Maryland Ranks No. 1 In Nation For Gender Equality: Report

MARYLAND — A U.S. News and World Report analysis has ranked Maryland as the No. 1 state in the nation for gender equality.

The first-ever analysis of its kind cites K-12 education as a leading factor in achieving the nation’s top ranking.

“Every child in Maryland deserves access to a world-class education, regardless of what neighborhood they happen to grow up in,” said Gov. Larry Hogan said in a news release.

“We are proud that Maryland leads the nation in expanding opportunities for women and girls. While there is always more work to do, it is especially gratifying that this study recognizes our commitment to closing the gender gap in the computer science and STEM fields, where we have made great strides. This is another example of how we are truly changing Maryland for the better," he continued.

According to the analysis, Maryland took the top spot in the ranking’s education category, placing first among its peers for lower gender disparities in math and reading scores for eighth graders, and third among them for four-year public college graduation rates.

Maryland also took the No. 4 spot for balanced representation and power, a metric that compares the percentage of women and men in elected office and in managerial positions, the report shows.

The U.S. News & World Report also found that female workers in Maryland earned more than the national average, taking home 86 cents on the male dollar and putting state in seventh place for that targeted ranking.

Overall, the "best states for gender equality" rankings are calculated using 13 metrics from five categories: education, economy, health, family planning and care, and representation and power.

Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont and Illinois rounded out the top five in gender equality, according to the report. Idaho falls in last place, with Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Utah and Wyoming rounding out the bottom five states.

To read the full report, click here.