In this article we will reveal the best state for education in the US. If you wish to look at our detailed rankings, you can go to 20 Best States for Education in the US.
The United States dedicates significant resources to public education. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the government spent $17,495 (adjusted for inflation) per student in the 2020-2021 academic year. This translates to $15,362 in unadjusted dollars. Public school funding has steadily increased since 2012-2013, rising from $16,761 (adjusted) to $17,495 in just three years.
The National Center for Education Statistics also reports that the US spent a total of $870 billion (adjusted) on all public elementary and secondary schools in 2019-2020. The majority (87%) of this expenditure goes towards current costs such as salaries, benefits, supplies, and services. Capital outlay (buildings and facilities) accounts for 10%, with a small portion (3%) allocated towards debt interest.
Educational Attainment in the US
The US population is becoming increasingly educated. Census Bureau data shows that nearly 35% of Americans over 25 held a bachelor’s degree in 2021. Educational attainment varies significantly by location, with the District of Columbia boasting the highest rate (63%) and West Virginia the lowest (24%). Racial disparities also exist. As of 2021, 61% of Asians over 25 had completed a college degree, compared to 41.9% of Whites and 28.1% of Blacks.
To identify the states offering the best education in the US, we considered three key factors:
– Per-pupil expenditure: This metric reflects the amount of funding allocated to each student.
– Pupil-to-teacher ratio: Lower ratios indicate more individualized attention for students.
– Bachelor’s degree attainment: This measures the educational level of the adult population.
We analyzed data from the National Center for Education Statistics (latest data from 2021) for each state across these three metrics. We then assigned a rank to each state based on its position within each individual list (e.g., highest spending state received rank 1, lowest spending received rank 50).
Finally, we calculated the Insider Monkey Score for each state by averaging its individual ranks across all three metrics. This score provides a holistic view of a state’s educational performance.
Using this methodology, we identified the top 20 states with the highest Insider Monkey Scores as the best states for education in the US. The state with the highest score (1.66) is considered the best state for education according to our analysis.
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1. District of Columbia
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $32,659
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 11.4
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 63.1%
Insider Monkey Score: 1.66
The District of Columbia ranks first on our list of the 20 best states for education in the US with an Insider Monkey Score of 1.66. The state has a 63.1% bachelor’s degree attainment rate, and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 11.4.
Click to see the entire list of the 20 Best States for Education in the US.
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