National Report on State Education Rankings (Michigan 16)

EDUCATION

The 5 Best States for Education (and the 5 Worst)

A new 2013 report ranks states based on policy, standards, and progress in K-12 education. What grade was your state given?

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State Rankings In Education

For the first time, America is on track to reach its graduation goals. A report released byAmerica's Promise Alliance states that by 2020, we should be able to reach the country’s goal of a 90 percent graduation rate.

This comes as good news after the C grade the United States was given in education progress this year. This grade came from the comprehensive Quality Counts 2013 report completed byEducation Week.

The report looks at the quality of standards each state has in place for early childhood education and K-12, the assessments it uses to grade students, school finance, the teaching profession in the state, and the transition to secondary school.

This year’s report does show some progress, but there is great disparity between many of the states. Click through the gallery to learn which states get the five best grades, and which get the five worst. You may be surprised at the results.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images