Schools

FL No. 1 For Education For Second Year, U.S. News Ranking Says

"Florida is the education state," Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.

Amanda Lumpkin, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

FLORIDA — A newly released ranking names Florida as the No. 1 state for education in the country - again.

The Sunshine State was victorious against states such as Utah, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Colorado in the top 10 of U.S. News and World Report's latest ranking.

While Florida peaked at No. 10 for pre-K through 12th grade, it ranked No. 1 for tuition and fees in higher education. Overall, Florida is the ninth best state in the U.S.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday the list marks the second consecutive year Florida has ranked No. 1, and the eighth time the state has topped the list for higher education.

"Florida also has ranked #1 in empowering parents in their child's education, according to the Center for Education Reform," DeSantis said in a Facebook post. "Florida is the education state."

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Here is Florida education by the numbers:

  • Higher Education 2-Year-College Graduation Rate: 62.90 percent, No. 2
  • Higher Education 4-Year-College Graduation Rate: 74.30 percent, No. 2
  • Higher Education Educational Attainment: 44.50 percent, No. 25
  • Higher Education Debt at Graduation: $13,872, No. 26
  • Higher Education Tuition and Fees: $4,613, No. 1
  • Pre-K-12 College Readiness: 20.15 percent, No. 5
  • Pre-K-12 High School Graduation Rate: 87.30 percent, No. 19
  • Pre-K-12 National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Scores: 271.20, No. 32
  • Pre-K-12 National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Scores: 259.63, No. 21
  • Pre-K-12 Preschool Enrollment: 49.30 percent, No. 1

U.S. News and World Report measured affordability, accessibility and achievement when assessing the top ranking states for education, the outlet said. Multiple metrics stem from 2022, the outlet said.

Any impacts of DeSantis' recent education-related legislation were not factored, U.S. News said.

The full top 10 list for best states in education are:

  1. Florida
  2. Utah
  3. Massachusetts
  4. New Jersey
  5. Colorado
  6. Wisconsin
  7. Wyoming
  8. Connecticut
  9. New Hampshire
  10. Virginia

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