DENVER — While Colorado boasts high-quality public education, a new report finds the state ranks near the bottom when it comes to safety in its schools.
A recent analysis by WalletHub, a personal finance site, evaluated public education across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using factors like graduation rates, standardized test scores, spending, accessibility, and safety.
Colorado landed at No. 28 overall, placing it just below the national midpoint. The state earned a solid No. 15 ranking for education quality, thanks in part to its third-highest reading test scores nationwide. Only Massachusetts and New Jersey scored higher in that category.
However, Colorado ranked 46th in school safety, making it one of the five least safe states for public education. The report didn’t specify which safety metrics drove the low score, but these typically include factors like bullying, school shootings, disciplinary incidents, and student mental health issues.
Interestingly, Colorado is also one of eight states flagged for high education spending but relatively weak school systems, according to the report.
Nearby states fared better in certain areas:
-
Utah had top-tier math scores and maintained a strong school system with lower spending.
-
Wyoming, despite a high bullying rate, tied with Kansas for the second-highest median SAT scores.
-
New Mexico, ranked dead last overall at No. 51, still managed to outscore Colorado in safety, landing at No. 39.
The report highlights a sharp contrast in Colorado’s public education landscape—strong academics but concerning safety challenges—leaving room for improvement as the state continues to invest in its schools.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
Leave a Reply