Nationwide, high school graduation rates are on the rise. However, three key indicators for a new state-by-state education ranking are worsening, impacting some states more than others.
Since 2019, preschool participation hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, reading and math scores have declined, and chronic absenteeism continues to plague school districts, according to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book from The Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Specifically, 73% of eighth-graders were not proficient in math in 2024, a 9% increase since 2019, and 70% of fourth-graders were not proficient in reading, a 6% increase.
However, high school graduation rates improved between 2018-19 and 2021-22, with a 7% drop in the share of students not graduating on time.
These metrics were used to calculate state rankings based on overall education quality.
Find where your state ranks (from best to worst) using the list below:
1. Massachusetts
2. New Jersey
3. Connecticut
4. New Hampshire
5. Utah
6. Wisconsin
7. Illinois
8. New York
9. Colorado
10. Pennsylvania
11. Indiana
12. Vermont
13. Virginia
14. Tennessee
15. Ohio
16. Mississippi
17. Minnesota
18. Maryland
19. Florida
20. Iowa
21. Nebraska
22. Wyoming
23. North Carolina
24. Kansas
25. Kentucky
26. Montana
27. Washington
28. Rhode Island
29. Hawaii
30. California
31. Texas
32. Georgia
33. Missouri
34. South Carolina
35. Louisiana
36. Arkansas
37. Delaware
38. Alabama
39. South Dakota
40. Idaho
41. Maine
42. North Dakota
43. Oregon
44. Michigan
45. West Virginia
46. Nevada
47. Arizona
48. Oklahoma
49. Alaska
50. New Mexico
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