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

by Richie Bernardo

Unless 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.

• 1Main Findings
• 2Ask the Experts

• 3Methodology

Main Findings

Overall Rank	State	School System Quality Rank	Education Output & Safety Rank
1	New Jersey	1	2
2	Massachusetts	2	12
3	Vermont	3	11
4	New Hampshire	4	15
5	Kansas	8	3
6	Colorado	13	1
7	Virginia	10	4
8	Minnesota	6	31
9	Wisconsin	7	20
10	Pennsylvania	5	43
11	Iowa	9	19
12	Texas	24	5
13	Connecticut	11	38
14	Maryland	16	27
15	Washington	14	50
16	Ohio	21	15
T-17	Illinois	20	24
T-17	Maine	12	42
19	Missouri	22	13
20	New York	27	7
21	Utah	28	8
22	Indiana	19	33
23	Nebraska	17	34
24	South Dakota	25	18
25	Wyoming	15	45
26	North Dakota	18	47
27	Idaho	26	34
28	Tennessee	32	6
29	Florida	29	22
30	Montana	23	48
31	Rhode Island	31	29
32	Georgia	35	13
33	Oregon	30	41
34	Delaware	37	21
35	Hawaii	36	25
36	Oklahoma	43	9
37	North Carolina	38	17
38	Alaska	42	23
39	California	33	51
40	Michigan	34	44
41	Kentucky	40	39
42	South Carolina	44	28
43	Arizona	41	37
44	Arkansas	39	49
45	West Virginia	45	26
46	New Mexico	46	10
47	Nevada	47	36
48	Louisiana	49	40
49	Alabama	48	46
50	Mississippi	51	30
51	District of Columbia	50	31

 

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?

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