PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A new analysis claims that Arizona ranks the worst in the nation for public education, citing examples like average ACT scores, graduation rates, overall funding and higher-education quality.
ConsumerAffairs, a consumer research firm and customer review platform, analyzed data from all 50 states and found that the Grand Canyon State falls short of delivering quality education.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 49 millions students were enrolled in elementary, middle, and high schools across the country. About one-third of those students were below proficiency in at least one subject.
Among the data points was “K-12 performance,” which was ranked 40 out of 51 (50 states plus the District of Columbia). K-12 performance looked at ACT scores, which are among the lowest in the nation. Arizona also has the fifth-lowest high school graduation rate.
The analysis also shows Arizona ranked 50 for school funding and resources, citing a high student-to-teacher ratio and some of the lowest teacher salaries nationwide.
Higher education quality was ranked at 43 due to low funding for public colleges and universities, which also have significantly lower graduation rates.
Finally, Arizona ranked in the bottom 10 states for school safety. That’s because of a lack of a school safety board and school gun violence incidents at a rate of 2.2 per 100,000 students, according to the ConsumerAffairs analysis.
Which states ranked best?
MassachusettsNew YorkNew JerseyWashingtonPennsylvaniaVermontMinnesotaConnecticutVirginiaWisconsin
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