WI Public Schools Ranked Among Top 10 In The Country

Wisconsin was ranked among 2026's best states for public education in a recent analysis from ConsumerAffairs.

The Badger State came in at No. 10 in the ranking — moving up one spot compared to 2025, and falling between Virginia at No. 9 and Pennsylvania at No. 11.

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The analysis considered K-12 academic outcomes, school funding and resources, higher education, and school safety. Wisconsin's category-level rankings were very consistent, with the state coming in at No. 22 in every category but school safety, where it was No. 23.

"States with stronger tax bases, fewer socioeconomic barriers and a long history of investing in public education often have an advantage," Tameka Royal, CEO of nonprofit charter school management company Democracy Prep Public Schools, told ConsumerAffairs.

The highest-ranked states were, in order from No. 1 to No. 5: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington.

The lowest-ranked were, from No. 50 to No. 46: Arizona, Alaska, Idaho, Louisiana and New Mexico.

Poor K-12 academic outcomes were a common thread for lower-ranked states, according to ConsumerAffairs.

"It's important to remember that statewide averages don't capture every local experience," ConsumerAffairs reported. "A single school or district within any of these states could be far outperforming its statewide average."

Read more from ConsumerAffairs.