Press Releases
09/02/2020
Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Schools Ranked Top Three in Nation by Education Week
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and State Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona today announced that Connecticut’s K-12 schools have been ranked as the third best in the nation by Education Week in the annual education of its “Quality Counts 2020: Grading the States” report. Connecticut received a grade of B with an overall score of 84.1 out of 100 points. The nation as a whole received a grade of C.
The report, based on an analysis by the Education Week Research Center, reviews how well the nation and the states do on assuring bright prospects for success over the course of a lifetime, how much they spend on schools and how fairly that money is distributed, and the outcomes reflected by indicators such as test scores and graduation rates.
“The strength of a state is dependent upon the health of its education system, and Connecticut’s schools are once again being recognized as among the best in the nation,” Governor Lamont said. “We have the best teachers of any state and they are delivering results that are having positive impacts on students’ lives. The ability to attract businesses and encourage them to expand here is directly tied to the quality of education our workforce receives. I applaud the efforts of our teachers, staff, and administrators throughout our state’s school system for the dedication they provide each and every day.”
“Thanks to our collective efforts as one educational community, Connecticut has again ranked third in the nation,” Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said. “While this pandemic has thrown unprecedented challenges our way, we are inspired by the heightened sense of commitment and innovation demonstrated by our teachers, families, and school staff to meet the needs of our learners. We enter 2020-21 in the same spirit of collaboration, and with strengthened resolve, to deliver a reimagined PK-12 that ensures equity, access, and excellence for all students anytime, anywhere.”
A state’s overall grade is the average of its scores on the three separate indices tracked by the report, which are school finance, chance-for-success, and K-12 achievement. Connecticut’s grades and rank in each category are as follows:
- Chance-for-Success: Connecticut earned a B+ and ranks third, while the nation as a whole earned a C+.
- School Finance: Connecticut earned a B+ and ranks fifth, while the nation as a whole earned a C.
- K-12 Achievement Index: Connecticut received a grade of C and ranks fifth. The nation as a whole also earned a C.
Education Week is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing K-12 leaders in the U.S. with objective reporting on the news, trends, and events that shape the rapidly changing education landscape.
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