10 Best States For Public Education Systems

The state of Massachusetts is usually talked about as having the best school system. They have been able to consistently test towards the top of the country in terms of test scores. They rank first in eighth-grade math scores and fourth-grade reading scores, and second in eighth-grade reading and fourth-grade math. That’s just an example of how high they usually rank, and it’s just a fraction of how successful their school system has been over the years. To top it all off, they have the fifth-lowest percentage of students who have been threatened or harmed on campus. This ranges from any type of threat, any weapon, or any physical fistfight. 

Connecticut has the best ACT scores in the entire country, the fifth highest share of students who score at least a three on any type of AP exam, and they have just under eight percent of their public schools ranked inside the top 700 schools across the nation. That might seem like a low percentage, though that is the third highest percentage of any state. Plus, they similarly stand out when it comes to keeping their students safe and out of harm’s way. They have the lowest percentage of illegal drugs that have been found on school campuses, and the third lowest youth incarceration rate.

Maryland is actually in rare company when it comes to how their school systems operate. They are one of just seven other states in the country that make digital content and other instructional material available to be viewed online when students leave the campus. Of course, this directly translates to higher accessibility for their students and likely increases the rate at which they can retain information taught in class. Aside from that, they have the 13^th best SAT scores and the 11^th best ACT scores, and they also have the 10^th best share of public schools ranking inside the top 700, similar to Connecticut. 

New Jersey does well when it comes to keeping the classroom relatively small. This allows students to get better acquainted with their teachers and doesn’t let classrooms get overrun. New Jersey averages one teacher for every 12 students. The state does great in safety also, with the fourth-lowest number of gun violence incidents and the third-lowest number of criminal offenses on campus. Then, to top it all off, these students have an average ACT score of 24.4, which is 25 percent higher than the national average. This state also succeeds in spending money on student support, food services, and overall transportation All of these are things that you would like to see a school system pay attention to, otherwise, it could cause immediate problems. Lastly, they have very high average scores for both reading and writing at the eighth-grade level. New Jersey is a very well-rounded state for public education and should be higher if there weren’t a couple of other great options already listed. 

Also Read: Exploring Wildwood: A Gem on New Jersey’s Coastline

Pennsylvania does an excellent job at helping get its students through the school system. Something that helps them stand out a little more in comparison to other states. The Quaker State has the second-highest high school graduation rate in the United States, coming in at just under 96 percent. They also rank similarly to New Jersey in ACT scores, with an average of 23.9, 23 percent higher than the national average. Pennsylvania schools teach their students well and help them push through the system effectively.

Wisconsin has an above-average high school graduation rate, coming in at 93 percent, though they do even better when it comes to the SAT. Their average SAT scores are at 1236, which is the fifth-best average in the country and 20 percent higher than the national average. On top of that, four-year in-state college tuition is 18 percent lower than the average, and that is something that will always dramatically improve a school system. Finally, they have a solid student-to-teacher ratio, averaging one teacher for every 13.7 students. 

Also Read: 6 Things You Should Negotiate Other Than Your Salary

Virginia public school systems are ranked very highly in the United States when it comes to multiple categories. They are ranked fourth in terms of quality and third for safety, with the fourth-highest math scores across the nation. An area in which they truly thrive is the stoppage of bullying, with the fourth-lowest bullying incidence rate in the country. Virginia has done a wonderful job helping their students ace their classes while simultaneously limiting violence and harassment. 

The student-to-teacher ratio is always going to be important when looking at a school system overall. It allows the students to get more individualized attention. Vermont specializes in that department. They have the best ratio of students to teachers in the country, with one teacher for every 10 students. To put that into perspective, the national average is one teacher for every 16 students. Vermont is also great at limiting threats, ranking fourth in safety and tied for first with the lowest percentage of threatened/injured students across high schools. 

Also Read: Vermont Vacations: Things To Do And See in Every Season

It might be unexpected, but New York has earned itself a spot on this list. This state does more for its school system than many other states across the nation. They invest a ridiculous amount of money in the classrooms, the teachers, and the schools themselves. That type of hefty investment has shown off positively, as it’s helped their scores and overall happiness. To make it even better, their teacher-to-student ratio is the sixth-best in the country, with one teacher for every 11.7 students. Overall, the continuous investments being made to the public school systems in New York allow it to rapidly rise the ranks even further in the upcoming couple of years.

Washington shares some similarities to New York in terms of overall investment. This state has the fourth-highest average teacher salary across the nation, with the total coming in at just under $90,000 per year. They also have the third highest grant aid per student in the country, which is incredibly beneficial to the students who are attending college. Washington’s investment hasn’t gone to waste, as the students have maintained an average ACT score of 24.5, higher than the national average. All news coming out of Washington recently regarding the public school system has indicated that there will be a continuous investment in it to improve it even more than it already has. Washington has made significant progress in their school system, and it’s a good sign that they still aren’t satisfied.