Newsweek/Best school systems map
By Joe Edwards
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Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey led the nation in public school quality in 2025, according to a new analysis by personal finance website WalletHub.
How It Was Calculated
The study ranked all states and the District of Columbia across 32 metrics clustered into two main categories: "Quality" and "Safety." Among these were graduation and test scores, Advanced Placement (AP) exam performance, pupil-to-teacher ratios, and the incidence of school bullying or violence. States were also assessed for their use of technology, effectiveness of digital learning plans, and instructor qualifications.
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What To Know
Massachusetts ranked first in the nation overall, leading in all core subjects for fourth and eighth-grade test scores. High school students also excel, the report said, with the highest percentage scoring 3 (out of 5) or above on AP exams. Additionally, Massachusetts schools are among the safest, the report found, with low rates of violence, physical fights, and drug availability on campus.
Connecticut ranked second, with top ACT scores and a high concentration of public schools among the best nationwide. It also has the third-highest share of students scoring 3 or above on AP exams and one of the best pupil-to-teacher ratios. In terms of safety, Connecticut excels with mandatory school safety audits, the lowest rate of illegal drugs on campus, the second-lowest youth incarceration rate, and one of the lowest rates of students carrying weapons at school, according to the report.
New Jersey ranked third nationally for its school systems, supported by a strong digital learning plan and a favorable pupil-to-teacher ratio. It boasts the second-highest reading scores and fifth-best math scores for fourth and eighth graders, along with the second-largest share of students scoring 3 or higher on AP exams. Additionally, about 8.6 percent of its public schools rank among the top 700 in the country, WalletHub said.
In last year's iteration of the report, Maryland ranked third in the nation. For 2025, however, the state slipped to ninth, which WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo explained was primarily due to "a decline in academic performance."
The states in WalletHub's 2025 top ten best school systems included:
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Wisconsin
- Rhode Island
- Indiana
- Maryland
- New York
Conversely, the lowest ranking states were:
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Oregon
- Nevada
- West Virginia
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Hawaii
What People Are Saying
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo told Newsweek: "Maryland's slip from 3rd place in 2024 to 9th in 2025 is largely because of a decline in academic performance. While the state maintained a strong safety ranking, holding steady at 4th, its quality score dropped considerably...
"Factors such as test scores, graduation rates for low-income students, and dropout rates all play a role in the quality ranking, and even modest declines in those areas can have a significant effect.
Lupo said in the report: "Getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system, but simply having more money doesn't guarantee success. How funds are applied also plays a big role in how good a school system is, as does the quality of educators, other professionals and the curriculum. In addition, schools need to focus not just on test scores but also on making sure that students feel safe, comfortable and cared for."
What Happens Next
WalletHub releases its "States with the Best & Worst School Systems" report annually.
Update 7/24/25, 12:35 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
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