Like it or not it’s almost time for the kids to head back to school. And one of the most important decisions a parent can make is how to educate their child. Whether that is choosing where to live based on school districts or choosing between public, private, or home school. It’s a choice that can define a child’s entire life. So how does North Carolina fair in terms of education? Well, a study by WalletHub recently ranked each state on this metric and North Carolina ranks in the bottom half of all school systems nationwide. Though it’s not all bad, we aren’t at the very bottom, just not in the top 50%.
This comes as education remains one of the hottest and most divisive topics in the country. Between the mask requirements, vaccine requirements, online schooling, critical race theory, school safety concerns, and more. It’s no wonder that parents are struggling with finding the option that works best for their families. It’s no wonder people are rethinking what they have always done. And this list doesn’t bode well for the public school argument. There is no one size fits all solution, but as a parent, it’s important to weigh the options and feel confident in the decision you have made.
View the full study here or read on for the full rankings of states by school systems.
North Carolina Ranks In The Bottom Half Of School Systems Nationwide
1. Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts, USA skyline over Boston Common.
Total Score: 72.79
Quality: 1
Safety: 1
2. Connecticut
Total Score: 66.22
Quality: 2
Safety: 9
3. New Jersey
Steel Pier – Atlantic City, New Jersey
Total Score: 64.05
Quality: 3
Safety: 4
4. Virginia
Total Score: 61.79
Quality: 4
Safety: 4
5. Maryland
Total Score: 60.67
Quality: 7
Safety: 6
6. Delaware
Total Score: 60.05
Quality: 10
Safety: 2
7. New Hampshire
Total Score: 59.19
Quality: 8
Safety: 11
8. North Dakota
Total Score: 58.42
Quality: 6
Safety: 28
9. Nebraska
Total Score: 58.12
Quality: 9
Safety: 8
10. Wisconsin
Total Score: 58.03
Quality: 5
Safety: 31
11. Vermont
Total Score: 56.71
Quality: 16
Safety: 7
12. Maine
Total Score: 56.09
Quality: 25
Safety: 3
13. Utah
Total Score: 55.53
Quality: 12
Safety: 16
14. Florida
Florida directional sign
Total Score: 55.35
Quality: 15
Safety: 15
15. Minnesota
Total Score: 55.21
Quality: 11
Safety: 36
16. Rhode Island
Total Score: 55.17
Quality: 20
Safety: 10
17. New York
The New York State Capitol Building in Albany, home of the New York State Assembly. Monument of General Sherman on horseback.
Total Score: 54.86
Quality: 13
Safety: 20
18. Pennsylvania
Spring in Pittsburgh city, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh skyline with cherry blossoms.
Total Score: 54.32
Quality: 14
Safety: 26
19. Iowa
Total Score: 54.25
Quality: 19
Safety: 19
20. Wyoming
Total Score: 54.23
Quality: 17
Safety: 22
21. Kentucky
Aerial view of Jacobson Park Lake and Richmond Road in Lexington, Kentucky
Total: 53.94
Quality: 22
Safety: 17
22. Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA downtown cityscape on the White River at dusk.
Total Score: 53.52
Quality: 26
Safety: 13
23. Illinois
Total Score: 53.23
Quality: 18
Safety: 29
24. Colorado
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.
Total Score: 52.62
Quality: 23
Safety: 24
25. Montana
Total Score: 51.55
Quality: 21
Safety: 38
26. South Dakota
Total Score: 51.19
Quality: 24
Safety: 37
27. Texas
Total Score: 49.36
Quality: 33
Safety: 14
28. Tennessee
Total Score: 49.18
Quality: 27
Safety: 46
29. North Carolina
Aerial view of Outer Banks North Carolina
Total Score: 49.02
Quality: 30
Safety: 32
30. District of Columbia
Washington DC aerial view with Thomas Jefferson Memorial building
Total Score: 47.65
Quality: 28
Safety: 49
31. Washington
Panoramic view of Seattle cityscape and Space Needle at sunset, Washington, USA
Total Score: 47.56
Quality: 36
Safety: 5
32. Arkansas
Total Score: 47.22
Quality: 32
Safety: 35
33. Kansas
Total Score: 47.20
Quality: 31
Safety: 41
34. Ohio
State of Ohio flags waving in front of the Statehouse in Columbus, OG.
Total Score: 47.10
Quality: 40
Safety: 12
35. Missouri
Columbia, Missouri, USA at The University of Missouri.
Total Score: 46.32
Quality: 29
Safety: 50
36. Georgia
Total Score: 46.07
Quality: 38
Safety: 27
37. Idaho
Total Score: 45.22
Quality: 34
Safety: 44
38. Michigan
Michigan Welcome Sign – summer time.
Total Score: 44.12
Quality: 39
Safety: 42
39. Nevada
Total Score: 44.01
Quality: 35
Safety: 47
40. California
California state – road sign map’
Total Score: 43.17
Quality: 37
Safety: 48
41. Hawaii
Beautiful rainbow over the Hawaii skyline
Total Score: 42.42
Quality: 41
Safety: 33
42. Alabama
Total Score: 39.81
Quality: 45
Safety: 23
43. Mississippi
Total Score: 38.65
Quality: 43
Safety: 45
44. Oregon
Travelers will be welcomed to Oregon by this sign on I-5
Total Score: 44
Safety: 39
45. Oklahoma
Total Score: 38.01
Quality: 46
Safety: 25
46. South Carolina
Total Score: 37.31
Quality: 42
Safety: 51
47. West Virginia
West Virginia flag on a flagpole waving in the wind, blue sky background. 3d rendering.
Total Score: 37.18
Quality: 47
Safety: 18
48. Arizona
Total Score: 35.11
Quality: 48
Safety: 34
49. Louisiana
Total Score: 34.09
Quality: 49
Safety: 40
50. Alaska
Total Score: 33.05
Quality: 50
Safety: 30
51. New Mexico
Hot air balloons drifting over the Rio Grande river in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Total Score: 26.07
Quality: 54
Safety: 43
Methodology (Per WalletHub)
In order to determine the best and worst states for public-school education, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions, “Quality” and “Safety.”
We evaluated those dimensions using 32 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest quality of public K–12 education.
Finally, we determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Ranked Charlotte Area's Best Public High Schools
Pittsburgh-based research and review site Niche recently released their rankings of the top Charlotte area public high schools. The rankings feature traditional, charter, and magnet schools but not private schools. Niche also did rankings state and nationwide, which 8 of the Charlotte area schools made. The rankings consider things like test scores at the state level as well as SAT/ACT, graduation rates, college preparedness, ratings, and quality of teachers.
According to the Charlotte Business Journal the rankings were based on the following scale: academics grade, 60%; culture and diversity grade, 10%; parent/student surveys on overall experience, 10%; teachers grade, 10%; clubs and activities grade, 2.5%; health and safety grade, 2.5%; resources and facilities grade, 2.5%; and sports grade, 2.5%.
Below is the list of the Top 20 best public high schools in the Charlotte area.
1. Marvin Ridge High School (Union County Public Schools)
Celebrating our #ucpsclassof2021! Posters from last week’s Decision Day. Congratulations to all our #ucpsgrads @AGHoulihan @UCPSNC pic.twitter.com/9wweTGvZji
— Marvin Ridge HS (@MarvinRidgeHSNC) May 18, 20212. Ardrey Kell High School (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools)
Great classroom activities today! @ArdreyKellHS pic.twitter.com/5S9UTVdTsx
— Ardrey Kell HS (@ArdreyKellHS) September 23, 20213. Weddington High School (Union County Public Schools)
Did you know that October is #NationalPrincipalsMonth? Thank you Dr. Kraftson for all you do for WHS! pic.twitter.com/uAUNINWgD2
— Weddington High School (@WeddingtonHSNC) October 5, 20214. Lake Norman Charter High School (Charter School Huntersville)
Thank you to our super PTO and all of our supportive and generous parents for treating the staff to lunch today! The food was delicious, the décor was festive and the gift cards were an especially nice treat! Thank you for making our Friday brighter! #LNPride pic.twitter.com/l0INrzrXdI
— LNCharter Knights (@LNCharter) October 8, 20215. Highland School of Technology (Gaston County Public Schools)
Here is this week’s #MediaMinute! #HSTReads #BookClub #HSTbookclub #YouHaveAMatch
— Highland School of Technology (@HighlandGaston) September 22, 2021
@dilemmalord @ReesesBookClub pic.twitter.com/F92j0xsd2O6. Central Academy of Technology and Arts (Union County Public Schools)
This weekend is the Union County College Fair! It’s open to the public & is @ CATA. CACRAO requires masks at this event. Sun., 10/3, 2-4 PM. List of colleges: https://t.co/dLHRlnwqZP @VickiMerritt13 @AGHoulihan @CATA_Counseling @CATA_ptso @CATA_Athletics @UCPSNC @CATAcareers pic.twitter.com/QVeB4BNxUZ
— Central Academy of Technology & Arts (@CATAMonroeNC) October 1, 20217. Community School of Davidson (Charter School Davidson)
Community School of Davidson
Community School of Davidson, a North Carolina Public Charter School, welcomes students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin. We've designed this site both as an overview of our school for visitors who are new to us and as a library of information for the families we serve.
8. Pine Lake Preparatory School (Charter School Mooresville)
Today, and every day, we think Pine Lake teachers deserve an...#WorldTeachersDay @AndrewMoceri @HoffPhD @ShellyMSims @SamRanallo pic.twitter.com/a7u0gI54f6
— Pine Lake Prep (@PineLakePrep) October 5, 20209. Myers Park High School (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools)
Thank you to our Interact Club members for supporting Treescharlotte planting event.
— Myers Park High (@MyersParkHS) October 9, 2021
Also, thank you to Ashley Park Elementary School for hosting and providing the tree space.
We hope you enjoy the shade for years to come. pic.twitter.com/dLvYGv57Tu10. Cuthbertson High School (Union County Public Schools)
Our school counselors facilitated a workshop with seniors to answer college application and SCOIR questions. Two additional workshops will be held 10/20 and 10/27 during Cav Time.@UCPSNC @AGHoulihan pic.twitter.com/JmEcsS7W7k
— Cuthbertson High School (@CuthbertsonHSNC) October 7, 202111. Fort Mill High School (Fort Mill School District)
This weekend at the 17th annual Knights Roundtable Tournament of Bands, Fort Mill won the awards for Best Music, Best General Effect, Best Percussion, & 1st Place in Class. As the highest scoring band of the day regardless of class, Fort Mill also won the Grand Championship Cup! pic.twitter.com/Yb0lYzJxix
— Fort Mill High News (@fmhsnews) October 4, 202112. Nation Ford High School (Fort Mill School District)
https://nfhs.fortmillschools.org/
13. Charlotte Engineering Early College (Charlotte Mecklenburg School)
Charlotte Engineering Early College-UNCC
No Description
14. Providence High School (Charlotte Meckenburg Schools)
John Balas 70 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown put Providence up 9-0 over Independence @johnbalas23 pic.twitter.com/N8XEY82RFB
— Providence Athletics (@ProvAthletics) October 8, 202115. Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College High School (Cabarrus County Schools)
Early College High School / Homepage
Cabarrus Kannapolis Early College High School
16. William Amos Hough High School (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools)
Club Rush is BACK!
— WAHough High School (@CMS_WAHoughHS) September 11, 2021
If your club needs to sign up: make sure Mr. Connally & Ms. Grosse have your club’s updated info. Send them an email to check if your club/org has secured a table. Don’t wait until last minute.
General students looking to join a club don’t need to RSVP. pic.twitter.com/vWkOgPvKCH17. South Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools)
What an amazing night honoring the inductees of the SM Inaugural Hall of Fame. Follow SouthMeckHallofFame on Instagram for more photos. pic.twitter.com/pL3yGDaj5g
— South Mecklenburg HS (@SMHSSabres) October 9, 202118. Union County Early College (Union County Public Schools)
HOT of the PRESS UCEC 2020-2021 Yearbook. BIG SHOUT out to the UCEC Yearbook TEAM, this book is AMAZING! We have few extras. @UCPSNC @AGHoulihan #TeamUCPS! #BeTheBest #UCECProud #CycloneStrong #WorkHardPlayHard pic.twitter.com/Av3NQphMyc
— Union County Early College (@UCEarlyCollege) August 6, 202119. Cox Mill High School (Cabarrus County Schools)
HUGE thank you Factory Church and Athletic Boosters for sponsoring our back to school breakfast for staff 💜#BuiltAtTheMill #MillMentality pic.twitter.com/jBfPD6lva3
— Cox Mill High School (@CoxMillHS) August 17, 202120. North Lincoln High School (Lincolnton County Schools)
— North Lincoln (@NorthLincolnHS) September 24, 2021