Choosing the right school is crucial for academic success. However, with children developing and learning at different rates, the best choice can vary for each student. The COVID-19 pandemic has added an additional layer of complexity; many students experienced learning loss.
This may cause parents to consider switching schools in the future. However, private or preparatory schools are not an option for most families due to cost. Public education is the only choice for most U.S. families, but the quality of public schools varies widely from state to state, often depending on funding.
Public education funding comes from federal, state, and local governments. According to the U.S. Department of Education, states contribute nearly as much as local governments, while the federal government provides the smallest share. Studies have shown that more resources, or taxes paid by residents, are linked to better school performance.
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, education is more crucial now than ever, as technological advancements are eliminating low-skilled jobs. Poor education can lead to negative socioeconomic consequences for students in the future.
With over 42 million elementary and postsecondary students and about 19.4 college students in the U.S., education provides employment, financial stability, and independence opportunities.
Which states are effectively preparing future leaders for success, and which are lagging behind?
In partnership with EDsmart, Impactful analyzed data from two sources (Intelligent.com and WalletHub) to calculate the best & worst states for education.
Intelligent.com “drew upon key metrics related to performance, safety, community, investment, class size, and attendance for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read on to find out how your state stacks up.”
WalletHub’s analysis “takes a more comprehensive approach. It accounts for performance, funding, safety, class size, and instructor credentials. To determine the top-performing school systems in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key metrics.”
Best States for Education
1. Massachusetts
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 1
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 2
- WalletHub Total Score: 72.79
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 1
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 1
- Intelligent Academic Performance Rank: 1
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 15
- Intelligent Community Rank: 4
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 4
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 10
2. New Jersey
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 3
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 1
- WalletHub Total Score: 64.05
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 3
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 21
- Intelligent Academic Performance Rank: 2
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 2
- Intelligent Community Rank: 7
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 6
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 12
3. Connecticut
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 2
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 3
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 66.22
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 2
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 9
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 3
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 22
- Intelligent Community Rank: 3
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 28
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 7
4. Virginia
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 4
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 6
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 61.79
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 4
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 4
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 5
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 18
- Intelligent Community Rank: 14
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 29
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 40
5. Maryland
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 5
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 7
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 60.67
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 7
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 6
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 8
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 35
- Intelligent Community Rank: 8
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 14
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 26
6. Wisconsin
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 10
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 5
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 58.03
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 5
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 31
- Intelligent Academic Performance:4
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 17
- Intelligent Community Rank: 17
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 25
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 38
7. New Hampshire
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 7
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 11
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 59.19
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 8
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 11
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 10
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 37
- Intelligent Community Rank: 5
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 17
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 11
8. Minnesota
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 15
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 4
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 55.21
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 11
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 36
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 9
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 3
- Intelligent Community Rank: 13
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 26
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 8
9. Utah
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 13
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 10
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 55.53
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 12
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 16
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 11
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 12
- Intelligent Community Rank: 22
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 11
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 22
10. Vermont
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 11
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 12
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 56.71
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 16
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 7
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 6
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 45
- Intelligent Community Rank: 2
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 34
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 48
Worst States for Education
1. New Mexico
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 51
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 51
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 26.07
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 51
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 43
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 51
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 47
- Intelligent Community Rank: 45
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 44
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 47
2. Louisiana
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 49
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 48
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 34.09
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 49
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 40
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 48
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 23
- Intelligent Community Rank: 46
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 21
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 19
3. South Carolina
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 46
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 49
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 37.31
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 42
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 51
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 41
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 44
- Intelligent Community Rank: 38
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 48
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 36
4. Alaska
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 50
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 45
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 33.05
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 50
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 30
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 49
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 31
- Intelligent Community Rank: 28
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 2
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 23
5. Mississippi
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 43
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 50
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 38.65
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 43
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 45
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 50
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 50
- Intelligent Community Rank: 37
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 50
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 33
6. West Virginia
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 47
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 44
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 37.18
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 47
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 18
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 46
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 4
- Intelligent Community Rank: 48
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 24
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 50
7. Oregon
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 44
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 46
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 38.07
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 44
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 39
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 44
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 27
- Intelligent Community Rank: 25
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 38
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 45
8. Arizona
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 48
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 38
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 35.11
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 48
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 34
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 45
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 8
- Intelligent Community Rank: 47
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 35
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 20
9. Oklahoma
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 45
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 40
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 38.01
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 46
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 25
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 47
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 6
- Intelligent Community Rank: 40
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 22
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 37
10. Idaho
- WalletHub Overall Ranking: 37
- Intelligent Overall Ranking: 47
- WalletHub Total Score Rank: 45.22
- WalletHub Quality Rank: 34
- WalletHub Safety Rank: 44
- Intelligent Academic Performance: 42
- Intelligent Safety Rank: 39
- Intelligent Community Rank: 42
- Intelligent Academic Investment Rank: 32
- Intelligent Class Size and Attendance Rank: 17
