The states where public school students get the most and least teacher attention, ranked

Aug 21, 2026 08:52 PM - 3 weeks ago 5

How overmuch individual attention a nationalist schoolhouse student receives from their coach could depend, successful part, connected wherever they live.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, an agency wrong the Department of Education, Business Insider classed each 50 states and the District of Columbia by the number of students per nationalist schoolhouse teacher.

The information — which shows location are astir 50 cardinal students and 3.2 cardinal teachers full successful the US — covers students from pre-kindergarten to precocious schoolhouse during the 2022-2023 schoolhouse year.

Vermont, which has the fewest students wide and the third-fewest teachers down Alaska and Wyoming, has the lowest ratio successful the US, pinch an mean of 10.5 students per teacher.

Washington, DC, pinch astir 91,000 students and astir the aforesaid number of teachers arsenic Vermont, is 2nd pinch a ratio of 11.3.

States specified arsenic Arizona, California, and Florida, each pinch seven-figure student populations, person among the highest student-to-teacher ratios, topping retired astatine astir 23 pupils per teacher. The nationwide mean is 15.4.

A little student-to-teacher ratio doesn't needfully correspond pinch amended acquisition outcomes. While Vermont nationalist schoolhouse students person the lowest student-to-teacher ratio, their precocious schoolhouse graduation rates rank among the lowest successful the nation.

Meanwhile, Alabama and Florida person among the highest student-to-teacher ratios but rank among the apical 10 for graduation rates.

Still, Vermont classed seventh successful a July WalletHub ranking for the best schoolhouse systems successful the US, earning precocious marks for value and safety. Utah and Florida classed successful the apical 20. Washington, DC, which WalletHub said has the highest dropout complaint successful the US and the third-worst math trial scores, classed 30th.

See really the 50 states and the District of Columbia rank by student-to-teacher ratio.

51. Arizona

A metropolis pinch a upland successful the background.

Phoenix, Arizona. Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 22.8

Number of schools: 2,429

Number of students: 1,132,223

Number of teachers: 49,566

50. Utah

The downtown area of a metropolis from an aerial view, pinch snow-capped mountains successful the background.

Salt Lake City, Utah. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 22.2

Number of schools: 1,102

Number of students: 691,906

Number of teachers: 31,164

49. California

An aerial position of a city, pinch the water successful the background.

San Diego, California. Kevin Carter/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 21.9

Number of schools: 10,327

Number of students: 5,851,877

Number of teachers: 267,659

48. Nevada

An aerial position of a metropolis during dusk, pinch mountains successful the background.

Reno, Nevada. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 21.0

Number of schools: 748

Number of students: 484,192

Number of teachers: 23,076

46. Alaska (tie)

A position of a metropolis skyline pinch clouds and mountains successful the background.

Anchorage, Alaska. Bloomberg/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 18.3

Number of schools: 498

Number of students: 130,723

Number of teachers: 7,160

46. Florida (tie)

A photograph of the Miami, Florida, skyline pinch greenery successful the forefront and the water successful the background.

Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 18.3

Number of schools: 4,230

Number of students: 2,870,527

Number of teachers: 156,787

44. Alabama (tie)

Skyline successful Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 17.9

Number of schools: 1,516

Number of students: 750,923

Number of teachers: 42,022

44. Oregon (tie)

An aerial image of a metropolis pinch a stream successful the forefront.

Portland, Oregon. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 17.9

Number of schools: 1,286

Number of students: 552,380

Number of teachers: 30,906

42. Idaho (tie)

A metropolis skyline pinch brownish mountains successful the background.

Boise, Idaho. Joe Jaszewski for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 17.5

Number of schools: 795

Number of students: 317,555

Number of teachers: 18,121

42. Louisiana (tie)

A metropolis skyline pinch thunder clouds successful the background

New Orleans, Louisiana. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 17.5

Number of schools: 1,337

Number of students: 718,145

Number of teachers: 41,110

41. Washington

A position of Seattle, Washington's Space Needle and Mt. Rainer successful the background.

Seattle, Washington. CPI

Number of students per teacher: 17.2

Number of schools: 2,549

Number of students: 1,090,227

Number of teachers: 63,272

40. Michigan

A metropolis skyline pinch a stream successful the foreground and clouds successful the background.

Detroit, Michigan. Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 16.7

Number of schools: 3,510

Number of students: 1,433,914

Number of teachers: 85,880

39. Oklahoma

A mini metropolis skyline pinch trees and a stream successful the foreground.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. : Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 16.6

Number of schools: 1,781

Number of students: 701,301

Number of teachers: 42,124

38. Ohio

A position of a metropolis skyline pinch a span successful the foreground.

Columbus, Ohio. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 16.4

Number of schools: 3,632

Number of students: 1,680,639

Number of teachers: 102,323

37. Colorado

A sunset complete a metropolis skyline.

Denver, Colorado. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 16.3

Number of schools: 1,932

Number of students: 870,871

Number of teachers: 53,553

36. Indiana

A position of a metropolis skyline pinch a stream astatine the foreground.

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

Number of students per teacher: 15.8

Number of schools: 1,921

Number of students: 1,036,108

Number of teachers: 65,597

35. Minnesota

A nighttime photograph of a metropolis skyline pinch an icy stream successful the foreground.

Minneapolis, Minnesota. Arthur Maiorella/Anadolu via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 15.5

Number of schools: 2,690

Number of students: 870,019

Number of teachers: 56,124

34. North Carolina

A photograph of a metropolis skyline astatine night.

Raleigh, North Carolina. Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 15.4

Number of schools: 2,716

Number of students: 1,541,722

Number of teachers: 99,980

32. Kentucky (tie)

An aerial photograph of a metropolis skyline during the day.

Lexington, Kentucky. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 15.3

Number of schools: 1,542

Number of students: 660,029

Number of teachers: 43,023

32. Tennessee (tie)

An aerial photograph of a metropolis during dusk pinch a stream and bridges successful the foreground.

Nashville, Tennessee. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 15.3

Number of schools: 1,900

Number of students: 1,006,752

Number of teachers: 65,781

31. Texas

A metropolis skyline during the day, pinch a freeway successful the foreground.

Houston, Texas. Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 14.8

Number of schools: 9,180

Number of students: 5,519,599

Number of teachers: 373,332

30. New Mexico

An aerial photograph of a metropolis pinch mountains successful the background.

Albuquerque, New Mexico. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 14.6

Number of schools: 890

Number of students: 315,023

Number of teachers: 21,572

29. Georgia

A photograph of a metropolis skyline during the day.

Atlanta, Georgia. Prince Williams/WireImage

Number of students per teacher: 14.4

Number of schools: 2,316

Number of students: 1,750,972

Number of teachers: 121,301

28. Maryland

A photograph of a metropolis skyline pinch a harbor successful the foreground.

Baltimore, Maryland. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 14.3

Number of schools: 1,410

Number of students: 889,960

Number of teachers: 62,236

26. Delaware (tie)

People locomotion connected a boardwalk adjacent to a river.

Wilmington, Delaware. : Matthew Lovette/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 14.2

Number of schools: 229

Number of students: 141,465

Number of teachers: 9,991

26. Hawaii (tie)

An aerial position of a metropolis pinch the water adjacent to it.

Honolulu, Hawaii. : Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 14.2

Number of schools: 295

Number of students: 170,209

Number of teachers: 11,984

24. Iowa (tie)

A photograph of a metropolis skyline pinch a emblem successful the foreground.

Des Moines, Iowa. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 14.1

Number of schools: 1,327

Number of students: 511,297

Number of teachers: 36,138

24. South Carolina (tie)

An aerial position of a mini metropolis pinch a religion steeple successful the foreground and a stream successful the background.

Charleston, South Carolina. : Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 14.1

Number of schools: 1,264

Number of students: 789,231

Number of teachers: 55,947

22. Nebraska (tie)

A photograph of a metropolis pinch a achromatic building successful the foreground.

Omaha, Nebraska. Bloomberg/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.8

Number of schools: 1,092

Number of students: 329,234

Number of teachers: 23,911

22. South Dakota (tie)

A photograph of a metropolis skyline successful the inheritance pinch reddish rocks and tiered, mini waterfalls successful the foreground.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota. : Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.8

Number of schools: 720

Number of students: 141,888

Number of teachers: 10,261

19. Illinois (tie)

A photograph of a metropolis skyline astatine sunset pinch a assemblage of h2o successful the foreground.

Chicago, Illinois. Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.7

Number of schools: 4,408

Number of students: 1,852,242

Number of teachers: 135,363

19. Montana (tie)

Brick buildings of a metropolis guidelines together pinch a upland successful the background.

Butte, Montana. Janie Osborne/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.7

Number of schools: 826

Number of students: 150,733

Number of teachers: 11,036

19. Wisconsin (tie)

A metropolis skyline pinch a stream successful the foreground.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.7

Number of schools: 2,235

Number of students: 823,040

Number of teachers: 60,011

18. Virginia

An aerial changeable of a metropolis pinch a pier and water adjacent to it.

Virginia Beach, Virginia. : Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.6

Number of schools: 2,132

Number of students: 1,260,351

Number of teachers: 92,651

17. West Virginia

An aerial image of a metropolis pinch a stream and span successful the foreground.

Charleston, West Virginia. : Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.5

Number of schools: 684

Number of students: 251,224

Number of teachers: 18,670

16. Pennsylvania

An image of a metropolis pinch a span and stream successful the foreground.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.3

Number of schools: 2,936

Number of students: 1,693,347

Number of teachers: 127,037

15. Mississippi

Buildings of a metropolis guidelines together pinch an American emblem waving successful the foreground.

Jackson, Mississippi. Rory Doyle / AFP via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 13.0

Number of schools: 1,038

Number of students: 440,285

Number of teachers: 33,768

14. Kansas

An aerial changeable of a metropolis astatine sunset, pinch thunderclouds successful the background.

Wichita, Kansas. : Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 12.9

Number of schools: 1,355

Number of students: 487,978

Number of teachers: 37,885

13. Missouri

A photograph of a metropolis skyline pinch a stream successful the foreground.

St. Louis, Missouri. : Visions of America/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 12.8

Number of schools: 2,473

Number of students: 892,246

Number of teachers: 69,838

11. Arkansas (tie)

A photograph of a metropolis skyline astatine sunset pinch a stream and a span successful the foreground.

Little Rock, Arkansas. : Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 12.7

Number of schools: 1,098

Number of students: 493,130

Number of teachers: 38,815

11. Rhode Island (tie)

A photograph of a metropolis skyline and reddish ceramic buildings.

Providence, Rhode Island. Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 12.7

Number of schools: 316

Number of students: 137,449

Number of teachers: 10,786

10. Wyoming

A photograph of a populated Midwest municipality pinch a mini upland successful the background.

Sinclair, Wyoming. : Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 12.6

Number of schools: 361

Number of students: 92,467

Number of teachers: 7,312

9. North Dakota

A downtown area of a city.

Fargo, North Dakota. Bloomberg/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 12.4

Number of schools: 511

Number of students: 118,513

Number of teachers: 9,581

8. Massachusetts

An aerial photograph of a metropolis astatine dusk pinch a stream separating the 2 sides of the city.

Boston, Massachusetts. Austin DeSisto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 12.0

Number of schools: 1,837

Number of students: 923,349

Number of teachers: 76,978

7. New Jersey

A photograph of a awesome American metropolis during sunset, pinch the entity reflected successful the h2o astatine the foreground.

Jersey City, New Jersey. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 11.8

Number of schools: 2,562

Number of students: 1,383,830

Number of teachers: 117,661

5. Connecticut (tie)

A position of a metropolis astatine dusk, pinch a stream and span successful the foreground.

Hartford, Connecticut. : Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 11.7

Number of schools: 1,013

Number of students: 513,513

Number of teachers: 44,007

5. New York (tie)

A position of New York City's Brooklyn Bridge.

New York City. Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 11.7

Number of schools: 4,812

Number of students: 2,532,888

Number of teachers: 215,761

4. New Hampshire

A photograph of a metropolis filled pinch reddish ceramic buildings.

Manchester, New Hampshire. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 11.5

Number of schools: 502

Number of students: 168,909

Number of teachers: 14,731

3. Maine

Sea fume surrounds a mini land pinch a metropolis skyline successful the inheritance astatine sunrise.

Portland, Maine. Ben McCanna/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 11.4

Number of schools: 597

Number of students: 173,853

Number of teachers: 15,192

2. District of Columbia

US Capitol building.

Washington, DC. Kevin Carter/Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 11.3

Number of schools: 244

Number of students: 91,001

Number of teachers: 8,052

1. Vermont

An aerial image of a mini downtown area surrounded by trees adorned pinch autumn colors.

Woodstock, Vermont. : Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Number of students per teacher: 10.5

Number of schools: 305

Number of students: 83,654

Number of teachers: 7,934

More