It's September, and the nation’s students are returning to class, but where they get their public school education may determine where they get into college.
For the past two years, states have struggled with the challenge of providing students enrolled in their public school systems with an education during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some states rose to the challenge more successfully than others, according to a new WalletHub report.
To determine the top-performing public school systems in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions of “Quality” and “Safety” by evaluating 32 relevant metrics. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest quality of public K-12 education. WalletHub then determined the weighted average of each state and the District of Columbia across all metrics to calculate its overall score and rank order.
Here, in ascending order, are the top 10 states with the best public school systems.
10. Wisconsin
With a ranking of 23 in state spending, the Badger State did not skimp on financing a quality public school system education, even during the pandemic. Wisconsin ranks 31st in safety and fifth in Quality. Total Score: 58.03 out of 100.
9. Nebraska
Despite a state education spending rank of 26th, Nebraska’s public school students excelled on their Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs), with the Cornhusker State tied for second place with Utah, Iowa and North Dakota for highest median SAT score. Nebraska ranks ninth in quality and eighth in safety. Total Score: 58.12 out of 100.
8. North Dakota
The Peace Garden State ranks 18th in spending; 28th in safety; and sixth in quality. Total Score: 58.42 out of 100.
7. New Hampshire
The Granite State ranks fourth in reading test scores; ties for fourth place with California for the highest median American College Testing (ACT) score; and ranks third for pupil-teacher ratio, but ranks 47th with one of the highest bullying incidence rates in the country. New Hampshire ranks 11th in safety and eighth in quality. Total Score: 59.19 out of 100.
6. Delaware
America’s first state to sign the Constitution ranks second for lowest bullying incidence rate and is tied for fifth place with Georgia for lowest percentage of threatenend/injured high school students. It is tied with Florida at 49th place for lowest median SAT score. Delaware ranks 16th in spending; 10th in quality; and second in safety. Total Score: 60.05 out of 100.
5. Maryland
With a spendings ranking of 17th, Maryland, nicknamed the Free State, ranks seventh in quality and sixth in safety. Total Score: 60.67 out of 100.
4. Virginia
Thanks to a spending ranking of 22, Virginia ranks 22nd in spending, fourth for highest math test scores and fourth in both safety and quality. Total Score: 61.79 out of 100.
3. New Jersey
New Jersey had the highest real-estate property tax in the country during 2022 with a tax rate of 2.49%, which is one of the reasons why it ranks fourth in education spending. The Garden State ranks fourth in pupil-teacher ratio; second for highest reading test scores; third in math test scores; and is tied for fourth place with Kentucky for lowest dropout rate. New Jersey ranks 21st in safety and third in quality. Total Score: 64.05 out o 100.
2. Connecticut
The Nutmeg State ranks fifth in education spending, fifth in pupil-teacher ratio amd is in a three-way tie with Massachusetts and the District of Columbia for highest ACT scores. It ranks third for highest reading test scores. Connecticut ranks ninth in safety and second in quality. Total Score: 66.22 out of 100.
1. Massachusetts
Massachusetts ranks sixth in education spending, first in math test scores; first in reading test scores and is tied with Connecticut and the District of Columbia for first in median ACT scores. The state has the lowest percentage of threatened/injured high school students. Massachusetts ranks first in quality and in safety. Total Score: 72.79 out of 100.
The full report can be viewed here.
