South Dakota has the worst education system in the U.S., according to an organization raising awareness and understanding of critical issues facing American schools.
Education Week has ranked South Dakota 51 in its State Report Cards System. The report cards were published in the 17th Edition of Education Week's Quality Counts.
Each year, Quality Counts provides new results for a portion of the policy-and-performance categories that form the framework for the report's State-of-the-States analysis.
The states are rated on the following categories: Chance for Success, K-12 Achievement, Standards, Assessments and Accountability, Teaching Profession, School Finance and Transitions and Alignment.
On a bright note, South Dakota received a B+ in Chance for Success, which provides a link between education and beneficial outcomes at each stage of a person's life. Within that category, the state received an A- in Early Foundations but a C when it comes to school years. South Dakota was graded a B- for adult years in that category.
The state received a C for Standards, Assessments and Accountability, and Ds in all other categories.
The state's lowest mark came as a D- in the Teaching Profession category, which is measured based on accountability for quality, incentives & allocation—receiving an F—and building and supporting capacity.
Click here to read more about South Dakota's ranking.
Maryland received the highest ranking with an overall B+. The average U.S. grade was C at 76.9.
