The states where K-12 students care most about doing well in school, ranked

Sep 03, 2026 07:20 PM - 1 hour ago 2

A group of mini children beryllium connected the crushed successful beforehand of a coach successful a seat.

School children interact pinch their teacher. Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

As the back-to-school season approaches — or, successful immoderate states, has already begun — students, teachers, and parents are preparing for different twelvemonth of difficult activity and attraction connected school.

But the grade to which children attraction astir learning varies crossed US states, according to a 2023-2024 study by the National Survey of Children's Health, a information postulation programme funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

The study included responses from 70,282 children across the US betwixt the ages of 6 and 17 and asked parents and guardians 2 questions: really often does this kid attraction astir doing good successful school, and really often does this kid do each the required homework?

The answers were past reflected into 3 categories: "always," "usually," and "sometimes aliases never" engaged successful school. Those categorized successful "always" put that reply for some questions. Those successful "usually" responded to some questions arsenic "usually" aliases to 1 arsenic "usually" and the different arsenic "always." All remaining children were classified arsenic "sometimes aliases never."

Those successful the Northeast, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania, had the largest shares of children reported arsenic ever engaged successful school. Children successful New Hampshire and Vermont, however, were among the slightest engaged; Alaska classed last.

Still, the findings connection a snapshot of really consistently caregivers opportunity children are motivated and completing their schoolwork — not a nonstop measurement of world capacity aliases schoolhouse quality.

Engagement tin beryllium shaped by galore overlapping factors, for illustration family routines, disablement aliases intelligence wellness needs, schoolhouse workload, chronic absenteeism, and entree to tutoring aliases after-school care. The mentation of "always" and "usually" whitethorn besides alteration by respondent.

Here's really children ages 6 to 17 successful each authorities and Washington, DC, fared.

51. Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska.

Fairbanks, Alaska. Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 34.5% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 45.2% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.3% of children

50. Idaho

Downtown Boise skyline astatine dusk pinch ray trails starring toward the Idaho State Capitol.

Boise City, Idaho. Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 34.5% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 45.2% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.3% of children

49. New Hampshire

Greenville, NH from the air

Greenville, New Hampshire. BackyardProduction/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 34.9% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 45.7% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.4% of children

48. Utah

Beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah, USA astatine sunset time. Downtown and greenish outskirts of the metropolis pinch rocks astatine backdrop. Aerial view.

Salt Lake City, Utah. Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 34.9% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 41.3% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 23.8% of children

47. Montana

Aerial View of Downtown Bozeman, Montana successful Summer

Bozeman, Montana Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 35.4% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 40.5% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 24.1% of children

46. Vermont

Panoramic aerial position of the municipality of Stowe successful Vermont successful the fall

Stowe, Vermont BackyardProduction/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 36.5% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 40.3% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 23.1% of children

45. Oregon

Portland, Oregon.

Portland, Oregon. espiegle/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 36.9% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 39.7% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 23.4% of children

44. Wyoming

A drone changeable of Laramie, Wyoming neighborhood's cityscape pinch greenery, sunlight and cloudy sky

Laramie, Wyoming. Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 37.6% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 41.6% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.8% of children

43. West Virginia

Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Clarksburg, West Virginia. ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 37.8% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 41.1% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 21.1% of children

42. Colorado

Aerial View of Aurora, Colorado successful Autumn

Aurora, Colorado. Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 38.7% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 42.1% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.2% of children

41. Indiana

Indianapolis.

Indianapolis, Indiana. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 38.7% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 40.4% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.8% of children

40. Washington

 Aerial panoramic position of Seattle University of Washington District Neighborhood, Mt Rainer, and Lake Washington

Seattle, Washington SEASTOCK/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 39.1% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 38.8% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 22.1% of children

39. Nevada

Reno, Nevada.

Reno, Nevada. miroslav_1/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 39.3% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 37.7% of childrents

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 22.9% of children

38. Oklahoma

Downtown Oklahoma City skyline astatine sunset pinch high-rise towers, municipality buildings, trees, and ray trails successful the foreground.

Oklahoma City. RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 39.4% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 40.5% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.2% of children

37. Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri.

St. Louis, Missouri. Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 39.5% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 39.1% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 21.4% of children

36. New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 39.8% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 39.3% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.9% of children

35. Minnesota

Aerial cityscape image of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, USA pinch reflection of the skyline successful Mississippi River astatine stormy summertime sunset.

St. Paul, Minnesota. RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 40.0% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 38.8% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 21.2% of children

34. Wisconsin

Madison skyline and Wisconsin State Capitol. The Wisconsin State Capitol, houses some chambers of the Wisconsin legislature, Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor.

Madison, Wisconsin Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 40.7% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 39.2% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.1% of children

33. Iowa

Iowa State Capitol pinch golden dome overlooks a wide avenue and downtown Des Moines nether agleam sun.

Des Moines, Iowa. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 41.1% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 39.2% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.7% of children

32. Maine

Portland, Maine, USA downtown metropolis skyline astatine dusk.

Portland, Maine Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 41.1% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 37.9% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 21.0% of children

31. South Dakota

Urban stream flows beneath a span betwixt downtown buildings astatine dusk nether a clear bluish sky.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 41.5% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 38.9% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.6% of children

30. Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia, wide aerial drone position looking complete the expansive University of Virginia field and aesculapian halfway complex, stretching toward rolling greenish hills nether a agleam entity pinch scattered clouds.

Charlottesville, Virginia. Eli Wilson/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 41.5% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 38.0% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.5% of children

29. North Carolina

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Kruck20/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 42.4% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 38.6% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.0% of children

28. North Dakota

Aerial position of the North Dakota State Capitol successful Bismarck, North Dakota, connected a melodramatic overcast sunset pinch a red-tinted entity successful the fall.

Bismarck, North Dakota. halbergman/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 42.7% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 39.4% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 17.9% of children

27. Hawaii

Aerial View of Honolulu Neighborhoods and Mountains. Wide aerial position of residential neighborhoods successful Honolulu, Hawaii, pinch lush greenish mountains and scattered clouds successful the background

Honolulu, Hawaii. Iryna Olkhova/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 43.0% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 42.0% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 15.0% of children

26. Kansas

Aerial View of Lawrence, Kansas and its State University banal photo

Lawrence, Kansas. Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 43.0% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 39.2% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 17.8% of children

25. Nebraska

Aerial View of the Omaha, Nebraska Skyline astatine Dusk

Omaha, Nebraska. Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 43.0% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 40.2% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 16.8% of children

24. Maryland

Picturesque upland municipality of Cumberland Maryland connected a beautiful autumn time pinch vibrant autumn colors and puffy clouds

Cumberland, Maryland. PBallay/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 43.1% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 36.1% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.8% of children

23. Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 43.8% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 37.2% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.1% of children

22. South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina.

Charleston, South Carolina. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 43.9% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 34.3% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 21.8% of children

21. Georgia

Atlanta, GA.

Atlanta, Georgia. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 44.4% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 38.4% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 17.2% of children

20. Illinois

Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago, Illinois. Iryna Olkhova/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 44.4% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 39.5% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 16.1% of children

19. Ohio

Downtown Cleveland skyline rises beside the Cuyahoga River pinch Terminal Tower and waterfront parks successful lukewarm light.

Cleveland, Ohio. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 44.7% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 37.0% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 18.3% of children

18. Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana.

New Orleans, Louisiana. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 45.1% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 34.7% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 20.3% of children

17. Arkansas

Downtown Little Rock skyline and a achromatic arch span span the Arkansas River nether a bluish sky.

Little Rock, Arkansas. Rdlamkin/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 45.6% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 33.1% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 21.3% of children

16. Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky.

Louisville, Kentucky. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 45.6% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 36.1% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 18.2% of children

15. New York

Buffalo, New York, USA downtown metropolis skyline astatine aureate hour.

Buffalo, New York. Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 45.6% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 35.0% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.4% of children

14. Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, USA downtown skyline pinch Sentinel Peak astatine dusk. (Mountaintop "A" for "Arizona")

Tucson, Arizona. Sean Pavone/iStock

Always engaged successful school: 45.8% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 34.7% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.4% of children

13. District of Columbia

Washington, DC.

Washington, DC. Westy72/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 45.8% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 35.2% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 19.0% of children

12. Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi.

Jackson, Mississippi. Dennis MacDonald/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 46.3% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 35.5% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 18.2% of children

11. California

View of San Luis Obispo, CA

San Luis Obispo, California. russokm1105/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 46.4% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 36.3% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 17.2% of children

10. Alabama

Mobile, Alabama.

Mobile, Alabama. SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 46.5% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 36.3% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 17.2% of children

9. Florida

Tampa, Florida.

Tampa, Florida. SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 46.6% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 36.0% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 17.4% of children

8. Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island.

Providence, Rhode Island. Wirestock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 46.8% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 35.9% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 17.3% of children

7. Connecticut

New Haven, Connecticut.

New Haven, Connecticut. Ashley RK Smith/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 47.0% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 34.6% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 18.4% of children

6. Texas

Austin, Texas skyline pinch modern skyscrapers and unsocial architectural designs against a bluish sky. The foreground features a calm assemblage of h2o reflecting the buildings and surrounding greenish trees. The segment captures a operation of municipality architecture and earthy beauty, showcasing Austin's vibrant cityscape and lush environment.

Austin, Texas. RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 47.0% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 34.7% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 18.3% of children

5. Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee, USA downtown skyline connected the Cumberland River.

Nashville, Tennessee. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 47.3% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 35.7% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 17.0% of children

4. Delaware

Wilmington, Delaware.

Wilmington, Delaware. Chris Boswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Always engaged successful school: 47.8% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 33.4% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 18.8% of children

3. Pennsylvania

Aerial View of the Gettysburg College Campus With Fall Colors successful Gettysburg Pennsylvania

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Kyle Little/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 48.7% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 34.4% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 16.9% of children

2. Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston, Massachusetts. Thomas Roell/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 48.8% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 34.6% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 16.5% of children

1. New Jersey

Illuminated downtown skyline reflects crossed a calm stream astatine dusk nether a cloud-filled sky.

Newark, New Jersey. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Always engaged successful school: 54.1% of children

Usually engaged successful school: 31.4% of children

Sometimes aliases ne'er engaged successful school: 14.5% of children

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Tristin Hoffman is simply a Life Fellow connected Business Insider’s Editorial Partnerships team. Her reporting focuses connected retail, travel, business, and much done a ocular storytelling and manner lens. She has antecedently reported connected Oregon’s system for The Oregonian and Pennsylvania litigation for Law.com. Her stories person inspired argumentation changes, shed ray connected nationalist officials’ misconduct, and gained nationalist awards.  She graduated from the University of Oregon, wherever she studied publicity and rule while serving arsenic editor-in-chief of The Daily Emerald. 

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