WalletHub Says Mass Schools are Top in US

According to a new WalletHub report, Massachusetts is the state with the best school systems, boasting some of the best test scores in the country. Massachusetts ranks first in the nation in all core academic subjects this year: fourth and eighth grade math and reading scores.

Students at the high school level also do well, as Massachusetts has the highest share of students in the country who received a score of 3 or better on an AP exam. AP exams are high school classes with college-level work that are scored on a scale of 1-5.

In addition, schools in Massachusetts are generally safe. Massachusetts has the fifth-lowest share of students who report being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property, the third-lowest share who have been in a physical fight at school and the fourth-lowest share who report illegal drugs being available to them on school property.

Unlike other research that focuses primarily on academic outcomes or school finance, WalletHub’s analysis takes a more comprehensive approach. It accounts for performance, funding, safety, class size and instructor credentials. To determine the top-performing school systems in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key metrics.

States With the Best School Systems

1. Massachusetts
2. Connecticut
3. New Jersey
4. Virginia
5. New Hampshire

You can view the rest of the study here.