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FACT BRIEF

Is Oklahoma ranked among the worst states for education?

By Sue Bin Park
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YES

Oklahoma is ranked among the lowest in multiple 2024 surveys based on various metrics of education quality, safety, and academic outcomes.

U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 review places Oklahoma 49th out of 50 states, reflecting poor performance in standardized test scores and graduation rates, as well as in higher education statistics such as college graduation rates and graduating debt.

WalletHub’s 2024 ranking, which also places Oklahoma at second-worst state for education overall, extends their analysis to include student safety by measuring school violence and bullying. While Oklahoma ranks 35th in school safety, the state’s quality of education ranks only above New Mexico’s.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2024 report on child wellness lists Oklahoma 49th in education, assessing standardized proficiency scores and high school graduation rates.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
U.S. News and World Report 2024 Best States Ranking: Education
WalletHub States with the Best & Worst School Systems (2024)
The Annie E. Casey Foundation 2024 Kids Count Data Book
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Oklahoma Watch
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation that produces in-depth and investigative journalism as a public service for the benefit of all Oklahomans. Through investigative, fact-driven journalism, we dig deep and examine significant issues facing our state. Our work engages all Oklahomans, amplifies the discussion of important issues and leads to change. We help develop the journalists and journalism of the future.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.