America’s Dashboard
Education rankings · 50 states · K-12 public schools · NAEP, EDFacts, NCES

Education Rankings by State: All 50 States Ranked Best to Worst

Massachusetts is the #1 state for education in 2026, scoring 92.0 out of 100 with a 90.1% high school graduation rate. New Hampshire (77.5) and Utah (76.8) follow, while New Mexico ranks last at 6.6.

This page ranks every state's K-12 public schools and shows the numbers behind each rank: graduation rates, per-pupil spending and students per teacher in each state's largest cities, and the best school cities in the country. Use it to check your state, weigh a move, or see why the best states for education are where they are. How the score works →

#1 for education · Grade A+
Massachusetts92.0
Education score out of 100
Four-year graduation rate
90.1%
Overall rank
#13
Full Massachusetts profile →

Pick your state to see where it ranks for education, the numbers behind its rank, and how it compares with the #1 state. We'll remember it on the other ranking pages.

America's Schools by the Numbers

The national lines every state is measured against, and how much school data sits behind this page.

Average education score
57.5
Median state: 60.6
Average graduation rate
85.6%
Four-year rate · average of states
Highest graduation rate
91.2%
West Virginia · lowest New Mexico 76.6%
Average 8th-grade NAEP math
273
Reading 257 · 0-500 scale · average of states
Schools tracked
24,711
In 1,063 cities · NCES
Students tracked
15.3M
Enrolled in tracked cities · 47 states
Read the national overview

The typical state scores 57.5 out of 100 for education. Each input sits on a fixed scale, so the gaps between states reflect real differences in test results and diplomas: 4 states score 75 or higher and 2 below 30. Eighth graders average 273 in NAEP math, from 256 in New Mexico to 284 in Massachusetts. Graduation rates are more bunched. The average state graduates 85.6% of students within four years, 5 states clear 90%, and 18 fall below 85%. Geography matters: the Midwest averages 64.3 while the West averages 48.4, and 4 of the top 10 states are in the Northeast. Money tracks the rankings too: the 10 best education states have a median household income of $86,308, against $75,918 in the bottom 10.

Education Score Map: All 50 States

Darker states score higher. Hover, focus, or tap a state to see its education rank, score, and grade in the panel.

Create your own education map →

Best and Worst States for Education

The 10 highest and 10 lowest scoring school systems, with each state's graduation rate and overall rank. Massachusetts leads; New Mexico is last.

Top 10 states for education

Score · grade
  1. 1Massachusetts90.1% graduate · #13 overall92.0A+
  2. 2New Hampshire87.7% graduate · #1 overall77.5A+
  3. 3Utah88.2% graduate · #6 overall76.8A+
  4. 4Wisconsin90.3% graduate · #11 overall76.5A+
  5. 5New Jersey85.2% graduate · #28 overall74.8A+
  6. 6Connecticut88.9% graduate · #16 overall74.1A
  7. 7Indiana87.7% graduate · #22 overall73.5A
  8. 8Tennessee90.4% graduate · #24 overall71.7A
  9. 9Iowa89.9% graduate · #14 overall69.0A
  10. 10Kentucky90.1% graduate · #41 overall67.6A

Worst 10 states for education

Score · grade
  1. 50New Mexico76.6% graduate · #49 overall6.6F
  2. 49Alaska77.8% graduate · #42 overall16.7F
  3. 48Oklahoma80% graduate · #43 overall30.2D
  4. 47Arizona77.3% graduate · #38 overall32.6D
  5. 46Oregon81.3% graduate · #35 overall35.6D
  6. 45Nevada81.7% graduate · #40 overall40.3D
  7. 44Michigan81% graduate · #45 overall42.2D
  8. 43West Virginia91.2% graduate · #44 overall45.1D
  9. 42Delaware87.8% graduate · #30 overall45.2C
  10. 41Louisiana83.1% graduate · #50 overall48.3C

NAEP Test Scores by State

NAEP, the Nation's Report Card, tests a sample of public school students in every state with the same math and reading exams. Massachusetts posts the highest eighth-grade math score (284); New Mexico the lowest (256). Test results carry 70% of the education score.

Highest 8th-grade math

  1. 1Massachusetts#1 for education284
  2. 2Wisconsin#4 for education283
  3. 3Minnesota#19 for education282
  4. 4Utah#3 for education282
  5. 5New Jersey#5 for education282
  6. 6South Dakota#25 for education281
  7. 7Nebraska#20 for education280
  8. 8North Dakota#17 for education280

Lowest 8th-grade math

  1. 50New Mexico#50 for education256
  2. 49West Virginia#43 for education261
  3. 48Alabama#39 for education262
  4. 47Delaware#42 for education263
  5. 46Alaska#49 for education264
  6. 45Oklahoma#48 for education265
  7. 44Nevada#45 for education265
  8. 43Arkansas#40 for education266

Highest 8th-grade reading

  1. 1Massachusetts#1 for education268
  2. 2New Jersey#5 for education266
  3. 3Colorado#18 for education265
  4. 4New Hampshire#2 for education264
  5. 5Connecticut#6 for education263
  6. 6Indiana#7 for education262
  7. 7Illinois#13 for education262
  8. 8Utah#3 for education261

Lowest 8th-grade reading

  1. 50New Mexico#50 for education245
  2. 49Alaska#49 for education246
  3. 48West Virginia#43 for education247
  4. 47Oklahoma#48 for education249
  5. 46Delaware#42 for education250
  6. 45Alabama#39 for education250
  7. 44Texas#24 for education252
  8. 43Florida#23 for education253

Average scale scores on a 0-500 scale. State averages: 273 in math and 257 in reading. Fourth-grade scores count equally in the education score and appear on each state's profile.

Explore NAEP results →

High School Graduation Rate by State

West Virginia graduates 91.2% of students within four years, the highest rate in the country; New Mexico graduates 76.6%, the lowest. The education rank and the diploma rate do not always agree.

Highest graduation rates

  1. 1West Virginia#43 for education91.2%
  2. 2Tennessee#8 for education90.4%
  3. 3Wisconsin#4 for education90.3%
  4. 4Massachusetts#1 for education90.1%
  5. 5Kentucky#10 for education90.1%
  6. 6Iowa#9 for education89.9%
  7. 7Missouri#27 for education89.8%
  8. 8Texas#24 for education89.7%

Lowest graduation rates

  1. 50New Mexico#50 for education76.6%
  2. 49Arizona#47 for education77.3%
  3. 48Alaska#49 for education77.8%
  4. 47Idaho#32 for education79.9%
  5. 46Oklahoma#48 for education80%
  6. 45Michigan#44 for education81%
  7. 44Oregon#46 for education81.3%
  8. 43Nevada#45 for education81.7%

Diplomas vs. rank: graduate more than they rank

Edu rank
  1. #1West Virginia91.2% graduate · education #43#43
  2. #13Arkansas88.2% graduate · education #40#40
  3. #13Alabama88.2% graduate · education #39#39
  4. #16Delaware87.8% graduate · education #42#42

Rank higher than they graduate

Edu rank
  1. #31New Jersey85.2% graduate · education #5#5
  2. #42Wyoming81.8% graduate · education #16#16
  3. #40Colorado82.3% graduate · education #18#18
  4. #30Montana85.8% graduate · education #12#12

Where the graduation-rate rank (left) and the education rank disagree most. A diploma rate measures how many students finish; the education rank also weighs what they learned, via NAEP math and reading results.

All 50 States Ranked by Education

Every state's education score, graduation rate, and the spending and staffing levels in its largest cities. Click a column header to re-sort, search for a state, or narrow the list by region or grade. The # column is always the education rank, even after you filter.

Grade
50 states
#GradeRegion
1Massachusetts92.028426890.1%$23,79112.3:1#13A+Northeast
2New Hampshire77.528026487.7%$20,85911.8:1#1A+Northeast
3Utah76.828226188.2%$10,34822.4:1#6A+West
4Wisconsin76.528326090.3%$15,94214.8:1#11A+Midwest
5New Jersey74.828226685.2%$26,22013.8:1#28A+Northeast
6Connecticut74.127726388.9%$22,43713.2:1#16ANortheast
7Indiana73.527826287.7%$14,31915.3:1#22AMidwest
8Tennessee71.727625990.4%$12,96815.8:1#24ASouth
9Iowa69.027526189.9%$13,50515.1:1#14AMidwest
10Kentucky67.627125890.1%$15,65515.5:1#41ASouth
11Ohio67.427926086.2%$18,50316.5:1#33B+Midwest
12Montana67.127926185.8%$12,33215.7:1#7B+West
13Illinois65.927726287.3%$21,61914.3:1#39B+Midwest
14Virginia65.427525689.1%$17,22914.5:1#15B+South
15Pennsylvania65.427625987%$18,50914.1:1#25B+Northeast
16Wyoming65.327826081.8%$18,49313.3:1#2B+West
17North Dakota65.328025785.1%$14,79713.7:1#5B+Midwest
18Colorado65.327826582.3%$14,98016.8:1#18B+West
19Minnesota64.728226083.6%$16,84615.6:1#12BMidwest
20Nebraska63.828025687.1%$13,93715.6:1#10BMidwest
21Kansas63.227425689.1%$14,36914.8:1#27BMidwest
22Mississippi62.926925488.9%$12,14913.9:1#46BSouth
23Florida61.126725387.3%$11,99919.1:1#21BSouth
24Texas60.726925289.7%$12,17015.3:1#32BSouth
25South Dakota60.628126082.1%$10,93615.5:1#3BMidwest
26North Carolina60.627625586.4%$12,32315.7:1#23BSouth
27Missouri59.727025589.8%$14,88713.7:1#34C+Midwest
28Hawaii59.127025786%$20,05614.7:1#17C+West
29Washington57.427425983.6%$18,47417.8:1#20C+West
30New York56.627125786.7%$26,95112.8:1#29C+Northeast
31Maryland55.526825886.3%$20,11714.8:1#31C+Northeast
32Idaho55.227826179.9%$9,70519.1:1#4C+West
33Rhode Island53.527025883.3%$21,73413.2:1#19C+Northeast
34Georgia53.126925984.1%$16,41413.7:1#26C+South
35Vermont52.427625782.8%$26,12312.3:1#8CNortheast
36Maine51.827325586.1%$18,90911.8:1#9CNortheast
37California51.726925487%$17,94422.6:1#47CWest
38South Carolina50.126825483.8%$14,85414.7:1#36CSouth
39Alabama49.426225088.2%$13,38017.6:1#37CSouth
40Arkansas49.326625588.2%$12,69114.4:1#48CSouth
41Louisiana48.326725783.1%$14,86214.8:1#50CSouth
42Delaware45.226325087.8%$19,08915.1:1#30CNortheast
43West Virginia45.126124791.2%$14,34413.8:1#44DSouth
44Michigan42.227025581%$17,09817.2:1#45DMidwest
45Nevada40.326525381.7%$10,99922.0:1#40DWest
46Oregon35.626825581.3%$16,66119.0:1#35DWest
47Arizona32.627025477.3%$11,04222.9:1#38DWest
48Oklahoma30.226524980%$10,74317.4:1#43DSouth
49Alaska16.726424677.8%$18,09617.2:1#42FWest
50New Mexico6.625624576.6%$14,57315.4:1#49FWest

Score combines NAEP math (40%) and reading (30%) in grades 4 and 8 with the four-year graduation rate (30%), each on a fixed 0-100 scale. Math and Reading show eighth-grade NAEP scale scores; hover for fourth grade. HS Grad is the four-year graduation rate (EDFacts). Spend / Pupil and Students / Teacher are enrollment-weighted across the largest cities we track in each state (NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey); a dash means no tracked city in that state has school data. Overall is the state's rank across all 11 categories.

The Best Cities for Public Schools

The highest-scoring school systems among the 1,063 cities with NCES data. Hanover, NH leads with a 97% graduation rate. City scores combine graduation rate, students per teacher, and per-pupil spending.

#CityScoreGrad rateStudents / teacherSpend / pupilSchoolsStudents
1HanoverNew Hampshire97.597%10.2:1$26,73731,485
2NewtonMassachusetts96.196%10.4:1$26,98151,817
3ExeterNew Hampshire95.995%8.1:1$26,90661,023
4PortsmouthNew Hampshire94.996%11.0:1$25,05962,443
5LevittownNew York92.194.2%11.5:1$30,211128,367
6Milford cityConnecticut92.093%10.9:1$27,086135,203
7DurhamNew Hampshire91.898%11.8:1$22,97631,482
8BrooklineMassachusetts90.594%12.2:1$27,892105,909
9CambridgeMassachusetts90.589.7%9.3:1$37,934187,656
10JacksonWyoming90.294%11.8:1$24,38642,122

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Wyoming supply all 10 of the best school cities. These districts spend between $22,976 and $37,934 per student. Cities need at least three public schools with NCES records and an EDFacts graduation rate to be scored; the education score for the 249 cities without that data have no education score.

Search all 1,312 cities →

How the Education Score Is Calculated

Federal test results and graduation rates, each placed on a fixed scale and weighted into one score. Here is what each number means and what it leaves out.

What the score measures

NAEP math (40%) and reading (30%) scores for public school fourth and eighth graders, and the four-year high school graduation rate (30%). Each grade counts half of its subject.

Fixed scales, not a curve

Each measure maps onto 0-100 between fixed bounds: 220-250 for fourth-grade math, 255-285 for eighth-grade math, 200-225 and 245-270 for reading, and 75-92% for graduation. Values outside a band count as 0 or 100. Close states get close scores, and every state can improve at once.

Letter grades

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1-5, A for 6-10, B+ for 11-18, B for 19-26, C+ for 27-34, C for 35-42, D for 43-48, and F for 49-50.

Weight in the overall score

12%

Education is one of 11 categories in each state's composite score, weighted at 12%, tied with safety and health and behind only the economy. See the overall rankings →

Graduation rate

The share of a ninth-grade cohort that earns a regular diploma within four years, from the U.S. Department of Education's EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate files. It is 30% of the score. States set their own diploma requirements, which is why the rate gets less weight than the common NAEP tests.

City school data

Graduation rate, students per teacher, per-pupil spending, and enrollment for every tracked city, from the NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. 1,063 cities in 47 states have enough schools to be scored. State-level spending and ratio figures on this page are enrollment-weighted averages of those cities, not statewide totals, and they are not part of the state score.

What is not counted

Colleges and universities, adult degree attainment, private schools, homeschooling, school spending, class sizes, and teacher pay. A state known for its universities can rank lower here than in a ranking of the most educated states.

Always the latest releases

This page is rebuilt from the most recent federal files each source has published (checked October 2026). Scores change when a new NAEP round or graduation-rate release moves a state's results.

Why US News, WalletHub, and NAEP rank states differently

SourceWhat it measuresBest for
America's Dashboard (this page)NAEP math and reading scores (grades 4 and 8) and the graduation rate on fixed scales, with city-level spending and staffing shown alongsideOne comparable score per state, built from results you can check
WalletHub, Best & Worst School SystemsDozens of K-12 quality and safety metrics, including NAEP results and graduation ratesThe most detailed annual K-12 comparison
U.S. News, Best States for EducationPre-K-12 and higher education together (college graduation, tuition, debt)States with strong universities as well as strong schools
NAEP, the Nation's Report CardFederal math and reading tests in grades 4 and 8, reported as scores, not a rankingComparing actual test results between two states

The rankings disagree because they measure different things, not because one is wrong. A state with excellent universities and average schools rises in U.S. News and falls here; a state with high test scores but low spending does well here and worse in a spending-weighted list.

Read the full methodology →

Key Takeaways

Patterns in the education data that the table alone does not show.

  1. The Northeast places the most states in the top 10

    4 of the top 10 states are in the Northeast: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Connecticut. By average score the Midwest leads at 64.3 out of 100, ahead of the Northeast's 63.5, against 48.4 for the West. 5 of the bottom 10 are in the West: Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Alaska, and New Mexico.

  2. A high graduation rate does not guarantee a high rank

    West Virginia graduates 91.2% of its students, the #1 rate in the country, yet ranks #43 for education. New Jersey runs the other way: an 85.2% graduation rate (#31) but a #5 education rank. NAEP math and reading carry 70% of the score, so diplomas alone do not lift a state.

  3. Big states finish mid-pack

    The 10 most populous states land between #11 (Ohio) and #44 (Michigan). Only 3 of them rank in the top 20.

  4. Better schools, bigger paychecks

    The 10 best education states have a median household income of $86,308, about 14% more than the $75,918 in the 10 lowest-ranked states. Their graduation rates differ far less: 88.9% versus 81.8%.

  5. Money is not destiny

    Schools in Utah's largest cities spend about $10,348 per student, among the lowest of any tracked state, and the state still ranks #3. Delaware's cities spend $19,089 and the state ranks #42. Across all 50 states, spending runs from $9,705 (Idaho) to $26,951 (New York).

  6. The best school cities cluster in New Hampshire and Massachusetts

    New Hampshire (4), Massachusetts (3), and New York (1) account for 8 of the 10 highest-scoring cities for public schools. Hanover, NH leads with a 97% graduation rate and 10.2 students per teacher.

Average education score by region

Mean education score of the states in each Census region, with the region's average graduation rate.

  1. 1Midwest12 states · 86.6% grad64.3
  2. 2Northeast11 states · 86.5% grad63.5
  3. 3South14 states · 87.2% grad55.4
  4. 4West13 states · 82.3% grad48.4

The Midwest outscores the West by 16 points, yet their graduation rates are only 4.3 points apart.

Go Deeper

Best states for families →

Every category re-weighted for households with kids: schools, safety, housing, and healthcare.

Compare two states →

Education, cost of living, and every other category side by side.

All 1,312 cities ranked →

Search and sort every city we track, including school metrics.

Teacher pay by metro →

Where secondary school teachers earn the most after cost of living.

Other categoriesEconomySafetyHealthFiscal HealthGrowthAffordabilityEnvironmentOutdoor AccessTransportationLivability

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state is #1 in education?

Massachusetts is the #1 state for education with a score of 92.0 out of 100 and a 90.1% high school graduation rate. New Hampshire (77.5) and Utah (76.8) rank second and third. Its public school eighth graders average 284 in NAEP math (#1) and 268 in reading (#1). The score combines NAEP math and reading results in grades 4 and 8 with each state's graduation rate.

What are the top 10 states for education?

The top 10 states for education are Massachusetts (92.0), New Hampshire (77.5), Utah (76.8), Wisconsin (76.5), New Jersey (74.8), Connecticut (74.1), Indiana (73.5), Tennessee (71.7), Iowa (69.0), and Kentucky (67.6). 4 of the 10 are in the Northeast.

What state has the best public schools?

Massachusetts has the best public schools by this ranking, which covers K-12 public school systems only. Its highest-scoring school cities are Newton (96% graduation rate), Brookline (94% graduation rate), and Cambridge (89.7% graduation rate). Nationally, the highest-scoring cities for public schools are Hanover, NH, Newton, MA, and Exeter, NH.

What state has the worst education?

New Mexico ranks last (#50) for education with a score of 6.6 and a 76.6% graduation rate. Alaska (#49, 16.7) and Oklahoma (#48, 30.2) are next. The bottom five are New Mexico, Alaska, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Oregon.

Why does New Mexico rank last for education?

New Mexico posts the #50 eighth-grade NAEP math score (256, against a 273 state average) and the #50 reading score (245 against 257). Its 76.6% four-year graduation rate is the #50 rate in the country, below the 85.6% national average. All three bottom states graduate fewer than 85.6% of students.

Which state has the highest high school graduation rate?

West Virginia has the highest four-year graduation rate at 91.2%. Tennessee (90.4%), Wisconsin (90.3%), and Massachusetts (90.1%) follow. 5 states graduate at least 90% of their students.

Which state has the lowest high school graduation rate?

New Mexico has the lowest graduation rate at 76.6%, followed by Arizona (77.3%), Alaska (77.8%), and Idaho (79.9%). 18 states graduate fewer than 85% of students within four years.

What is the national average high school graduation rate?

The average state graduates 85.6% of students within four years. Rates run from 76.6% in New Mexico to 91.2% in West Virginia, a 14.600000000000009-point spread. The 10 best education states average 88.9%; the 10 lowest-ranked average 81.8%.

Which state has the highest NAEP scores?

Massachusetts has the highest eighth-grade NAEP math score at 284 and also leads in reading at 268. The lowest are New Mexico in math (256) and reading (245). The average state scores 273 in math and 257 in reading. NAEP scores run on a 0-500 scale, and a few points is a meaningful gap.

How are state education rankings calculated?

The score measures results directly. NAEP math (grades 4 and 8) counts for 40%, NAEP reading (grades 4 and 8) for 30%, and the four-year high school graduation rate for 30%. Each measure is placed on a fixed 0-100 scale, for example 255 to 285 for eighth-grade math and 75% to 92% for graduation, so a state's score rises when its students do better, not only when another state slips. City-level spending and student-teacher ratios from the NCES Common Core of Data are shown alongside but not scored. Education counts for 12% of each state's overall score on this site.

Is Massachusetts really the best state for education?

By this ranking, yes: Massachusetts scores 92.0, 14.5 points ahead of New Hampshire, with a 90.1% graduation rate and schools in its largest cities spending about $23,791 per student. It is also #13 overall across all 11 categories. Other published rankings can place a different state first because they weigh higher education, spending, or safety differently.

Why do US News, WalletHub, and other education rankings disagree?

They measure different things. WalletHub ranks K-12 public school systems on dozens of quality and safety metrics. U.S. News folds higher education (college graduation rates, tuition, debt) into its education score, so a state with strong universities can rank well despite middling K-12 results. NAEP, the federal test, publishes math and reading scores rather than a ranking. This page scores states on those NAEP results and graduation rates only, and shows city-level spending and class-size data separately.

Which region has the best schools?

The Midwest has the highest average education score at 64.3, followed by the Northeast (63.5), South (55.4), and West (48.4). Graduation rates are closer: the Midwest averages 86.6% and the West 82.3%.

Where do California, Texas, Florida, and New York rank for education?

Among the 10 most populous states, Ohio is #11, Illinois is #13, Pennsylvania is #15, Florida is #23, Texas is #24, North Carolina is #26, New York is #30, Georgia is #34, California is #37, and Michigan is #44. The best big state, Ohio, scores 67.4; the lowest, Michigan, scores 42.2.

How much does each state spend per student?

This page tracks per-pupil spending for the largest cities in each state rather than statewide totals. Weighted by enrollment, schools in New York's tracked cities spend the most at about $26,951 per student, and Idaho's spend the least at about $9,705. Figures come from the NCES School District Finance Survey. Sort the table above by spending to see every state.

Does spending more per student improve school outcomes?

Not on its own. Utah ranks #3 although its largest cities spend only about $10,348 per student; Delaware's cities spend $19,089 and the state ranks #42. Still, 6 of the top 10 states spend more than the median state ($14,980). Spending buys smaller classes and teacher pay, but the score counts only test results and graduation, not budgets.

Which state has the smallest class sizes?

Using students per teacher in each state's largest cities as a proxy, New Hampshire and Maine share the smallest ratio at 11.8 students per teacher, followed by Massachusetts (12.3), Vermont (12.3), and New York (12.8). Arizona has the largest at 22.9. Student-teacher ratio counts all teaching staff, so actual class sizes run higher. Source: NCES Common Core of Data.

How much does education count in the overall state rankings?

Education is 12% of each state's composite score, tied with safety and health and behind only the economy (15%). Massachusetts, the #1 education state, ranks #13 overall; New Mexico, the #50 education state, ranks #49 overall.

Do these rankings include colleges and universities?

No. This page scores K-12 public schools on NAEP test results and graduation rates, and shows city-level spending and staffing alongside. Higher education, adult degree attainment, and private schools are not scored, which is why a state known for its universities can rank lower here than in a ranking of the most educated states.

What is the difference between the best school systems and the most educated states?

Best school systems measures how K-12 public school students perform today: test scores and graduation rates. Most educated states measures the adults who live there: the share with bachelor's or graduate degrees. A state can import educated workers without running strong schools, and vice versa. This page ranks school systems.

Which states pay teachers the most?

Teacher pay is not part of the education score. Metro-level salaries for secondary school teachers, adjusted for cost of living, are on the careers page at americadashboard.com/careers/secondary-school-teachers.

Where does the education data come from, and how current is it?

Test scores come from the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the federal math and reading test given to a sample of fourth and eighth graders in every state. Graduation rates come from the U.S. Department of Education's EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate files, as compiled by NCES. City school metrics (graduation rate, students per teacher, per-pupil spending, enrollment) come from the NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey; 1,063 cities in 47 states have enough records to be scored. The page is rebuilt whenever a source publishes a new release.

What are the best states to move to for schools?

For schools alone, the top five are Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Utah, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. Families usually weigh housing costs and safety too; the best states for families ranking at americadashboard.com/best-places/families re-weights every category for households with children.

Education Rank for Every State

Every state's education rank, score, and graduation rate. Click through for the full profile, including the state's cities and school data.