# How important is education ranking in your state? \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015 "2017-11-18T20:20:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/1 "2017-11-18T20:20:59Z")
That you go to a state that ranks high in education? #I ask because I live in Texas, which ranks low in education. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/2 "2017-11-18T20:31:52Z")
We are #49 (thank God for Mississippi!), but you have to realize that computing an average across an entire state is an incredibly poor metric for measuring this. And rural-ass areas won’t rank highly. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/3 "2017-11-18T20:40:09Z")
Important in what respect? Getting an education? Living in that state? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/4 "2017-11-18T20:42:13Z")
I am in Arkansas, I have found that education is as individual as the student. My kids have gotten a good public education, against odds like overcrowding, bad teachers, old schools, and poor discipline going on all around them. My older 2 had high ACT scores. My son when to the Marines, and college afterwards. My middle daughter when out-of-state and got her degree. My lil’wrekker just started college this fall, her ACT score was 28. She is on a full-ride scholarship. So it can be done. Parental engagement is a must in these parts, too many cracks to fall through. ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/5 "2017-11-18T20:42:19Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > Important in what respect? Getting an education? Living in that state? In getting a good education, and being successful. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/6 "2017-11-18T21:26:58Z")
> [@CastletonSnob](#): > > In getting a good education, and being successful. I think that’s great idea. You should definitely give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/7 "2017-11-18T23:34:24Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > We are #49 (thank God for Mississippi!), but you have to realize that computing an average across an entire state is an incredibly poor metric for measuring this. And rural-ass areas won’t rank highly. It’s true you can get a fine education in a state with a terrible overall educational system. And the reverse is equally true. So the educational average in your state isn’t an issue that affects you and your family directly; for that, you need to keep an eye on your local school system. But the state average is meaningful in terms of the quality of life in your state. The people in your state are not all going to be the product of your local school system. They’re going to have come from other school districts and be reflective of that average. So if you live in a state with what is, on average, a terrible public school system you’re going to be living with a lot of poorly educated people and suffer from the kinds of problems that result from that. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/8 "2017-11-18T23:50:24Z")
New Jersey, year in and year out tends to be top 4. [2 years ago USA Today ranked](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/01/15/247-wall-st-states-best-schools/21388041/)us 2nd. Our state treats it pretty seriously. When towns get too far behind the state has moved in to take over the schools and fix them. The crappiest school system in my county is still in the 48% to 49% ranking for the country or pretty much average. My towns schools are top 3% or so. Toss out the magnate schools and top 1%. [USNEWS this years ranks us 2nd again](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/slideshows/10-best-us-states-for-education?slide=11). Note in both surveys Massachusetts is #1. This was just the first 2 links from google, but I have been checking these numbers for the last 25 years or so and as I said, NJ is always top 4. So I do think it is important for the state to strive for good schools. It tends to float up the poorer towns and push the wealthier ones to really excel. ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/9 "2017-11-18T23:54:07Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s true you can get a fine education in a state with a terrible overall educational system. And the reverse is equally true. So the educational average in your state isn’t an issue that affects you and your family directly; for that, you need to keep an eye on your local school system. > > But the state average is meaningful in terms of the quality of life in your state. The people in your state are not all going to be the product of your local school system. They’re going to have come from other school districts and be reflective of that average. So if you live in a state with what is, on average, a terrible public school system you’re going to be living with a lot of poorly educated people and suffer from the kinds of problems that result from that. Am I fucked, then? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/10 "2017-11-19T00:36:45Z")
I wouldn’t say fucked, but you’ll need to do some due diligence to find the good school systems within a commutable range for yourself and your spouse. Are the kids ready for school or are you planning ahead? Private schools are a fair alternative but if you can live in a town with good schools it is generally better overall and property taxes are almost always less than tuition for private schools. Even in states like NJ & Mass. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/11 "2017-11-19T00:37:13Z")
> [@CastletonSnob](#): > > Am I fucked, then? It’s only one thing in determining the quality of where you live. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/12 "2017-11-19T00:41:10Z")
Do you have kids? Are you a kid? ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/13 "2017-11-19T00:41:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I wouldn’t say fucked, but you’ll need to do some due diligence to find the good school systems within a commutable range for yourself and your spouse. Are the kids ready for school or are you planning ahead? > > Private schools are a fair alternative but if you can live in a town with good schools it is generally better overall and property taxes are almost always less than tuition for private schools. Even in states like NJ & Mass. No, I’m done with school. I meant am I fucked? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/14 "2017-11-19T00:48:09Z")
If you’re done with school and your kids are done with school then it shouldn’t matter much to you at all. States are big enough that how your state ranks has little to do with things like local real estate values. And if you want to be successful you can do quite well in a state full of dumb people. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/15 "2017-11-19T00:53:04Z")
Children are educated at home by their parents, and they are sent to school to pick up on some of the memorization details in books. Your children will get the education you enable them to get, regardless of where you send them to school. Nothing in Hope, Arkiansas, obstructed Bill Clinton from becoming a Rhodes Scholar. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/16 "2017-11-19T00:57:13Z")
I think maybe he’s fucked. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/17 "2017-11-19T01:02:27Z")
> [@CastletonSnob](#): > > No, I’m done with school. I meant am I fucked? Then no, why would you be fucked? Education can and should continue throughout life. I don’t even mean formal education. Be informed and stay informed. Try to find fairly neutral sources and stay up with the news and world. Also if you’re without kids and don’t think your area is very good, look into moving, shouldn’t be too hard. If your job prospects are poor, do something about it, there are still ways to better yourself without huge expense. Consider community colleges, certificate programs or even the military. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/18 "2017-11-19T02:27:29Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I think maybe he’s fucked. Just saying. Definitely. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/19 "2017-11-19T03:12:07Z")
CastletonSnob, please don’t create vague thread titles. I’m changing it to reflect the topic. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > Definitely. Let’s hold off on the thinly veiled insults, now. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015/20 "2017-11-19T06:16:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s true you can get a fine education in a state with a terrible overall educational system. And the reverse is equally true. So the educational average in your state isn’t an issue that affects you and your family directly; for that, you need to keep an eye on your local school system. > > But the state average is meaningful in terms of the quality of life in your state. The people in your state are not all going to be the product of your local school system. They’re going to have come from other school districts and be reflective of that average. So if you live in a state with what is, on average, a terrible public school system you’re going to be living with a lot of poorly educated people and suffer from the kinds of problems that result from that. What I mean is that many states are huge, and a city’s system may be very different than a city on the other side of the state, but similar to a neighboring city that’s in a different state. Of course, the poor ranking could also be due to a poorly run statewide system. I guess I’m saying that it’s like reporting the mean but not the standard deviation of a statistic, so it doesn’t tell you much. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-education-ranking-in-your-state-edited-title/802015.md?page=2)