New Hampshire schools are the fifth-best in the nation, a new analysis shows, a success for students and a rebuttal to claims the GOP-led state is undermining the education system.
For years, New Hampshire Democrats have accused Republican governors and legislators of “starving” public schools by supporting school choice programs and “devastating” the education system by opposing higher state funding for K-12 schools.
All the while, New Hampshire schools have continued to excel compared to the rest of the U.S. According to the latest rankings from the data analysts at Wallethub.com, New Hampshire ranks number five for best schools, behind Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Virginia.
The five worst states? Arizona, West Virginia, Alaska, Oklahoma, and — dead last — New Mexico.
Among the findings about New Hampshire’s schools:
- Overall Rank: 5th
- 4th – Math Test Scores
- 4th – Reading Test Scores
- 4th – Pupil-Teacher Ratio
- 4th – Median ACT Score
- 29th – % of Licensed/Certified Public K–12 Teachers
- 17th – Dropout Rate
- 23rd – % of Threatened/Injured High School Students
- 1st – Existence of Digital Learning Plan
And while top Democrats, such as House Minority Leader Rep. Alexis Simpson (D-Exeter) and Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, have accused Republicans of underfunding public schools, New Hampshire is also among the top 10 states in terms of per-pupil K-12 spending ($21,900), according to the Education Data Initiative.
“Getting enough funding is essential for a productive school system, but simply having more money doesn’t guarantee success. 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,” said Wallethub data analyst Chip Lupo.
Supporters of school choice argue that, rather than undermining educational performance, the Granite State’s good numbers indicate that competition improves outcomes for all.
“It proves the point that supporters of education freedom support public schools as well as alternatives like public charter schools, private schools, and home education,” said Rep. Glenn Cordelli (R-Tuftonboro), who serves on the House Education Committee.
“Public school will always fit the needs of the majority of children — but not all. And we need to provide options for those children.”
The New Hampshire Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court’s ruling that the state must spend more on public schools — $7,356.01 or more, to be exact. (Two of the judges in the three-vote majority were fill-ins covering vacancies due to conflicts of interest or ongoing criminal investigations.)
Opponents of the premise that judges, rather than elected legislators, should determine how tax dollars are spent argue that New Hampshire’s ongoing educational success demonstrates that the state’s schools are not underserved.
Drew Cline, chair of the state Board of Education and head of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, warns that the news isn’t as good as it first appears.
“It’s nice to see New Hampshire’s public schools get the recognition they deserve for ranking among the best in the country. However, we can’t look at this out of context. The frustrating truth is that every state’s public schools struggle to generate acceptable outcomes,” Cline said.
“The number one state on this list, Massachusetts, gets only 40 percent of its 8th graders proficient in reading and 37 percent proficient in math. Studies that put a heavy emphasis on inputs miss that too many of those resources aren’t being used effectively, even in the highest-ranked states.”
