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According to the most recent data, Nevada ranks 41st in the nation in terms of education. This is a disappointing position for a state that has so much potential. However, there are some silver linings. For instance, the state has made significant progress in terms of high school graduation rates.
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Introduction
Although exact rankings can vary depending on the source, Nevada is typically ranked near the bottom in terms of education. In a 2018 ranking of states by education level, Nevada came in at #46, with a score of 44.3 out of 100. This ranking takes into account factors such as high school graduation rates, test scores, and the percent of residents with a college degree.
Nevada’s poor ranking is due in part to its large rural population and high poverty rate. In 2016, about 17% of Nevadans lived in poverty, and about 19% lived in rural areas. Both of these groups tend to have lower educational attainment levels.
There are some bright spots for Nevada when it comes to education, though. The state’s high school graduation rate has been increasing in recent years, and some districts have been able to close the achievement gap between low-income and minority students and their peers. However, much more work needs to be done in order to improve educational outcomes for all Nevadans.
Educational Rankings
The State of Nevada is not currently ranked in the Top 10 for education. In fact, it is not even ranked in the Top 20. This is according to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
National Rankings
The United States has long been considered a world leader in education, but in recent years, its standing has slipped. In the most recent global comparison, the U.S. ranks 38th in math and 24th in reading. When it comes to higher education, the U.S. News & World Report ranks the U.S. as 12th in the world.
One of the main factors contributing to the U.S.’s decline in ranking is its large income inequality gap. In general, countries with higher rates of income inequality tend to have worse educational outcomes, and the U.S. is no exception. According to UNESCO, the U.S.’s income inequality is among the worst of all developed countries, with a Gini coefficient of 0.41 (a score of 0 indicates perfect equality, and a score of 1 indicates perfect inequality).
The U.S.’s high level of income inequality is due in part to its large racial achievement gap. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, white students in the U.S., on average, outperform their black and Hispanic peers by nearly two grade levels in reading and math ( respectively). This achievement gap has been persistent for decades, and narrowing it remains a challenge for educators across the country.
In terms of state-by-state educational outcomes, Massachusetts ranks first in the nation, followed by New Jersey, Connecticut, Virginia, and Maryland (in order). At the bottom of the list are Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Alabama (in order).
State Rankings
The #1 state for education is Massachusetts.
The top 5 states for education are:
1. Massachusetts
2. New Jersey
3. Connecticut
4. Vermont
5. Virginia
Nevada’s Educational System
In 2017, Nevada was ranked as the 36th state in the nation for education. This is a significant jump from previous years, where the state was not even in the top 40. There are many reasons for this increase, but the most notable is the state’s investment in early childhood education.
Funding
Nevada ranks near the bottom of the country in per-pupil funding, with only Mississippi, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Idaho spending less per student. The state’s lack of investment in education has been a long-term problem. In 2015, the state ranked 48th in the nation in per-pupil funding, and it has never ranked higher than 46th.
The state’s low ranking is a result of several factors. First, Nevada has a relatively high number of students from low-income families. More than half of the state’s students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a federal program that provides meals to students from families who earn below a certain income threshold. Second, the state has a large number of English Language Learners (ELL), which also requires additional resources. And finally, Nevada has a large rural population, which can also require additional resources to provide adequate education opportunities.
Test Scores
According to the latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Nevada ranks 47th in the nation in fourth grade reading scores and 48th in eighth grade reading scores. In math, the state ranks 46th in fourth grade and 49th in eighth grade. These rankings are based on the average scores of all students who took the NAEP assessment in each state.
Nevada’s high school graduation rate is also below the national average. In 2017, the state’s graduation rate was 77.8%, compared to the national rate of 83.2%. Nevada’s graduation rate has improved slightly in recent years, but it still lags behind most other states.
One bright spot for Nevada is its participation rate in Advanced Placement (AP) exams. AP exams are taken by high school students who want to earn college credit for their coursework. In 2017, 21% of Nevada high school students took at least one AP exam, well above the national average of 15%.
Graduation Rates
In order to compare states’ educational systems, many different metrics can be used. One important metric is graduation rate. The graduation rate is the percentage of students who graduate from high school within four years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the graduation rate for Nevada was 75.5% for the 2013-2014 school year. This placed Nevada at 36th in the nation for graduation rates.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nevada is not ranked very highly in education when compared to other states. The state ranks 36th in the nation for preschool enrollment, 39th for high school graduation rates, and 43rd for average ACT scores. Although there are some areas where the state fares better, such as 4th grade reading proficiency and 8th grade math proficiency, overall Nevada ranks quite low when it comes to education. This is an issue that the state will need to address if it wants to improve its economy and quality of life for its residents.
