Where does MA rank in public education? A Consumer Affairs study looks at each state

A study by Consumer Affairs found that Massachusetts has the best public schools in the country.

Massachusetts, which ranked first on the Consumer Affairs study, is followed by New York (2), New Jersey (3), Washington State (4) and Pennsylvania (5). The study covered K-12 schools and colleges as well.

The top states for education have a few things in common, according to the study, “including a 90% or higher high school graduation rate, low pupil-to-teacher ratios and high test scores. The majority of these states are also located in the Northeast.”

According to the study, “to determine the states with the best public schools in the U.S., the Consumer Affairs research team compared all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., across four categories: K-12 performance, school funding and resources, higher education quality and safety.”

Why did the study rank Massachusetts at the top

The following are different takeaways about public education in Massachusetts, according to the Consumer Affairs study:

• The state boasts the highest high school graduation rate in the U.S. at 96.1%.
• Massachusetts ties Connecticut for having the highest average ACT score (26.4 out of a highest possible score of 36). The national average is 19.5. ACT tests are standardized tests used for college admissions in the United States. 
• Massachusetts has the best fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores in the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests.
• On average, Massachusetts teachers have the third-highest teaching salary in the country, at $92,307 per year, 33% above the national average.
• The state dedicates $25,826 in expenditures per K-12 student, the fifth-highest in the nation.

How did Massachusetts rank for school safety?

The study noted that the Bay State ranks 34th in the country for school safety.

South Dakota ranked highest in school safety.

According to the study, the safety score is based on three metrics: whether the state has a school safety board as of 2022, the number of gun violence incidents at all schools per 100,000 students from 2022 to 2024 and the number of reported criminal offenses at colleges per 10,000 students in 2022.

What are the top 10 states for public education?

The top 10 states for public education are:

• Massachusetts (1)
• New York (2)
• New Jersey (3)
• Washington (4)
• Pennsylvania (5)
• Vermont (6)
• Minnesota (7)
• Connecticut (8)
• Virginia (9)
• Wisconsin (10)

Which states ranked poorly for public education?

The bottom five states in the study are:

• Arizona (51)
• Alabama (50)
• New Mexico (49)
• Oklahoma (48)
• Idaho (47)

Where do other New England states rank in the study?

Maine is ranked 13th overall, Rhode Island is ranked 15th overall and New Hampshire is ranked 16th overall.