By Tiffany Williams –
Boston — Massachusetts has been ranked the top state in the nation for public education, according to a new analysis by WalletHub that compared state performance across 32 metrics including academic achievement, graduation rates, and school safety.
Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll celebrated the news Monday, highlighting the state’s top scores in math, reading, and Advanced Placement (AP) exam performance. The study credited Massachusetts for having the highest percentage of students scoring 3 or higher on AP exams and praised the overall safety of the state’s schools.
“Massachusetts is home to America’s first public school and has always led the way when it comes to providing our students with the best education,” Governor Healey said in a statement. “This recognition is a testament to the students, teachers, parents and staff who have invested their time and energy to help our schools succeed all across Massachusetts.”
WalletHub’s report noted that Massachusetts ranked first in the country across all core academic subjects this year, and continues to lead in overall student achievement. The state’s public education system also received top marks for school safety and access to quality resources.
“As a former chair of the Salem school committee, I know firsthand what it takes to make sure our students are getting the resources they need to thrive,” Lieutenant Governor Driscoll said. “I am happy to see Massachusetts continue to set an example on how to best support our students.”
State education officials pointed to recent investments in public education as key drivers of Massachusetts’ success. Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler cited record K-12 funding, a universal early literacy strategy, and permanent free school meals as key initiatives.
Over the past two years, the Healey-Driscoll administration has prioritized education by:
- Making universal free school meals permanent in public schools;
- Increasing education aid to $7.36 billion for FY 2026, with $675 million for special education and $140.6 million for student transportation;
- Launching Literacy Launch, a statewide reading initiative for children ages 3 to third grade;
- Investing $100 million to expand Career Technical Education and early college programs in high schools;
- Subsidizing over 57,000 AP exams for low-income students, contributing to the highest AP scores in the nation;
- Issuing joint guidance with the Attorney General’s Office to promote inclusive, bias-free school environments;
- Developing a mental health framework for the education system from early learning through college.
Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez credited the state’s educators and long-standing commitment to public education.
“Massachusetts students benefit from wonderful educators and a steadfast commitment to investing in schools,” Martinez said. “This ranking is a point of pride, and we will continue to improve schools for all students.”
The state was also recently ranked first in the nation across multiple quality-of-life categories, including economy, healthcare, safety, environmental policy, and innovation.