GA School Systems Ranked Among Best, Worst In U.S.

GEORGIA — When it comes to the best and worst school systems in the U.S., WalletHub landed Georgia in the middle of the pack.

The personal-finance website ranked Monday school systems nationwide, listing schools in the Peach State at No. 35 ahead of Michigan and Kansas.

Certain factors, such as test scores and school safety, contributed to overall scores for 50 states and the District of Columbia. Georgia received a total score of 47.42, and ranked No. 36 for quality and No. 40 for safety.

Further metrics included performance, funding, safety, class size and instructor credentials.

Massachusetts has the best school systems in the country, according to WalletHub. The New England state bested its competition at No. 1 and ranked first for both eighth-grade math and fourth-grade reading scores.

Connecticut and Maryland respectively filled the second and third spots on the list. New Jersey and Wisconsin were fourth and fifth.

Coming in at No. 51, New Mexico was deemed the state with the worst school systems with a total score of 27.92. It ranked No. 51 for quality and No. 42 for safety, and also has one of the highest dropout rates in the U.S., WalletHub said.

“Getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system, but simply having more money doesn’t guarantee success," Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst, said in a news release. "How funds are applied also plays a big role in how good a school system is, as does the quality of educators, other professionals and the curriculum. In addition, schools need to focus not just on test scores but also on making sure that students feel safe, comfortable and cared for.”

See WalletHub's full methodology here.

To see individual school ratings in your city in Georgia, visit Great Schools.