Map Options

Color Scheme:
Map Type:
Download SVG:
map placeholder
New Jersey
1
New Hampshire
2
Connecticut
3
Vermont
4
Massachusetts
5
New York
6
Maine
7
Colorado
8
Pennsylvania
9
Virginia
10
Delaware
11
Maryland
12
Washington
13
Wyoming
14
Minnesota
15
Iowa
16
South Dakota
17
Ohio
18
Wisconsin
19
Illinois
20
Nebraska
21
Rhode Island
22
Indiana
23
Oregon
24
North Dakota
25
Missouri
26
Montana
27
Kansas
28
Michigan
29
Kentucky
30
Georgia
31
Arkansas
32
Idaho
33
West Virginia
34
Alaska
35
Hawaii
36
Utah
37
Texas
38
Mississippi
39
California
40
Tennessee
41
Florida
42
North Carolina
43
Oklahoma
44
South Carolina
45
Alabama
46
New Mexico
47
Nevada
48
Louisiana
49
Arizona
50

Public School Rankings by State 2024

Public School Rankings by State 2024

Finding the best public school is a priority for many families. A good education is important to these families, who may even choose where they purchase or rent housing to ensure their children are in the best public school systems.

There are about 51 million public school students in the United States. While far from perfect, public schools play a vital role in their respective communities. Public schools improve their communities and the welfare of children. Public schools welcome all children, no matter their income level, disability, or previous academic performance. Many schools provide school meals, which helps children from food-insecure families get nutritious food every day. The better the public school, the more likely students will achieve higher educational attainment.

While there is no comprehensive way to measure what public schools are the best in the nation, a few surveys look at data, including high school graduation rates and college readiness, to determine which states have the best schools.

States with the Best Public Schools

WalletHub ranked each state's public schools for "Quality" and "Safety" using 33 relevant metrics. Metrics included high school graduation rate among low-income students, math and reading scores, median SAT and ACT scores, pupil-teach ratio, the share of armed students, the number of school shootings between 2000 and June 2020, bullying incidence rate, and more. Based on these metrics, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey have the best public schools in the United States.

1. Massachusetts

Massachusetts has the best public school system in the U.S. 48.8% of Massachusetts's eligible schools ranked in the top 25% of high school rankings, a total of 167 schools. Massachusetts has the highest math and reading test scores in the U.S. and the second-highest median ACT score of 25.1. Massachusetts also has one of the lowest bullying incidence rates in the country and is considered one of the best states for teachers. Massachusetts is also the most educated state in the country.

2. Connecticut

Connecticut ranks second in the nation for public schools, ranking second for quality and 19th for safety. Connecticut students have the highest median ACT score of 25.5 and have the third-highest reading test scores. Connecticut spends about $18,958 per student, one of the highest per-pupil costs in the country. Connecticut is also one of the best states for teachers due to having small class sizes and some of the best-paid teachers in the U.S. with an average annual salary of $73,113.

3. New Jersey

New Jersey has the third-best public schools in the United States. New Jersey has the second-lowest dropout rate among states and the third-lowest pupil-to-teacher ratio. Additionally, students have the third-highest math test scores and the second-highest reading test scores in the nation. New Jersey ranks second for the overall quality of schools and 11th for safety. The state spends about $21,866 per student on average. New Jersey is considered the second-best state for teachers, with the sixth-highest average salary of $69,917 per year.

4. Virginia

Virginia has the fourth-best public schools overall in the United States, ranking fourth for quality and third for safety. Virginia public schools were found to have the fourth-highest math test scores in the country. Virginia schools also have the fourth-lowest bullying incidence rate and have "no significant shortcomings" when assessed for safety from violence, bullying, harassment, and substance use.

5. New Hampshire

New Hampshire has the fifth-best public schools in the United States, ranking fourth for quality and twelfth for safety. New Hampshire schools have the fourth-highest reading test scores among states and the second-highest median ACT score of 25.1. Additionally, New Hampshire has the fifth-lowest pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 12-to-1.

6. Maryland

The sixth-best state for public schools is Maryland. Maryland's average ACT score is 22.3, and its average SAT score is 1058. The pupil-to-teacher in Maryland is 15:1, below the national average.

7. Delaware

Ranking seventh for public schools is Delaware, which ranks sixteenth for quality and third for safety. Delaware has the second-lowest bullying incident rate, only second to D.C. The average ACT score is 24.1, higher than the U.S. average, but the pupil-to-teacher ratio is 22:1.

8. Nebraska

At the eighth spot for states with the best public schools is Nebraska. Ranking twelfth for quality and eighth for safety, Nebraska is tied for the second-best SAT scores.

9. Wisconsin

Wisconsin has the ninth-best public schools in the U.S. The state ranks sixth for quality, tying with Minnesota for the highest median SAT score. Wisconsin's pupil-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, lower than the U.S. average.

10. Vermont

Vermont has the fifth-best public schools in the nation. Vermont ranks eighth for quality, having the lowest pupil-to-teacher ratio in the country, allowing teachers to give each student extra attention. The average teacher ratio in the U.S. is 16-to-1, while Vermont's is 10.5-to-1. Vermont also ranks fourth for safety, tied for first with Massachusetts and Oklahoma for having the lowest percentage of threatened/injured high school students.

On the opposite end, the five states with the worst public schools are New Mexico, Alaska, Louisiana, Arizona, and West Virginia.

Public School Rankings by State 2024

Notes:
- All data are expressed as rankings from 1 (best) to 50 (worst).
- The School Quality subcategory evaluates states across 12 indicators, including % of teachers who meet all state licensing requirements, annual per-pupil spending, pupil-to-teacher ratio, schools that require health education.
- The Student Safety subcategory evaluates states across 15 indicators, including bullying rate, instances of crimes such as robbery or sexual assault, and the prevalence of illegal drug sales on school property.
- The Student Success subcategory evaluates states across 15 indicators, including SAT scores, ACDT scores, expulsion rates, dropout and graduation rates, and rates of students who go on to attend college.

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

State
Overall Ranking
School Quality
Student Safety
Student Success
New Jersey1524
New Hampshire2373
Connecticut31162
Vermont4458
Massachusetts56131
New York622213
Maine71136
Colorado821110
Pennsylvania981512
Virginia1013127
Delaware119816
Maryland1210295
Washington1323269
Wyoming14151424
Minnesota15221915
Iowa16182317
South Dakota1727622
Ohio1812439
Wisconsin19171825
Illinois20144111
Nebraska21161733
Rhode Island2274618
Indiana23193720
Oregon24352421
North Dakota25311129
Missouri26203532
Montana27322828
Kansas28303127
Michigan29373919
Kentucky30263036
Georgia31253438
Arkansas32244034
Idaho33452026
West Virginia34293237
Alaska35393630
Hawaii36344231
Utah37482123
Texas38382546
Mississippi3941950
California40364914
Tennessee41333843
Florida42432742
North Carolina43404335
Oklahoma44471048
South Carolina45284740
Alabama46443347
New Mexico47424441
Nevada48465045
Louisiana49494849
Arizona50504544
showing: 50 rows

Public School Rankings by State 2024

Sources