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Has Wisconsin's national educational ranking improved in the past four years?

By Hope Karnopp
YES

In 2021, U.S. News and World Report ranked Wisconsin 8th for education; that is up from 2018, when the state ranked 18th for education. In 2019, it ranked 14th for education.

Wisconsin's 2021 ranking included 15th for higher education and 8th for grades pre-K through 12. 

U.S. News and World Report determines education rankings based on data including the cost of public colleges, percentage of children enrolled in preschool and math and reading test scores. 

According to the magazine, the top 10 education states in 2021 were, in order: New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Utah.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
US News & World Report Best States for Education 2021
US News & World Report Best States Overall Ranking 2018
US News & World Report Best States Overall Ranking 2019
US News & World Report Best States Overall Ranking 2021
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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