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