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If you’ve ever argued that Empire State schools are underrated, you just got bragging rights. A new nationwide study by online institution Silicon Valley High School has named New York the top state for education in America, beating out Massachusetts, New Jersey and the rest of the Northeast brain trust.
The study crunched data from all 50 states, scoring them on eight weighted factors, including graduation rates, test scores, per-student spending, classroom size and school safety. New York earned an Education Quality Score of 80.66, thanks in part to its $33,437 per-student investment—the highest in the country—and student-teacher ratios of just 11.7 to 1.
“The common thread among top-performing states is their holistic approach to education,” said David Smith, CEO of Silicon Valley High School, in the report. “Rather than only focusing on test scores, they invest in safe learning environments, reasonable class sizes and strong teacher support.
The Northeast dominated the list, with Massachusetts (80.33) and New Jersey (76.56) close behind. Massachusetts boasted the country's highest SAT and ACT scores, while New Jersey posted the best school safety score and early childhood enrollment rates.
Meanwhile, Arizona landed dead last, with an education score of just 24.44. Despite graduation rates around 77%, the state struggles with massive class sizes (22.8 students per teacher) and low funding levels, less than a third of New York’s.
Across the board, the top-ranked states shared some common traits: small class sizes, high per-student funding and strong safety metrics. The worst-performing states—like Nevada, New Mexico and Idaho—suffered from overcrowded classrooms, lower college attainment and inconsistent safety records.
For New Yorkers, the results are more than just a win—they’re a signal that the state’s decades of investment in public education are paying off. And for the rest of the country? Consider it a wake-up call.
As Smith put it: “Any state can choose to prioritize education, and the states that do see returns not just in test scores, but in economic growth and community well-being.”