How VA Ranks Among States With The Best, Worst School Systems

Virginia public schools are among the top five in the country, according to a new ranking by finance website WalletHub.

To determine which states have the best and worst public school systems, WalletHub compared all 50 and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions, quality and safety. Those dimensions were evaluated using 32 key metrics, including graduation rates, test scores, school shootings and more.

While the quality of public schools varies by state, it often comes down to federal, state and local funding, WalletHub says.

“Getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system, but simply having more money doesn’t guarantee success," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "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 this year's ranking, Virginia public schools came in at No. 4 overall. The state also earned 6th place in quality and 5th in safety.

"Schools need to focus not just on test scores but also on making sure that students feel safe, comfortable and cared for," Lupo added.

These states have the top 10 best school systems in the U.S., according to WalletHub:

1. Massachusetts
2. Connecticut
3. New Jersey
4. Virginia
5. New Hampshire
6. Wisconsin
7. Rhode Island
8. Maryland
9. New York

On the other hand, these states have the 10 worst school systems:

1. New Mexico
2. Oklahoma
3. Alaska
4. Arizona
5. Oregon
6. Nevada
7. West Virginia
8. Louisiana
9. Alabama
10. Hawaii

See WalletHub's full ranking on their website.

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