Education is important and some states excel in educating their children and some states, well, they do less than a stellar job.
To determine the most and least educated states in America, Scholaroo compared the 50 states across two key dimensions: Educational Attainment and School Quality.
They evaluated those dimensions using 19 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weight. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 being the max.
Then they determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order their sample.
Here are the states that made the bottom of the list.
New Mexico
New Mexico scored the worst in the rankings, giving it the distinction of being the state with the worst education in the Union.
Total Score: 41
Educational Attainment: 48
School Quality: 44
Mississippi
Mississippi barely scraped by New Mexico, but still had a slightly higher ranking making it the second-worst.
Total Score: 41
Educational Attainment: 47
School Quality: 47
Florida
The sunny state might be attracting lots of retirees but its education leaves much to be desired, coming in at 48th.
Total Score: 42
Educational Attainment: 49
School Quality: 42
Idaho
Idaho is best known for its potatoes as its educational system leaves much to be desired, it ranks 47th.
Total Score: 43
Educational Attainment: 50
School Quality: 38
Texas
The Lone Star State barely makes the list of the top 5 worst states in education in the USA but it does make it, passing Oklahama to earn this dubios distinction.
Total Score: 43
Educational Attainment: 46
School Quality: 43
Oklahoma
Oklahoma isn’t one of the worst 5 states but it makes the top 10, unfortunately.
Total Score: 44
Educational Attainment: 42
School Quality: 49
Alabama
A southeastern state with a deep cultural history, known for its role in the civil rights movement and contributions to country music, Alabama ranks 44th.
Total Score: 46
Educational Attainment: 39
School Quality: 48
Nevada
A western state, famous for the vibrant entertainment hub of Las Vegas, as well as diverse landscapes, including the Great Basin and Lake Tahoe, Nevada ranks 43rd.
Total Score: 46
Educational Attainment: 34
School Quality: 50
Arizona
A southwestern state known for its desert landscapes, the Grand Canyon, and vibrant cities like Phoenix and Tucson ranks 42nd.
Total Score: 48
Educational Attainment: 31
School Quality: 45
South Carolina
A southeastern state with a rich history, beautiful coastal areas, and the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina ranks 41st.
Total Score: 49
Educational Attainment: 44
School Quality: 34
West Virginia
A mountainous state in the Appalachian region, celebrated for its outdoor recreation and coal mining heritage West Virginia ranks 40th.
Total Score: 49
Educational Attainment: 37
School Quality: 40
Alaska
Poor Alaska is also one of the most dangerous states in the USA and apparently, its education is not that great either.
Total Score: 49
Educational Attainment: 37
School Quality: 40
Louisiana
A state in the Deep South, famous for its vibrant, unique culture, Creole cuisine, and the lively city of New Orleans, Louisana ranks 38th.
Total Score: 49
Educational Attainment: 21
School Quality: 46
Arkansas
Located in the southern U.S., known for its scenic beauty, the Ozark Mountains, and the Mississippi River ranks 37th.
Total Score: 51
Educational Attainment: 36
School Quality: 36
Wyoming
A sparsely populated state in the western U.S. renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, including Yellowstone National Park ranks 36th.
Total Score: 52
Educational Attainment: 45
School Quality: 26
Hawaii
The Hawaiian beaches might be the best place for a vacation but the educational quality leaves much to be desired.
Total Score: 52
Educational Attainment: 24
School Quality: 39
Georgia
A southeastern state known for its southern hospitality, and historic sites, Georgia ranks 34th.
Total Score: 53
Educational Attainment: 38
School Quality: 31
California
California is known for its beautiful landscapes and its cultural impact on the rest of the world but California comes in at 33rd.
Total Score: 54
Educational Attainment: 43
School Quality: 22
North Carolina
A southeastern state offering diverse geography, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic coastline, North Carolina ranks 32nd.
Total Score: 44
Educational Attainment: 40
School Quality: 23
Oregon
Located in the Pacific Northwest, celebrated for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and progressive culture, Oregon ranks 31st.
Total Score: 55
Educational Attainment: 16
School Quality: 35
Kentucky
A state in the southeastern U.S. known for its horse racing traditions and bourbon production, Kentucky comes in at 30th.
Total Score: 55
Educational Attainment: 13
School Quality: 37
Tennessee
Famous for its vibrant music scene in Nashville and the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee comes in at 29th.
Total Score: 55
Educational Attainment: 20
School Quality: 33
Ohio
A Midwestern state with a diverse economy and cultural attractions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ohio comes in at 28th.
Total Score: 56
Educational Attainment: 26
School Quality: 30
Rhode Island
The smallest U.S. state, known for its coastal charm and historic significance comes in the bottom half of the US when it comes to education.
Total Score: 56
Educational Attainment: 29
School Quality: 25
Indiana
A Midwestern state recognized for its rich sports heritage and agricultural contributions, its school quality puts it on the list of the 25 worst states.
Total Score: 57
Educational Attainment: 14
School Quality: 32
Utah
The least of the worst states when it comes to education, Utah rounds out our list of the 25 worst states for education.
Total Score: 58
Educational Attainment: 35
School Quality: 16
You can see the full ranking by Scholaroo here.
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