Which US states have the best education?

For the best US states for education, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut consistently rank at the top for K-12 performance, with high test scores, graduation rates, and resources, often followed by states like New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire. Rankings can vary slightly depending on the source (e.g., U.S. News vs. WalletHub) and whether they focus on Pre-K-12, higher education, or educational freedom, but these Northeastern states dominate the top tier.


Which US state has the best education?

K-12 leaders: WalletHub's 2025 public school ranking puts Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, and New Hampshire in the top five. Broader “Education” lens: U.S. News ranks New Jersey No. 1 for the overall Education category (Pre-K-12 + higher ed), with Florida No. 2 overall and No.

What state has the #1 education system?

1. Massachusetts. Massachusetts has the best public school system in the U.S. 48.8% of Massachusetts's eligible schools ranked in the top 25% of high school rankings, a total of 167 schools.


Which state is rank 50 in education?

📉 Oklahoma's 2025 Education Ranking Summary

WalletHub's 2025 report, “States with the Best & Worst School Systems,” ranked all 50 states plus the District of Columbia using 25 metrics across two broad categories: Quality of Education and School Safety. Oklahoma ranked 50th overall, ahead of only New Mexico.

What is the #1 educated state?

Massachusetts consistently ranks #1 for overall education and public schools in many 2025-2026 reports, praised for high attainment and quality, though some rankings place New Jersey or New York at the very top depending on the specific metrics (like K-12 vs. higher ed) used by sources like WalletHub, ConsumerAffairs, and U.S. News. 


10 Best States for Education in the United States (Why They're Best)



What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as it depends on the study, but recent reports often name Massachusetts, Vermont, or New Jersey as #1 for Quality of Life, with Massachusetts leading in overall metrics (health, education) and Vermont shining in specific areas like low crime and natural environment. Other top contenders include Idaho, Minnesota, and New York, highlighting that rankings vary based on whether they emphasize healthcare, economy, safety, or environment. 

Which US state is ranked lowest in education?

West Virginia is consistently ranked as the lowest or among the lowest U.S. states for education quality and attainment, with low rates of bachelor's degrees and high school diplomas, alongside Mississippi and Louisiana often appearing at the bottom, while New Mexico struggles with low test scores and high dropout rates. Rankings vary slightly by source, but these states consistently face challenges in educational attainment and quality. 

What state has the lowest rated schools?

While rankings vary slightly by study, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Louisiana, and West Virginia consistently appear at the bottom for public school quality, often cited for low test scores (especially in math/reading), high dropout rates, funding issues, and challenges with teacher retention, with New Mexico frequently ranked as the worst overall due to poor metrics in key areas. 


What states have the highest literacy rates?

New Hampshire has the highest state literacy rate at 94.2%. California has the lowest adult literacy rate among U.S. states at 76.9%. In New Mexico, 29% of adults scored at or below Level 1 proficiency, compared to 28% in California and Texas.

Which state is rich in education?

Top 10 Best States for Education in India
  • Kerala – The Education Pioneer. ...
  • Delhi – Hub of Higher Education. ...
  • Tamil Nadu – Engineering & Medical Excellence. ...
  • Maharashtra – Diverse & Global Education. ...
  • Karnataka – IT & Research Powerhouse. ...
  • West Bengal – Cultural & Academic Legacy. ...
  • Gujarat – Rapidly Emerging Education Hub.


What is the #1 most educated city in America?

Ann Arbor, Michigan held steady at No. 1 for the second year in a row. With nearly 96% of adults holding a high school diploma, 58% with a bachelor's, and 31% with an advanced degree, this city continues to dominate both the “Educational Attainment” and “Quality of Education & Attainment Gap” categories.


What state has the best child education?

  • New Jersey. #1 in Pre-K-12. #19 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Massachusetts. #2 in Pre-K-12. #9 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Connecticut. #3 in Pre-K-12. #15 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Illinois. #4 in Pre-K-12. #36 in Best States Overall. ...
  • Utah. #5 in Pre-K-12. ...
  • New Hampshire. #6 in Pre-K-12. ...
  • Wisconsin. #7 in Pre-K-12. ...
  • New York. #8 in Pre-K-12.


What are the best states to live in?

The best states to live in depend on priorities, but recent reports often highlight Massachusetts, Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho, Minnesota, and New Jersey for overall livability, education, economy, and quality of life, with factors like cost of living, job growth, safety, and healthcare varying by state. For instance, Utah excels in economy and stability, Massachusetts in health and education, while Hawaii ranks high for happiness. 

What state has #1 education?

Massachusetts consistently ranks #1 for overall education and public schools in many 2025-2026 reports, praised for high attainment and quality, though some rankings place New Jersey or New York at the very top depending on the specific metrics (like K-12 vs. higher ed) used by sources like WalletHub, ConsumerAffairs, and U.S. News. 


What is the #1 best school district in America?

2026 Best School Districts in America
  • Glenbrook High School District 225 (IL)
  • Syosset Central School District (NY)
  • Roslyn Union Free School District (NY)
  • New Trier Township High School District No. 203 (IL)
  • Township High School District No. 113 (IL)


Which US city has the best education?

Ann Arbor, MI

1-ranked educated city, it's no surprise that Ann Arbor is one of the best cities for education.

Which state is lowest in literacy rate?

California consistently ranks as the state with the lowest adult literacy rate in the U.S., with around 23% of adults lacking basic literacy skills, followed by New York and Florida, often due to factors like underinvestment in education, income inequality, and challenges with bilingual education programs, though other states like New Mexico and Texas also struggle with low literacy scores.
 


Which state is number 1 in reading?

New Hampshire has the highest literacy score in the US, at 278.9, with Minnesota a very close second at 278.8. Minnesota is followed by Alaska, Washington, DC, and Vermont all with scores of 276.7.

What are the signs of low literacy?

Poor spelling, both on tests and in written compositions: Frequent misspellings, guesses. Slow, halting reading (poor fluency) Must reread to understand. Weak reading comprehension: Can't recognize words in a passage or sound out important words; so slow and halting, she can't recall what's been read.

What states are ranked in quality of life?

Overall leaders: WalletHub's 2025 “Best States to Live” ranking puts Massachusetts, Idaho, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in the top five. Natural environment standouts: U.S. News ranks Hawaii No.


What's the #1 school in America?

There's no single "#1 school in the US" as rankings vary by publication, but top contenders often include Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Princeton University, Harvard University, and Stanford University, appearing at the top of lists from Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and The Wall Street Journal. For public universities, the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and UCLA frequently rank highest. 

What is the #1 most educated state?

Massachusetts. Massachusetts, known for its top colleges like MIT and Harvard, ranks as the most educated state in America. The state has the highest percentage of adults ages 25 and older with at least a Bachelor's degree, at nearly 47%, and the highest share who have a graduate or professional degree, at over 21%.

What state is 50th in education?

According to recent studies, including a prominent 2025 WalletHub report, Oklahoma frequently ranks near the bottom, often placing 50th out of 50 states (plus D.C.) for its overall public school system quality, citing poor test scores, graduation rates, and low investment in education, though New Mexico sometimes ranks lower in specific analyses. Other states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana also appear at the bottom of various education rankings depending on the metrics used. 


What is the least educated city in the USA?

Visalia, California, is frequently cited as the least educated city in America based on recent WalletHub studies, with other Central Valley/Texas cities like Bakersfield, Brownsville-Harlingen, and McAllen also ranking low due to factors like bachelor's degree attainment and public school quality. These studies use metrics such as educational attainment (high school, college) and quality of education (school rankings, educational gender gaps) to identify areas needing improvement. 

Which states have the highest dropout rates?

At the forefront of states with the highest percentage of high school dropouts are California, Texas, and New York. California, despite being the most populous state, faces a significant educational hurdle with only 84.7% of residents aged 25 and over holding a high school diploma or higher.