State Rankings

Learn more about how states measure up in school finance, student achievement, and socioeconomic factors affecting long-term student success

Special Reports

Quality Counts
Quality Counts was Education Week’s annual report card grading the nation and the states on their performance in K-12 education.
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States Which U.S. States Are Best Positioned to Innovate? How K-12 Schools Influence the Rankings
A new report ranks states in terms of how good an environment they are for innovation, including K-12 education factors.
Alyson Klein, March 29, 2021
2 min read
Student Achievement From Our Research Center Sources and Notes: How We Graded the States (Quality Counts 2021)
Additional details about how the EdWeek Research Center determines the grades given to states and the nation in the 2021 Quality Counts report.
EdWeek Research Center, January 19, 2021
10 min read
Student Achievement From Our Research Center What’s Behind the Grades and Scores for Quality Counts 2021?
Here's a guide to the grading scale and each of the indicators that go into making up the rankings for this year's Quality Counts report.
EdWeek Research Center, January 19, 2021
3 min read
States From Our Research Center State and National Highlights Reports (Quality Counts 2021)
The Quality Counts 2021 State Highlights Reports capture the key data you need to assess your state’s performance.
January 19, 2021
Empty home workplace
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Student Achievement From Our Research Center Where Families Are Feeling Pandemic Impacts the Worst
Recent Census data show families nationwide suffering job loss, food insecurity, and a lack of technology crucial for remote education.
Alex Harwin & Yukiko Furuya, January 19, 2021
8 min read
Increasing star ratings
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Student Achievement From Our Research Center Are Today's Students Set Up for Success? Nation Earns B-Minus in Latest EdWeek Index
The grade represents steady progress on a range of academic and socioeconomic factors, but the pandemic’s full impact has yet to be felt.
Sterling C. Lloyd & Alex Harwin, January 19, 2021
7 min read
States From Our Research Center State Grades on Chance for Success: 2021 Map and Rankings
Examine the grades and scores for states and the nation on the socioeconomic and other indicators in the Chance-for-Success Index.
EdWeek Research Center, January 19, 2021
1 min read
Quality Counts Special Report Quality Counts 2021: Chance for Success
The nation progressed in recent years on key factors setting students up for success in school and later life. But COVID-19 threatens that.
January 19, 2021
Quality Counts Special Report Quality Counts 2020: Grading the States
This third and final installment of Quality Counts 2020 delivers a data-driven portrait of the nation’s school system along with A-F grades and rankings for each state.
September 2, 2020
States From Our Research Center How School-Quality Data Can Help Leaders Weigh Risk Amid Crisis
The final installment of Quality Counts 2020 offers long-range perspective and analysis of current data from the EdWeek Research Center as school leaders work to reopen K-12 safely and efficiently amid the coronavirus pandemic.
September 1, 2020
2 min read
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States From Our Research Center Nation's Schools Get a 'C' Once Again, Even as Pandemic Turns Up the Heat
New Jersey leads the states on Quality Counts 2020’s summative rankings based on previous years’ data. But the annual report card shows plenty of work needed all around as the pressure mounts.
Sterling C. Lloyd & Alex Harwin, September 1, 2020
7 min read
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States From Our Research Center Coronavirus Learning Loss Risk Index Reveals Big Equity Problems
Recent Census data finds households in the South and Midwest lagging those in other regions in access to remote learning technologies and learning interactions with teachers and family members.
Alex Harwin & Yukiko Furuya, September 1, 2020
7 min read
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States From Our Research Center Nation Shows Mediocre Academic Performance as Pandemic Continues
An overall grade of C-minus on the Quality Counts’ K-12 Achievement Index, along with uneven performance from both low- and high-achieving states, illustrate the challenges ahead for school leaders.
Sterling C. Lloyd, September 1, 2020
5 min read
States From Our Research Center Methodology & Grading Scale
Here's a quick and easy guide to the grading scale and each of the indicators that go into making up the 50-state grades for this year's Quality Counts.
September 1, 2020
3 min read