NY school system ranked 8th best in nation. Here's why

Emily Barnes, New York State Team
·2 min read

New York's school system is one of the best nationwide, according to a study released by WalletHub Monday.

The Empire State came in eighth compared to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the study's ranking states, which took into account 32 benchmarks including performance, funding, dropout rate and safety.

Here's how New York fared.

How good are New York's schools?

New York schools stood out with the top spending per student for public elementary and secondary day schools among all states.

But funding doesn't necessarily translate into great schools. The District of Columbia has the second highest spending per student, but its schools only ranked in the 28th position, according to the study.

“Getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system, but simply having more money doesn’t guarantee success," WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said in the study. "How funds are applied also plays a big role in how good a school system is, as does the quality of educators, other professionals and the curriculum."

When it comes to safety, New York schools ranked in the 16th position, but on education quality, New York schools scored higher, ranking in the ninth position.

How WalletHub assessed state school systems

In this study, Massachusetts schools were ranked in the first position overall, followed by Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and Wisconsin school systems.

WalletHub's quality of education assessment considered dropout rate, standardized tests scores, high school graduation rate, teachers credentials, teacher-student ratio, amount of schools with a Blue Ribbon recognition, how many public schools ranked are included in the "Top 700 Best U.S. Schools" and their projected high school graduation rate increase between today and 10 years from now.

Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey came in the top three for quality of education in the study's rankings.

And WalletHub's safety assessment took a look at these factors:

  • Existence of a digital learning plan

  • State statute on out of school access to instructional materials

  • State guidance on accessible technologies

  • Share of threatened/injured high school students

  • Share of high school students not attending school due to safety concerns

  • Share of children whose parents agree their children go to safe schools

  • Share of high school students with access to illegal drugs

  • Share of high school students participating in violence

  • Share of armed high school students

  • Number of school shootings between 2000-June 2022

  • Presence of adopted and enacted laws regulating school resource officers

  • Bullying incidence rate

  • Disciplinary incidence rate

  • Youth incarceration rate

  • School safety plan requirement

  • School safety audit requirement

  • Safety grade of roads around school

Delaware, Massachusetts and Maine topped the safety rankings in the study.

Asbury Park Press reporter Juan Carlos Castillo contributed to this report.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY school system ranked 8th best in nation. Here's why