Results: 12 States with the Worst Education in the Nation Conclusion
Published on 11/16/2023
Many states offer excellent higher education opportunities, while others suffer subpar educational standards. These states can be influenced by factors such as the overall state income or the percentage of residents in that state who hold some type of degree. Despite the differences in each state’s education system, they are all evaluated using similar criteria. Here are 12 states that fell flat. The source for this 2 part survey series is, "“Failing on Every Level” – 12 States With the Worst Education in the Nation". Story by Ian Ferrero.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
Arizona has about 79.4% of students raised by English-speaking families, one of the country's lowest. The schools do not provide extra help for these students to speak English. This may explain their low graduation rate, with 79.5% of students walking at graduation. Have you ever lived in Arizona?
Yes
9%
196 votes
No
76%
1674 votes
Not Applicable
15%
330 votes
2.
2.
Tennessee has one of the lowest enrollment rates for kids ages three and four, marking them about ten percent below the national average for 3 to 4-year-olds enrolled in Pre-K. Additionally, Tennessee has one of the nation's lowest bachelor's degree holder percentages, with only 26.2% of adults obtaining a degree. Their low ranking is believed to be because of the parent's lack of involvement with their children's education. Do you know anyone from Tennessee?
Yes
24%
531 votes
No
61%
1336 votes
Not Applicable
15%
333 votes
3.
3.
Nevada's bad education reputation is due to its terrible public school funding. The state holds the second-lowest graduation rate at a low 73.6%. The state spends the fifth most minuscule amount on each school annually, which may contribute to the meager graduation rate. Have you ever lived in Nevada?
Yes
7%
157 votes
No
78%
1709 votes
Not Applicable
15%
334 votes
4.
4.
Oklahoma is lagging in the math department, with only about a fourth of eighth graders and about a third of fourth graders' scores reflecting they are proficient in math. While that may not seem very low, it has one of the worst overall scores in math for any state. Even though early education may have low scores, high schools have an average graduation rate of 81.6%, the 15th lowest in the country. Do you know anyone from Oklahoma?
Yes
17%
370 votes
No
68%
1494 votes
Not Applicable
15%
336 votes
5.
5.
The quality of schools within Alabama has been ranked in the bottom five in the entire nation. Its math scores are the lowest in the country, with just about 26% of fourth and 17% of eighth graders scoring proficient in math. While the math scores are terrible, the high school graduation rate is slightly lower than the country's average. Have you ever lived in Alabama?
Yes
7%
163 votes
No
77%
1702 votes
Not Applicable
15%
335 votes
6.
6.
West Virginia struggles with college, with only 20.6% of all adults having a bachelor's degree. Not only is the percentage of college graduates low, but the quality of colleges is the fourth worst in the country. This could result from the state primarily having many low-income families. Fourth and eighth graders scored significantly lower in math than the rest of the states. Are you from West Virginia?
Yes
6%
132 votes
No
79%
1738 votes
Not Applicable
15%
330 votes
COMMENTS