Several U.S. States Lag Behind in Educational Attainment and School Quality
Several U.S. states continue to lag behind in educational attainment and school quality. Alabama, Nevada, and West Virginia rank lowest in the nation for adults with bachelor's degrees and high school completion rates. Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico also struggle with low educational attainment and achievement gaps.
Alabama, Nevada, and West Virginia trail the nation in educational attainment. Only about 22 percent of Alabama adults and around 20 percent of West Virginia adults possess a bachelor's degree or higher. Nevada's high school attainment rate and college graduation rates are among the lowest in the country. Mississippi is the second-least educated state, with a third-lowest high school diploma rate and second-lowest bachelor's degree rate. Kentucky ranks 44th to 45th, Louisiana 48th, and Arkansas 47th in higher-education attainment.
New Mexico faces severe challenges, ranking lowest in Quality of Education and 49th in high school graduation rate. These states also suffer from persistent achievement gaps along racial and economic lines. Since 2021, Louisiana has implemented reforms like expanding school choice, increasing early childhood education funding, enhancing teacher support, and reforming accountability systems to tackle these issues. Education levels vary widely across the U.S., with some states consistently falling behind in school quality and degree attainment.
Addressing educational disparities requires targeted efforts. Louisiana's recent reforms offer a starting point. Improving educational attainment and school quality in these states is crucial for their economic growth and residents' well-being.
