New Jersey has been named the top state for K-12 education in the United States, according to the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
The annual report evaluates both K-12 and higher education systems across all 50 states, using a wide range of metrics. While New Jersey ranked No. 1 for K-12 education, it came in 36th for higher education.
Key factors contributing to New Jersey’s top K-12 ranking included high preschool enrollment, strong standardized test scores, a high graduation rate, and strong college readiness indicators.
Specifically, New Jersey ranked:
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1st in college readiness
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1st in preschool enrollment
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2nd in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading scores
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3rd in high school graduation rate
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5th in NAEP math scores
For higher education, rankings were based on college graduation rates, educational attainment, in-state tuition costs, and student debt levels.
Massachusetts followed New Jersey in second place for K-12 education, though it ranked 45th in higher education. Connecticut took third in K-12 but placed 48th in higher education. Florida led the higher education rankings, followed by Wyoming and Washington.
At the bottom of the K-12 rankings were Oklahoma (48th), Alaska (49th), and New Mexico (50th). Connecticut, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania ranked lowest for higher education.
New Jersey’s Overall Performance
Despite leading in K-12 education, New Jersey ranked 19th overall among U.S. states. The overall state rankings considered eight categories, including health care, public safety, and the economy.
Here’s how New Jersey ranked in other key areas:
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5th in health care
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10th in crime and corrections
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12th in infrastructure
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28th in natural environment
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31st in economy
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45th in opportunity
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49th in fiscal stability
Utah claimed the top spot in the overall rankings, followed by New Hampshire, Idaho, and Minnesota.
In total, U.S. News & World Report used 71 different metrics to assess each state’s performance. While New Jersey may not lead in every category, it continues to be a national standout in education—especially for its youngest learners.
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