Public School Rankings By State

Last updated November 24, 2024

Public School Index Score
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Public School Index Score
1.MassachusettsMassachusetts73.14
2.ConnecticutConnecticut67.5
3.New JerseyNew Jersey64.36
4.VirginiaVirginia61.71
5.New HampshireNew Hampshire61.57
6.MarylandMaryland60.24
7.DelawareDelaware58.07
8.NebraskaNebraska57.81
9.WisconsinWisconsin57.48
10.VermontVermont57.43
11.Rhode IslandRhode Island57.21
12.MinnesotaMinnesota57
13.MaineMaine56.87
14.New YorkNew York56.42
15.IllinoisIllinois56.27
16.UtahUtah55.87
17.North DakotaNorth Dakota55.3
18.FloridaFlorida55.22
19.KentuckyKentucky54.18
20.IowaIowa53.71
21.ColoradoColorado53.7
22.IndianaIndiana53.31
23.WyomingWyoming53.07
24.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania52.86
25.South DakotaSouth Dakota52.43
26.WashingtonWashington51.31
27.MontanaMontana50.33
28.TexasTexas49.86
29.KansasKansas47.47
30.OhioOhio47.43
31.TennesseeTennessee46.93
32.GeorgiaGeorgia46.22
33.North CarolinaNorth Carolina46.06
34.MichiganMichigan45.92
35.MissouriMissouri45.88
36.IdahoIdaho45.2
37.ArkansasArkansas43.84
38.NevadaNevada43.64
39.HawaiiHawaii43.09
40.CaliforniaCalifornia42.42
41.OregonOregon40.96
42.South CarolinaSouth Carolina38.94
43.West VirginiaWest Virginia38.47
44.MississippiMississippi38.22
45.OklahomaOklahoma37.15
46.AlabamaAlabama37.02
47.AlaskaAlaska36.43
48.ArizonaArizona35.13
49.LouisianaLouisiana33.37
50.New MexicoNew Mexico25.26

Introduction

With a staggering population of 51 million students seeking academic enhancement in public schools, it becomes vital to recognize the strengths and shortcomings of these institutions. Public schools, open to all students, regardless of their socio-economic status, disability, or past academic performance, play a quintessential role in shaping future generations. They provide a vital lifeline serving not just educational purposes, but also a source of sustenance through school meal programs for the underserved.

  • The New England region, known for its focus on education, fares very well with Massachusetts (73.14), Connecticut (67.5) and New Hampshire (61.57) ranked as the top three.
  • The Mid-Atlantic states, though rich in prestigious universities, show a varied range in their public school systems. New Jersey (64.36) ranks high at third place, while New York falls a bit behind, landing at fourteenth place with a score of 56.42.
  • Southern states, unfortunately, seem to struggle with their public education systems, with most of them positioned lower in the rankings. For instance, Louisiana (33.37) and New Mexico (25.26) were at the bottom two positions.
  • The Western states display a mixed performance with California, home of Silicon Valley, surprisingly inhabiting the fortieth position with a score of 42.42.

By Region

Alabama

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Ranked in U.S.

#46

Alaska

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Ranked in U.S.

#47

Arizona

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Ranked in U.S.

#48

Arkansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#37

California

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Ranked in U.S.

#40

Colorado

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Ranked in U.S.

#21

Connecticut

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Ranked in U.S.

#2

Delaware

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Ranked in U.S.

#7

Florida

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Ranked in U.S.

#18

Georgia

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Ranked in U.S.

#32

Hawaii

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Ranked in U.S.

#39

Idaho

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Ranked in U.S.

#36

Illinois

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Ranked in U.S.

#15

Indiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#22

Iowa

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Ranked in U.S.

#20

Kansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#29

Kentucky

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Ranked in U.S.

#19

Louisiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#49

Maine

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Ranked in U.S.

#13

Maryland

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Ranked in U.S.

#6

Massachusetts

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Ranked in U.S.

#1

Michigan

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Ranked in U.S.

#34

Minnesota

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Ranked in U.S.

#12

Mississippi

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Ranked in U.S.

#44

Missouri

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Ranked in U.S.

#35

Montana

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Ranked in U.S.

#27

Nebraska

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Ranked in U.S.

#8

Nevada

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Ranked in U.S.

#38

New Hampshire

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Ranked in U.S.

#5

New Jersey

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Ranked in U.S.

#3

New Mexico

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Ranked in U.S.

#50

New York

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Ranked in U.S.

#14

North Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#33

North Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#17

Ohio

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Ranked in U.S.

#30

Oklahoma

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Ranked in U.S.

#45

Oregon

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Ranked in U.S.

#41

Pennsylvania

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Ranked in U.S.

#24

Rhode Island

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Ranked in U.S.

#11

South Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#42

South Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#25

Tennessee

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Ranked in U.S.

#31

Texas

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Ranked in U.S.

#28

Utah

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Ranked in U.S.

#16

Vermont

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Ranked in U.S.

#10

Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#4

Washington

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Ranked in U.S.

#26

West Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#43

Wisconsin

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Ranked in U.S.

#9

Wyoming

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Ranked in U.S.

#23

Table

Region ↕Public School Index Score↕
Alabama iconAlabama37.02
Alaska iconAlaska36.43
Arizona iconArizona35.13
Arkansas iconArkansas43.84
California iconCalifornia42.42
Colorado iconColorado53.7
Connecticut iconConnecticut67.5
Delaware iconDelaware58.07
Florida iconFlorida55.22
Georgia iconGeorgia46.22
Hawaii iconHawaii43.09
Idaho iconIdaho45.2
Illinois iconIllinois56.27
Indiana iconIndiana53.31
Iowa iconIowa53.71
Kansas iconKansas47.47
Kentucky iconKentucky54.18
Louisiana iconLouisiana33.37
Maine iconMaine56.87
Maryland iconMaryland60.24
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts73.14
Michigan iconMichigan45.92
Minnesota iconMinnesota57
Mississippi iconMississippi38.22
Missouri iconMissouri45.88
Montana iconMontana50.33
Nebraska iconNebraska57.81
Nevada iconNevada43.64
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire61.57
New Jersey iconNew Jersey64.36
New Mexico iconNew Mexico25.26
New York iconNew York56.42
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina46.06
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota55.3
Ohio iconOhio47.43
Oklahoma iconOklahoma37.15
Oregon iconOregon40.96
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania52.86
Rhode Island iconRhode Island57.21
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina38.94
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota52.43
Tennessee iconTennessee46.93
Texas iconTexas49.86
Utah iconUtah55.87
Vermont iconVermont57.43
Virginia iconVirginia61.71
Washington iconWashington51.31
West Virginia iconWest Virginia38.47
Wisconsin iconWisconsin57.48
Wyoming iconWyoming53.07
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