School Quality by State: Ranked by Student Outcomes
Published March 28, 2026 · NCES / EDFacts data
School quality varies dramatically across U.S. states. The gap between the highest- and lowest-performing states is roughly 30 points on our 100-point DataScore scale. Here are all 50 states ranked by average school outcomes.
State Rankings by Average DataScore
| Rank | State | Avg DataScore | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 59/100 | 500 |
| 2 | North Dakota | 58/100 | 499 |
| 3 | Maine | 57/100 | 570 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 57/100 | 2,509 |
| 5 | South Dakota | 57/100 | 698 |
| 6 | Vermont | 57/100 | 289 |
| 7 | Wyoming | 57/100 | 351 |
| 8 | Connecticut | 56/100 | 1,005 |
| 9 | Idaho | 56/100 | 778 |
| 10 | Nebraska | 56/100 | 1,010 |
| 11 | Utah | 56/100 | 1,068 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 56/100 | 2,205 |
| 13 | Alaska | 55/100 | 496 |
| 14 | Colorado | 55/100 | 1,923 |
| 15 | Hawaii | 55/100 | 295 |
| 16 | Kansas | 55/100 | 1,354 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 55/100 | 1,831 |
| 18 | Ohio | 55/100 | 3,586 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 55/100 | 309 |
| 20 | Arizona | 54/100 | 2,186 |
What Drives State Differences
Three factors explain most of the variation: funding levels (higher-spending states tend to have better outcomes, though the relationship is not linear), socioeconomic demographics (states with higher poverty rates face steeper challenges), and policy choices (curriculum standards, teacher certification, and accountability systems matter).
For individual school rankings, see best public schools 2026. For charter school analysis, see charter vs. public schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the best public schools?
New Hampshire ranks #1 with an average DataScore of 59/100.
Which state has the worst public schools?
States in the Deep South and parts of the Southwest tend to rank lowest on student outcome measures. However, state averages mask enormous variation — every state has both excellent and struggling schools.
Why do school quality rankings vary between sources?
Different ranking systems use different metrics. Some weight spending or teacher qualifications (inputs), while SchoolGrades focuses on student outcomes (outputs). Rankings also differ based on whether they adjust for demographics and socioeconomic factors.
About This Data
School data from NCES Common Core of Data via Urban Institute Education Data API. See our methodology.