We recently did a state-wise analysis for education attainment in the United States and looked at the per pupil education expenditure by each state, the pupil-to-teacher ratio of each state, and the percentage of bachelor’s degree attainment in people aged 25 and older in each state. You can read our detailed methodology by going to the 20 Worst States for Education in the US. But which state was the worst for education in the US? Before that, let’s take a look at the overall situation of education attainment in the United States.
The Worst State for Education in the US
Overview of the State of Education in the US
According to data by the National Center of Education Statistics, the high school graduation rate in the US was 89.4% in public schools across the United States in 2021. This rate was 94% for White students, 87.8% for Asian students, and 88.1% for Black students as of 2021. Hispanic students in the same year had a high school completion rate of 72.5%, while students belonging to two or more races had a 91.9% graduation rate in the same year. However, only 35% of people aged 25 and over completed a bachelor’s degree in 2021. The rate of bachelor’s degree attainment was the highest for Asians aged 25 and older, standing at 56.7% as of 2021. The same rate for White and Black people was 38.9% and 24.9% in 2021, respectively. Hispanic people had the lowest bachelor’s degree attainment, standing at 19.8%.
The rate of high school completion is not uniform across the 50 US states. While Montana, New Hampshire, and Vermont had the highest graduation rates at 95.5%, 94.4%, and 94.4%, respectively, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada had the highest high school dropout rates at 9.8%, 7.7%, and 7.3%, respectively. In addition, according to data by the National Center of Education Statistics, 49,433,092 students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools across the US in fall 2021, making the overall pupil-to-teacher ratio 15.4. Enrollment in Fall 2020 was 49,374,751, higher than that of Fall 2021. Despite that, the pupil-to-teacher ratio remained the same in the two years: 15.4.
Furthermore, according to the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), reading and math scores nationwide decreased during the pandemic. Data by the National Center of Education Statistics further showed that 33.25% 4th graders had a proficient or more status in Reading as of 2022, while 30.8% 8th graders had the same level in the same year. In addition, 36.27% 4th graders had a proficient or more level in Math as of 2022, while the rate for the same level and same year for 8th graders was 26.46%.
Companies that are Working to Improve Education Outcomes in the US
EdTech companies that are offering online courses and remote degrees have played a pivotal role in increasing accessibility through unconventional means of education. Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) is a prominent name in the EdTech sector. On April 23, the company announced a multi-year partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes (Quakers), with plans for the company to become the Official Learning and Skills Partner and the new Official Training Jersey Partner of the Earthquakes. Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) will feature on the sportswear for coaching staff and players alike. The partnership will also offer subsidized access to over 220,000 Udemy courses for underserved communities.
Skillshare is another top US-based online learning platform that offers educational videos and non-accredited courses. On March 13, the company announced the acquisition of the key assets and tools by Superpeer to broaden its scope and offer new courses, products, and content. The specialized tools allow live streaming, newsletters, and other digital products that help expand user experiences.
The Worst State for Education in the US
Our state-wise analysis found that Nevada was the worst state for education in the US. According to the latest data, as of 2021, Nevada’s per pupil expenditure is $12,465. Moreover, about 28% of its population aged 25 and older has a bachelor’s degree. The state also has one of the highest pupil-to-teacher ratio, which represents how many students there are per teacher, logged at 20.4.
On average, Nevada scored the lowest among all states in the US in terms of education attainment across all three indicators. For states that scored better than Nevada on an overall basis or individual indicator basis, you can see our detailed report on the 20 Worst States for Education in the US.