Where Virginia Ranks For Racial Equality In Education

VIRGINIA — Virginia is among the states with the least racial equality in education, according to a new ranking.

To determine where students received the best educational opportunities regardless of race, finance website WalletHub compared each across six key metrics, including the number of adults with a high school or college degree, test scores, and graduation rates. The data also compared the differences between white and Black Americans in each area.

Virginia came in at No. 33 with an overall score of 39.08 out of a possible 100.

While it's been decades since the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education declared school segregation unconstitutional in 1954, a recent study found that school districts that have a high concentration of white students receive $23 billion more per year in funding than those that have a high concentration of non-white students.

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Lower funding can lead to lower quality education, the WalletHub ranking states, which can affect not only a person’s income trajectory but also their career trajectory for the rest of their life.

"It is essential to ensure that all school districts receive sufficient funding, the latest technology, and equal opportunities for tutoring and extracurricular activities, regardless of their racial composition," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement. "This will help bridge the racial gaps in test scores and graduation rates, which will promote equal opportunities for higher education and employment in the future.”

These are the top 10 state education systems with the most racial equality, according to WalletHub:

1. Wyoming
2. New Mexico
3. West Virginia
4. Oregon
5. Vermont
6. Kentucky
7. Maine
8. New Hampshire
9. Tennessee
10. Hawaii

These are the 10 worst states, starting with No. 50:

1. Wisconsin
2. Connecticut
3. Minnesota
4. Nebraska
5. New Jersey
6. New York
7. Pennsylvania
8. South Carolina
9. Iowa
10. Massachusetts

See the full ranking at WalletHub.com.

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