. State and local sources spend an average of just $8,172 per pupil annually, the fifth lowest expenditure nationwide. With a graduation rate of just 60%, high school students in Nevada are less likely to receive their high school diploma on time than their peers in every other state. Fourth and eighth graders in the state also perform worse on math and reading standardized tests than students in the vast majority of other states. However, from 2003 through 2015, academic performance on these exams improved considerably in Nevada. As Lloyd noted, the states that had the largest improvements in academic performance tended to have relatively low scores to begin with.
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