Best and Worst States for Education

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The 5 Worst and 5 Best States to Educate Your Kids

There's good news and bad news about the state of education in America. According to The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s newly released KIDS COUNT Data Book, we've made progress and have had some setbacks. Academics and health have improved in most states, but our children's economic well-being continues to decline.

From the period of 2005 to 2011, there was an 11 percent reduction in the rate of high school students not graduating in four years; and an eight percent reduction in the proportion of eighth-graders scoring less than proficient in math. More kids are attending preschool, and elementary school kids are reading better. On the downside, from 2005 to 2010, the number of children living in poverty rose by 2.4 million.

When it comes to education, some states outrank others. Click through the gallery to see the top five and bottom five states for education in America. To learn more about how the Casey Foundation did their rankings, click here.

(Photo: Andy Sacks)

#50 Nevada (One of the Five Worst)

According to the KIDS COUNT Data Book, Nevada is the worst state for education. The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that despite the low ranking, the state has made some positive strides: "The percentage of fourth-graders not at grade level in reading decreased from 79 percent in 2005 to 75 percent in 2011. The percentage of eighth-graders not at grade level in math also declined, from 79 percent in 2005 to 71 percent in 2011."

(Photo: Glowimages)

#49 New Mexico (One of the Five Worst)

New Mexico ranks second to last in education. In 2009, the high school graduation rate was 66.1 percent and the fourth-grade reading achievement level was only 20 percent.

(Photo: Jerry Driendl)

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#48 Mississippi (One of the Five Worst)

Mississippi is ranked 48th. The graduation rate in 2009 was 71.6 percent, and only 50.6 percent of kids who were not yet in kindergarten were enrolled in preschool from 2005 to 2009.

(Photo: Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images)

#47 West Virginia (One of the Five Worst)

West Virginia is the third to last state when it comes to education. 59.2 percent of four-year-olds are enrolled in pre-K. Seventy-three percent of fourth graders are below proficient reading levels.

(Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images)

#46 Arizona (One of the Five Worst)

Arizona ranks 46th in education. In 2009, 44 percent of fourth graders had difficulty reading, and 53 percent of kids were not receiving an early childhood education.

(Photo: altrendo travel)

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#5 Connecticut (One of the Five Best)

Connecticut ranks as the fifth best state for education. The state's graduation rate in 2007 was 92.4 percent.

(Photo: Visions of America/Getty Images)

#4 New Hampshire (One of the Five Best)

New Hampshire ranks as the fourth best state in education. Ninety-one percent of kids are enrolled in public school and only 8.9 percent go to private school. Sixty-three percent of third graders are proficient in reading, and 17 percent are proficient with distinction.

(Photo: Getty Images)

#3 Vermont (One of the Five Best)

Vermont is the third best state for education. Ninety-one percent of adults 25 years and older have graduated from high school or higher.

(Photo: Visions of America/Getty Images)

#2 New Jersey (One of the Five Best)

New Jersey is the second best state for education. More kids were enrolled in kindergarten and preschool in 2011 than 2007. Eighty-two percent of 11th graders passed state achievement tests in 2011.

(Photo: JGI/ Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

#1: Massachusetts (One of the Five Best)

Massachusetts ranks as the number one place to educate your children. The graduation rate was 83.4 percent in 2011, and 60 percent of kids were enrolled in preschool from 2006 to 2011.

To find out which states have the best and worst graduation rates, click here.

(Photo: Boston Globe/Getty Images)

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What do you think about the Best and Worst States for education? Let us know in comments

Jenny is the Education Editor at TakePart. She has been writing for TakePart since 2009 and previously worked in film and television development. She has taught English in Vietnam and tutors homeless children in Los Angeles. Email Jenny | @jennyinglee | TakePart.com

The 5 Worst and 5 Best States to Educate Your Kids

The 5 Worst and 5 Best States to Educate Your Kids

(Photo: Andy Sacks)

#50 Nevada (One of the Five Worst)

(Photo: Glowimages)

#49 New Mexico (One of the Five Worst)

(Photo: Jerry Driendl)

#48 Mississippi (One of the Five Worst)

(Photo: Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images)

#47 West Virginia (One of the Five Worst)

(Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images)

#46 Arizona (One of the Five Worst)

(Photo: altrendo travel)

#5 Connecticut (One of the Five Best)

(Photo: Visions of America/Getty Images)

#4 New Hampshire (One of the Five Best)

(Photo: Getty Images)

#3 Vermont (One of the Five Best)

(Photo: Visions of America/Getty Images)

#2 New Jersey (One of the Five Best)

(Photo: JGI/ Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

#1: Massachusetts (One of the Five Best)

(Photo: Boston Globe/Getty Images)

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