Families considering where to live, whether to move school districts or how their child's school compares with others have a new data point to consider: New York ranks among the nation's top public school systems.
A recent WalletHub analysis placed New York at No. 8 nationally after evaluating states on dozens of factors, including academic performance, funding levels, class sizes, teacher qualifications and safety measures.
The ranking found New York spends more on public education than any other state. But the report also suggests families should look beyond statewide rankings and examine local district performance when making decisions about schools.
How good are New York's public schools?
New York earned an overall score of 59.52, ranking eighth among all 50 states and the District
of Columbia.
The state ranked No. 1 in the nation for school spending, highlighting its significant investment in public education. New York ranked No. 19 for school safety.
The findings suggest parents can generally expect access to one of the nation's stronger public school systems, though experiences can vary significantly from one district to another.
What does the ranking mean for parents?
Experts often recommend using statewide rankings as a starting point rather than the final word when evaluating schools.
Parents considering a move or comparing districts may want to review:
- Graduation rates
- Reading and math performance
- Advanced Placement and college-readiness programs
- Student-to-teacher ratios
- School safety records
- Extracurricular activities
- Transportation options
- Career and technical education opportunities
While New York performs well overall, local district data often provides a more useful picture of what students can expect day to day.
How New York compares with nearby states
Several Northeastern states ranked among the nation's best school systems.
Among neighboring states:
- Connecticut: No. 2
- New Jersey: No. 3
- New York: No. 8
Massachusetts earned the top overall ranking and also led the nation in math and reading performance.
If you're comparing districts, pay attention to these factors
WalletHub's results reinforce a key takeaway for families: Spending alone doesn't determine school quality.
Although New York ranked first for education spending, it finished outside the top 10 in school safety. Parents may want to examine local district report cards and performance data before making housing or enrollment decisions.
Useful information is often available through school districts and state education agencies, including:
- Academic achievement data
- Graduation rates
- Attendance trends
- School climate surveys
- Student discipline statistics
- Teacher experience levels
- College and career readiness measures
Which states ranked highest?
WalletHub's top five public school systems were:
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Wisconsin
New York finished eighth overall.
How WalletHub calculated the rankings
WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia using 32 metrics across two broad categories: quality and safety.
Quality measures included:
- Math scores
- Reading scores
- Dropout rates
- AP exam performance
- SAT and ACT results
- Pupil-teacher ratios
Safety measures included:
- Bullying rates
- The percentage of students reporting they were threatened or injured at school
The analysis used data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Is New York a top state for public schools? See where it ranks in 2026
