New Jersey Ranked #3 State For Public Schools In The Country
Although the end of July may be considered too early to think about “back to school,” there is no harm in starting to prepare. WalletHub released their report for the best states for public schools in the country this week, and New Jersey claimed the #3 spot.
Over the past few years, many families with children starting school have looked for towns with excellent school systems. This priority has intensified. WalletHub explained that “needs have become even more specialized in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused significant learning loss and decreased test scores for many students.”
In order to properly examine each state’s public school system, WalletHub zoned in on two primary categories. They were overall quality and safety. From there, 32 different metrics were established within each category and assigned a score. Totaling these scores, New Jersey ranked the third highest in K-12 public education.
Inside The Numbers
New Jersey had a total score of 65.4. This was only .2 lower than the #2 state on the list, Connecticut. However, there is a four-point gap between New Jersey and Wisconsin at number four.
New Jersey finished with the second-highest score in quality. Perhaps there’s some slight room for improvement in the safety department. New Jersey ranked #19 here. Breaking that down further, the Garden State has a great pupil-to-teacher ratio, according to WalletHub’s analysis.
Other areas where New Jersey shined include having the fourth lowest dropout rate. Lastly, it appears that at least some kids here love to hit the books. The reading test scores in-state were the second best, behind only Massachusetts.
For now, go back and enjoy your summer plans. We still have a full month of August. However, with autumn in the on-deck circle, it’s certainly nice to know that public schools in New Jersey are among the best.
2 New Jersey Destinations Among The Best For Solo Travel
Princeton
Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. “Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777.” The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.
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Cape May
“Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park,” Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It’s very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery’s, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.
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