The U.S. educational system has produced many high-quality professionals and thinkers. Still, it is also increasingly dominated by people from affluent backgrounds, who are often the best and brightest but not the most representative of American society.
As part of my research for this post, I came across an interesting report from the National Center for Education Statistics. The report examined the number of students who take Advanced Placement exams and the percentage of those students who scored well enough to earn college credit.
The states are ranked by their high school students’ A.P. test performance. The rankings are based on the average score of students in each state, based on the 2012 A.P. test results data. So, the rankings are based on the scores earned by high school students in the spring of 2012.
In addition to the United States’ economic power, its educational system is also one of the best in the world. Despite this, we are still far away from our true potential. The United States ranks 47th out of 71 countries in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) Programme, with only the Slovak Republic performing worse than the U.S. This sad reality needs to change if the United States is to fulfill its full potential.
What is educational quality?
Educational quality is a term often used to describe the quality of education, and the student’s test scores usually measure it.
The report found that the top 10 states have an average score of 3.6 points above the national average, and the bottom 10 states have an average score of 1.8 points below the national average.
These scores are reflected in the U.S. States Ranking of the National Center for Education Statistics. California is the top state, followed by Texas, Florida, Illinois, and New York. The bottom five states are Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and North Carolina.
Which States Have the Best Education Systems
While the rankings are based on the data from 2012, they still give us a good idea of where the top states are. As you can see, the top 10 states have the highest percentages of students who earn college credits.
That includes:
California (91.7%)
Texas (90.8%)
Florida (89.9%)
New York (89.3%)
Pennsylvania (88.2%)
Illinois (87.4%)
Maryland (87.3%)
Michigan (86.5%)
Connecticut (85.9%)
Ohio (85.6%)
So, if you’re a parent, student, or just someone who wants to live in a great state, you may want to consider living there.
The state of education in America
Taking the A.P. tests is a great “bang for your buck” for any student. Most high schools and colleges will accept test scores as proof of college readiness.
For example, most universities will look at SAT scores as a proxy for test scores. This is because the SAT is a standardized test similar to the APS.
How do the states rank in terms of education quality?
The report examines the number of students who take Advanced Placement exams and the percentage of those students who scored well enough to earn college credit. The states are ranked by their high school students’ A.P. test performance.
The rankings are based on the average score of students in each state, the data collected from the 2012 A.P. test results, and the scores earned by high school students in the spring of 2012.
What are the most common college degrees?
The top three most common college degrees were business, computer science, and engineering. Many other degrees, such as mathematics, English, and history, were tied for fourth place. Interestingly, only the top two most common degrees were in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
What are the most popular majors at a given school? Many of these statistics were generated by the U.S. News & World Report. Below is a list of the most popular majors at a given school. The top three most popular majors at each school were biology, psychology, and sociology. Interestingly, only two of these were STEM fields. The top five most popular majors at a given school were: Similarly, the top three most popular majors at a given college were:
Frequently Asked Questions Educational Quality
Q: How important is high-quality education in improving your state ranking?
A: Education is one of the key components of an individual’s quality of life.
Q: Which state has the highest percentage of educated citizens?
A: Hawaii has the highest percentage of educated citizens. New York ranks second with a 21 percent education rate, followed by California with 19 percent and Minnesota with 15 percent.
Q: Why are some states ranked higher than others?
A: According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), states with more educated populations also have lower poverty rates, lower child poverty rates, lower child hunger rates, higher median family incomes, lower high school dropout rates, lower teen birth rates, higher homeownership rates, and lower home foreclosure rates.
Q: How do you think the U.S. has fallen in education?
A: Well, we are ranked 18th regarding educational quality. We are the only industrialized country that ranks so low. We are also known for not providing a good education.
Q: What’s one area that would improve the U.S. ranking in education?
A: It should focus on the sciences and math. We need more emphasis on education in these fields.
Top 3 Myths About Educational Quality
1. The USA has a good quality education system.
2. The USA has an excellent quality of life for everyone.
3. The U.S. states are ranked by educational quality.
Conclusion
Education is a huge topic, and there is plenty of room for debate. One thing that is fairly well agreed upon is that certain factors influence educational quality. These include things like the state funding formula, teacher pay, school safety, student safety, and the quality of the school itself. Certain factors affect education, and they vary widely between states. While I would agree that schools in the top quartile will be better than those in the bottom quartile, I don’t think there is anything definitive we can say about a national ranking.