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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

2014′s States with the Best and Worst School Systems | WalletHub®

2014′s States with the Best and Worst School Systems | WalletHub®:



2014′s States with the Best and Worst School Systems

2014-Back-to-School-States-with-the-Best-and-Worst-School-Systems-BadgesUnless one is destined to assume the ranks of wildly successful college dropouts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, education remains the traditional route to financial success for many Americans. Consider the median incomes for workers aged 25 and older in 2013. Those with a bachelor’s degree earned 59 percent more than those with only a high school diploma, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure grows — and chances of unemployment shrink — as a worker’s educational attainment improves.
And with school resuming session, many parents will seek the best school districts in order to secure the greatest chance for their children’s academic success — and higher future earning potential. In comparing schools, it’s important to recognize that though the amount of state funding a school receives can be helpful, it is by no means a determinant of quality.
In addition, states that invest more dollars in education benefit not only their residents but also their economies. The Economic Policy Institute, or EPI, reported that income is higher in states where the workforce is well educated and hence more productive. With higher incomes, workers in turn can contribute more in taxes to beef up state budgets over the long run.
In light of back-to-school season, WalletHub studied the quality of education in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to identify those with the best and worst school systems. We did so by analyzing 12 key metrics — from student-teacher ratios and dropout rates to test scores and bullying incident rates. By shining the spotlight on top-performing states in terms of education, WalletHub can encourage parents to help their children realize their maximum potential.

Main Findings

115151

Overall Rank
State
School System Quality Rank
Education Output & Safety Rank
1New Jersey12
2Massachusetts212
3Vermont311
4New Hampshire415
5Kansas83
6Colorado131
7Virginia104
8Minnesota631
9Wisconsin720
10Pennsylvania543
11Iowa919
12Texas245
13Connecticut1138
14Maryland1627
15Washington1450
16Ohio2115
T-17Illinois2024
T-17Maine1242
19Missouri2213
20New York277
21Utah288
22Indiana1933
23Nebraska1734
24South Dakota2518
25Wyoming1545
26North Dakota1847
27Idaho2634
28Tennessee326
29Florida2922
30Montana2348
31Rhode Island3129
32Georgia3513
33Oregon3041
34Delaware3721
35Hawaii3625
36Oklahoma439
37North Carolina3817
38Alaska4223
39California3351
40Michigan3444
41Kentucky4039
42South Carolina4428
43Arizona4137
44Arkansas3949
45West Virginia4526
46New Mexico4610
47Nevada4736
48Louisiana4940
49Alabama4846
50Mississippi5130
51District of Columbia5031
Best_Worst_Back_To_School_States_080414-5
High Spending & Strong School SystemLow Spending & Weak School SystemMixedNJMAVTNHNDKSCOVAMNWIPAIATXCTMDWAOHILMEMONYUTINNESDWYIDTNFLMTRIGAORDEHIOKNCAKCAMIKYSCAZARWVNMNVLAALMSDC015304560015304560Spendings Ranking (1=Highest)School System Ranking (1=Best Quality)
 
Note: Spendings Ranking refers to “Total Current Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Day Schools per Student” (Highest Amount = Rank 1)

Ask the Experts

Back-to-school season isn’t just about shopping for school supplies. Many parents also must consider the quality of education their children receive in order to succeed. To expand the discussion, we’ve asked a panel of experts to share their advice and thoughts on important back-to-school-related issues. Click on the expert’s profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:
  1. What tips can you offer parents for keeping their back-to-school budgets under control?
  2. How can parents effectively use back-to-school to teach their kids about financial responsibility?
  3. How effective is exempting various back-to-school items from sales taxes?
  4. What are the most important characteristics of a top school?
  5. When it comes to a student’s success, which is more important: the family environment or the student’s school?